The News Media is vital to sport and future mega-events must take account of the needs of news operations. This is one of the main conclusions of a UK Parliamentary Inquiry which took evidence from the News Media Coalition (NMC).
Published today (16/03/22), the report from the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee – chaired by Julian Knight MP – states that existing arrangements for bidding processes and for news media reporting of major events are insufficient.
The report (LINK):
- Devotes a section to the role of the media including news publishers and news agencies.
- States that the News Media is vital to sports fans, the public at large and sport itself.
- Recommends that the government engage with news industry representatives.
- Calls upon the government to shape future bidding processes so that the future needs of the news sector are fully considered.
- Highlights the changed landscape in News Media operations, public consumption of news, and the television and digital sectors.
Importantly the report stresses the value of the news sector alongside other media. It states: ‘The news media are vital stakeholders for major events, amplifying them at home and abroad and delivering greater value for money. Moreover, beyond this purely instrumentalist role, there is an intrinsic value to free and reliable reporting of major events. Mainstream media play a key role in raising ‘visibility, public debate and business interest’ in major events.
The report adds: ‘It is, therefore, concerning to hear of increased restrictions on reporting at major events and that the news media’s requirements are not always fully considered in event planning and delivery. DCMS and UK Sport should, in consultation with news media organisations, update the Gold Framework to set out requirements for publicly funded events to protect media freedoms and consider coverage requirements from bid stage and throughout the lifecycle of each event.’
In a subsequent statement Andrew Moger, Chief Executive Officer, of the News Media Coalition, said: ‘The NMC encourages the UK government to adopt these recommendations so major sporting events have the best possible conditions for journalism to flourish and in support of press freedom.’
‘We congratulate MPs for recommending that the evolving needs of the News Media should be taken into account when major events are being organised. The independent News Media sector plays an integral part in telling the story – be it a sport tournament, political occasion or civic event – and we need conditions in place that allows our news operations to adapt, remain relevant and embrace technologies in the spheres of newsgathering and content distribution.’
Moger added: ‘We urge the government to take up the Committee’s considered recommendations and to take a positive position to ensure that press and news business freedom is a legacy from all future major events. The News Media Coalition stands ready to take a lead in future dialogue as recommended by the committee. This is the first time such a UK parliamentary committee report has formally recognised the intrinsic value and importance of the News Media in its reporting of sporting events.’
‘It is the hope of the News Media Coalition that this report can act as a springboard in the UK and elsewhere for further acknowledgement of the News Media in how it creates and disseminates text, photo and news video before, during and after events, 365 days a year.’
Editors notes:
The News Media Coalition is an international not for profit organisation which works with news event organisers, governments and other stakeholders to protect news content and news business freedoms from arbitrary controls or restrictions on newsgathering, distribution or content use. NMC Members include major publishing houses and national and international news agencies (in alphabetical order): Agence France-Presse, Associated Press, Associated Newspapers, Australian Associated Press, Deutsche Presse- Agentur, EFE Agencia, ESI Media, European Pressphoto Agency, European Publishers Council, Getty Images, Guardian Media Group, News UK, News Corp Australia, PA Media, Reach plc, SNTV, Stuff, Telegraph Media Group and Thomson Reuters. .
Background:
The News Media Coalition has closely followed the committee’s inquiry and has presented written evidence (find here) and the NMC’s Andrew Moger provided oral evidence to the Committee (more information here).
More on the NMC
Further information can be found on the NMC website here.
Contact:
Andrew Moger, NMC Chief Executive: andy@newsmediacoalition.org, 07836572273
The News Media Coalition has closely followed the Committee’s inquiry and has presented written evidence (find here) and the News Media Coalition’s CEO – Andrew Moger – provided oral evidence to the Committee (more information here)
