United Kingdom broadcast news producer, ITN has warned of a “news desert” without new legislation promoting public service news online.
Without the updated regulation, the broadcaster predicted a future in which “disinformation and misinformation could be allowed to thrive”.
ITN, which produces ITV News, Channel 4 News and 5 News, fears audiences could struggle to locate or access high-quality news online unless new requirements made finding trusted news in digital environments as easy as switching on the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) headline news program, News at Ten.
ITN shared its fears in response to an Office of Communication (Ofcom) consultation on the future of public service media.
In its submission to Ofcom, ITN raised concerns of a “news desert in which significant numbers of people could afford only a limited number of subscription services, none of which carried regulated, accurate news”.
“Without a clear regulatory framework to ensure the provision and visibility of public service media in a digital environment, misinformation and disinformation will continue to thrive while regulated, accurate, professionally-produced news will become harder to find,” ITN said.
“The ability to access independent and impartial journalism underpins any functioning society,” it said.
ITN said it was frustrated that Minister for the Media, John Whittingdale had estimated the process of producing new regulations would take another two years.
“New primary legislation is urgently needed and the media ecology advances far too quickly for the Government to delay any further,” it said.
ITN also called for there to be a spectrum of accountability online, with public service broadcasters proactively regulated and operating under strict impartiality and accuracy requirements, as well as other organisations given the option to sign up for lower levels of accountability.
Chief Executive of ITN, Anna Mallett (pictured) said ITN’s response to Ofcom’s consultation was based on the central premise that the quality of its journalism provided key social and democratic benefits.
“March marks one year of life during the pandemic and ITN, with less than 400 journalists, has punched well above its weight in the broadcasting landscape,” Ms Mallett said.
“Any future system should seek to maintain the benefits provided to society from sustainably funded, quality, public service news provision,” she said.
London, 28 March 2021
