Written evidence submitted by Council

House of Commons Select Committee on Communications: the Future of Public Service Broadcasting

Representation by

Cornwall’s ambition and ask

Cornwall is seeking its own Public Service Broadcaster and in 2019 Cornwall Council published the Cornwall Public Service Broadcaster Research Study to set out the case for such a broadcaster and how it could be developed. The PSB would address a gap in current public service broadcasting, but we see this as an opportunity to create a very different rural-based, dispersed media model by using the full potential of digital platforms.

The Cornwall Public Service Broadcaster Research Study sets out the opportunities for creative industries in Cornwall, and the role such a PSB could play in adding to the genuine diversity of UK media. Our vision is for and culture to be at the heart of the public service media for Cornwall, and for this to be based on inclusivity and building connections for One and All and to have appeal to the wider world.

The context

The Cornish were recognised by the UK Government as a national minority under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in 2014. The Framework Convention includes various obligations on the UK to support national minorities including provision of media services. The Council of criticised the UK’s lack of media provision for the Cornish national minority in their assessment report for implementation of the Framework Convention report in 2015, and raised similar concerns with regard to the lack of media provision for the Cornish language under the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.

In answer to the concerns of the Council of Europe, Cornwall Council commissioned Falmouth University to prepare a report on the potential for establishing a Public Service Broadcaster for Cornwall – PSB Kernow. This sets out the potential for an innovative, rural-based digital media model for public service broadcasting which Cornwall would like to take forward to provide a new media voice for the UK.

The Cornish Public Service Broadcaster Research Report July 2019 can be found on the Cornwall Council website: https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/culture-and-creative-economy/ Our Case for a PSB

The Cornwall PSB Research Report looks at questions raised by the Committee:

Representation: The current PSB is entirely metropolitan and fails to provide content for the Cornish national minority – the only UK national minority without its own service and the UK’s only indigenous language without its own content. This would be entirely new and contrast with the traditional concentrated urban model. Specific concerns with regard to access to media for the Cornish are as follows:

1. In the BBC Royal Charter (Dec 2016) General Duties, clause 14, Diversity section (5) it states ‘The BBC must support the regional and minority languages of the through its output and services and through partnerships with other organisations.‘ However, the Charter defines the UK’s “regional and minority languages” as being Welsh, Scottish-Gaelic, Irish and Ulster Scots – the Cornish language is the only officially recognised language excluded from this list. Rather than supporting diversity, the Charter itself excludes a British minority – the Cornish.

2. Providing ‘local’ news and radio within the framework of a SW Region of England, the current PSB provision from BBC is not fit for purpose. It fails to deliver a voice for the . In failing to deliver meaningful representation of Cornish language and people the BBC is in direct contravention of its General Duties (14) Diversity requirements.

3. The Council of Europe Advisory Committee Fourth Opinion on the implementation of the FCPNM by the United Kingdom adopted on 25 May 2016 highlights that ‘so far the BBC has tended to group Cornwall as part of South West England and in an arbitrary manner blending out Cornish issues.’ (Council of Europe, 2017)

4. The Council of Europe expressed its concern at the minimal profile of Cornish language on mainstream media. The 5 minutes a week of Cornish programmes broadcast by the BBC on Radio Cornwall was criticised by interlocutors as being totally insufficient – in terms of style, content and length. (CoE, 2017)

5. The Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee continues to criticise the ongoing lack of media provision for the Cornish reiterating its recommendations for ‘immediate action’ in Resolution CM/ResCMN(2018)1 on 7 February 2018 that:

The authorities should take resolute action to ensure that revision of the BBC Charter improves access to the media for persons belonging to national and ethnic minorities, increases funding, ensures a variety of programmes in minority languages, involves minorities in their production and introduces BBC support for the Cornish language. (COE, 2018) Accessibility: Cornwall’s proposal for an entirely new PSB would be an opportunity to build a digital platform that is designed to meet the needs of different disabilities from the outset. The proposed dispersed-rural model for commissioning content would also ensure that work and training opportunities would be accessible to more remote communities who have not had access to media work in the past.

Impact: Cornwall Council and its partners have set out an ambitious programme for the region in ‘New Frontiers’, which includes matters for further devolution such as media and broadcasting. It identifies the creative industries and digital technologies as a strategic priority for Cornwall, proposing a ‘harbour’ for the screen industries – hothousing top talent from Falmouth University’s School of Film and TV, creating jobs and providing a home for Cornish Public Service Media. Screen Cornwall has been formed in 2019 to create a new strategic body for production companies and to support talent development in TV and film in the region.

A new PSB for Cornwall would have a significant economic impact in terms of creating new jobs in a very low income part of the UK and ensure that film and TV graduates are able to continue to live in the area rather than move to or for work. A PSB would provide additional income and opportunities to a cultural network in Cornwall made up of small companies and individuals so the economic impact would be direct and deep into communities with narrow economic prospects.

Value: We believe that a PSB for Cornwall would create a new and distinctive voice that would contribute to the cultural diversity of UK media. It would necessarily be small-scale so would also force agile commissioning and production models through partnering with other broadcasters and would have to consider networks outside the UK to build audience, eg in Australia, South Africa, Mexico and America.

Looking ahead: Cornwall believes that public service broadcasting has a very important role in the digital age in supporting and developing distinctive perspectives and providing representation for minority groups. We believe that this is positive for prompting cultural and democratic discussion in our society and good content should tell local stories with universal truths. Our proposal is for a PSB that is very rooted and with a strong identity, but one that can show the diversity and creativity of the UK from a different perspective to the wider world.

I would be happy to provide more information to support these points and answer the questions of the committee.

Councillor Dick Cole Chair of the Cornish National Minority Working Group Cornwall Council