Ofcom invites comments on measuring media plurality

Ofcom has invited comments on measuring media plurality, following a request to consider this area by the Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt. At the end of last year, in our report on the public interest test on the proposed acquisition of British Sky Broadcasting Group by News Corporation, Ofcom suggested that possible reform of the current framework around plurality may be required. Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, has written to Ofcom and asked us to assess how practical it would be to set limits on media ownership to protect plurality. He also asked Ofcom to recommend a framework for measuring plurality across different media. Parliament has seen it as important to safeguard plurality because of an organisation’s ability to influence opinions and set the political agenda if it has too much control of the media. Our findings will be provided to the Secretary of State and given as evidence to the Leveson Inquiry by June 2012. Here to read more.