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Media releases > BBC green paper success
BBC Green Paper: 'a breakthrough for internationalism' and a campaign success for international charities
(9 March 2005)
International charities including VSO have achieved a major campaign success with the publication of the government's green paper on the BBC.
For the ten year Charter from 2006 to 2016 it will be part of the BBC's core mission to 'bring the world to the UK' - that is, to make the UK public aware of international issues and of how people in the rest of the world live their lives.
The green paper says the BBC must have a 'coherent, published strategy' to ensure all its channels and services contribute to this goal, and this must go across the range of output - not just news and current affairs but also sport, drama, comedy and so on.
This is a breakthrough for internationalism and comes as other TV channels such as ITV and Five are being allowed to drop their public service comitments. ITV1, for instance, plans not a single factual international programme in 2005.
It makes the BBC the cornerstone of UK citizens' information, knowledge and understanding of the wider world. And there will be rigorous new mechanisms to make the BBC accountable for this task.
The victory was won after a long campaign by the 3WE coalition of international development, environment and human rights charities of which VSO is a member. But 3WE is warning that these gains could still be undermined before Charter renewal in 2006 unless a large number of individuals and organisations demonstrate their support. That is why VSO is asking you to respond now to the public consultation. It's easy:
From the green paperThe BBC is a public service and is paid for by the licence fee. Because of this, we propose in the Green Paper that the BBC should have a number of very clear public purposes which can be seen in the programmes and services the BBC provides.
The five purposes listed in the Green Paper are:
- Sustaining citizenship and civil society
Keeping the public informed and increasing their knowledge of the world through news and current affairs. - Promoting education and learning through programmes and services
Encouraging the public's interest and knowledge of a wide range of subjects and issues through general programming as well as providing specialist educational programming for all ages. - Stimulating creativity and cultural excellence The licence fee should be used to encourage UK creativity. The BBC should also enrich the country's culture though providing distinctive and original programming, fostering creativity and nurturing talent, and encouraging participation and interest in cultural activity among new audiences.
- Reflecting the UK, its nations, regions and communities
Provide programmes and services that reflect the UK's different regions and communities and that make the public aware of the different cultures and alternative viewpoints seen in the UK. - Bringing the world to the UK and the UK to the world
Making UK audiences aware of international issues and of the different cultures and viewpoints of people living outside the UK as well as bringing high quality international news coverage and showing the best of UK creativity, culture and talent to global audiences.
Q1a) Do you think it is helpful to create a set of specific purposes for the BBC?
Q1b) Do you agree with this list? Editors' notes- 3WE is at www.ibt.org.uk/3WE or email dredding@ntlworld.com
- The full green paper and other Charter review news is at www.bbccharterreview.org.uk
- 3WE's members include Oxfam, the RSPB, Christian Aid, Cafod, VSO, Unicef-UK, The United Nations Association-UK, Save the Children, ActionAid, Comic Relief, CIIR, The International Broadcasting Trust, The One World Broadcasting Trust, Sightsavers International, Skillshare International, World Association for Christian Communication, and ITDG.
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