Voice of the Listener & Viewer Bulletin Working for Quality and Diversity in Broadcasting Winter 2010 Issue 99 VLV’s Spring Conference STRICTLY PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING — CREATIVE FREEDOM AND AMBITION? Our 27th Spring Conference, in London Wednesday, 28 April 2010 The BBC is fighting its corner to maintain its licence fee funding and its character following attacks from various political and commercial interests. At VLV’s Autumn Conference in 2009, Mark Thompson, BBC Director-General, told us of the duty the Corporation had to stand up for creative freedom and ambition. After a virtual tsunami of reality and celebrity-dominated programming, VLV feels it is important to learn more about these BBC ambitions, so we are pleased that in the main morning session, Alan Yentob, the BBC’s Creative Director with responsibility for developing talent across all the BBC’s services, will explain how the BBC is responding to this aspiration. He is likely to face Keynote speakers: Alan Yentob (right) ‘the creative some tough questions. spirit of the BBC’ — and Lord Melvyn Bragg, who sees Creative issues continue to be the concern of Melvyn VLV as ‘an invaluable independent watchdog’. Bragg, outstanding radio and television broadcaster and until very recently presenter of the South Bank Show on ITV. He is one time for all public service broadcasters. There will be another of our most articulate communicators and VLV is delighted that he opportunity for members to have their say during the Members’ will widen the debate to include the problems of the commercially- Forum in the last session of the afternoon. funded public service channels in the session immediately after The conference will be held at the Geological presentation of our 2009 Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting. Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1 In the first session of the day, VLV Board members will 10.30am— 5pm. Coffee and registration from 10.15am. give an update on the many issues they are pursuing on behalf of For more information and tickets visit www.vlv.org.uk members, viewers, listeners and new media users at this critical or contact the VLV Office on 01474 352835. James Naughtie will present VLV’s Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting The VLV Awards for Excellence in outstanding programmes and presenters of and the short list to vote on is impressive. Broadcasting, to be presented at 1.45pm 2009. Hundreds of programmes have been Again we thank Roberts Radio for their by James Naughtie (right) of Today, the nominated. We can never reveal in advance special prize. Book Programme, the Proms and many who will be there as winners on the day, but Ballot Papers for voting in other broadcasts, will reward some of the the ceremony is always highly enjoyable each category are enclosed with this Bulletin. Inside Please could you complete Report on the AGM, S t u d e n t E s s a y Two visits, and return these Members Forum, p.2 Winners p.4 Letter, Book Review p.7 straight away, Consultations, p.5 the deadline Changes at the top Competition, Conference Reports, of VLV p.3 Diary p.8 being Friday 12 Scotland p.6 March. ISSN 1475-2948 VLV’s Annual General Meeting held on 26 November 2009 at the Geological Society Voice of the Listener & Viewer The Chairman Richard Lindley spoke of a and Mr Norman Green stood down but Working for Quality and Diversity in British Broadcasting very successful year for VLV celebrating were eligible and willing to stand for re- th VLV President its 25 anniversary in a way which has election. Mr. Clark was later appointed Hon. Mrs Jocelyn Hay CBE brought attention and recognition from Secretary. Four members were proposed the broadcasting industry, as well as new and elected: Professors Jeanette Steemers VLV Patrons members keen to support our cause. The and Bob Usherwood, Ms Sophie Chalk and Lord Barnet PC JP Silver Jubilee appeal has brought in some Mr David Eggington. A vote of thanks was Archbishop Lord Eames of Armagh Sir Francis Graham-Smith FRS very useful contributions and VLV is grateful proposed and endorsed for departing VLV Lord Inglewood MEP to a host of generous donors. Richard members Professors Sonia Livingstone and Sir Charles Mackerras CBE referred to the April 2009 Conference on Ivor Gaber and Mr Laurence Pawley. A vote Dame Mary Peters DBE media literacy, attended by many interested of thanks was also proposed for Mr Richard Lord Phillips of Sudbury OBE Lindley for his wholehearted commitment Lord Puttnam of Queensgate CBE organisations and funded by Ofcom, which Lady Solti was a resounding success. throughout the year as Chairman. Sir John Tusa Through the year a popular programme of members’ private visits to MEMBERS’ FORUM VLV Directors broadcasters round the country continued. After the VLV AGM there was a very useful Mr John Clark (Dep. Chairman) Mr Hugh Peltor, CBE (Hon. Treasurer) Three times VLV members went to Members’ Forum which enabled members to Mr Robert Clark (Hon. Secretary) Westminster to question successive raise questions of policy on key issues and Prof Maire Messenger Davies Secretaries of State for Culture, Media VLV activities. These included suggestions Ms Carol Cattley and Sport. The Conference in Scotland to hold some regional conferences; greater Mr Norman W Green use of e-mail to canvas membership views; Mr Lewis M C Rudd, MBE and annual Conference on Children’s Dr Matthew Hibberd broadcasting were both highly successful; the use of radio in small communities; and Ms. Shyama Perera and at BAFTA in October VLV celebrated some issues relating to the provision of Prof. Jeannette Steemers 25 years not just of VLV but of great British equipment for deaf and blind people. Prof. Bob Usherwood broadcasting. Mr David Eggington Hugh Peltor Ms Sophie Chalk VLV Board members have worked diligently on our responses to Company Secretary Consultations, held frequent meetings with Two new directors Waterlow Registrars Ltd. Ofcom, the BBC Trust, the DCMS, and the David Eggington broadcasting industry, and given evidence is a seasoned The Voice of the Listener Trust VLV member (registerred. charity 296207) which supports some of VLV’s to Parliamentary Committees. actively engaged educational work. VLV is also leading a coalition Chairman: Mrs Jocelyn Hay CBE of like-minded organisations to campaign in consultations, Trustees: for plurality, so that public service particularly on the Mr Michael Barton future of local and Mr John Clark broadcasting is not left entirely to the BBC. regional media. He Professor Sylvia Harvey 2009 ended with VLV campaigning against Lady Solti the proposal by the Secretary of State to is currently helping Dr Andrew Taussig overturn the ban on Product Placement in to organise a VLV event in the North. VLV Office: UK-made TV programmes, which seems PO Box 401, Gravesend DA12 9FY to us a most serious threat to the integrity Tel: 01474 352835 Fax: 01474 351112 and reputation of British broadcasting. Sophie Chalk is e-mail [email protected] Not since its foundation has VLV a broadcasting Office Hours: 9.30-5pm Monday-Thursday been so needed and so important in the producer director Linda Forbes: Conference & Events Secretary. Sue Washbrook: Membership/ Board & Trust Admininistrator. battle to maintain programme quality as with her own Website: www.vlv.org the UK goes digital. Richard expressed company, Director deep gratitude to the VLV Board,Trustees of Campaigns at Registered address: Aercon House, and staff and to all our VLV members for the Independent Alfred Road, Gravesend DA11 7QF their enthusiasm and commitment. Broadcasting Trust Bulletin published by the Voice of the Listener & Viewer Ltd, a private company limited by guarantee (registered in England There were changes in the and a lecturer for no. 4407712). VLV Board of Directors. Professor Maire One World Media. Messenger Davies, Mr Robert Clark Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) represents the interests of viewers and listeners as citizens and consumers and works for quality and diversity in British broadcasting. VLV is free from political, sectarian and commercial affiliations. VLV is concerned with the issues, structures, institutions and regulation that underpin the British broadcasting system and in particular to maintain the Editor & desktop publisher principles of public service broadcasting. Carol Cattley 2 Bulletin Working for Quality and Diversity in Broadcasting CHANGES AT THE TOP OF VOICE OF LISTENER & VIEWER Richard Lindley comments Over the last year and a half as Voice of Listener & Viewer’s Chairman I’ve had the job of telling the broadcasters and regulators, the programme makers and politicians, what VLV stands for and why our members care so much about British broadcasting. It’s been a great privilege, and I like to think that we have got the message across that just because broadcasting is going digital does not mean that we are going to abandon our determination to support high quality television and radio programmes. But there’s no denying the many different pressures that threaten that quality, and the time it takes to see that VLV is fighting them all effectively is very considerable. A voluntary post as Chairman that we all thought would keep me busy for at most two days a week has turned out to be a virtually full-time job: I’m in Richard Lindley (left) with Culture Secretary the Rt. Hon. Ben Bradshaw at a VLV Westminster Evening Seminar in the House danger of neglecting prior commitments as chairman of a housing of Commons on 3 November. Richard welcomed Mr. Bradshaw charity and governor of a hospital trust. As a result I am stepping to his first VLV event and a capacity audience in the Grand Com- down as VLV’s Chairman a little sooner than I had expected.