[cma-l] Digital Participation Consortium launched today - CMA on board

[CMA-L]

A new Consortium to promote Digital Participation in the UK will be
launched today.

The Consortium - launched by Ofcom Chairman Colette Bowe and Minister
for Digital Britain Stephen Timms MP - aims to increase the reach,
breadth and depth of digital technology use. It also aims to maximise
digital participation and promote its economic and social benefits.

The Consortium - of which the Community Media Association is a member
- will encourage people to take up digital communication technologies
by providing information, motivation and support.

Jaqui Devereux, Director of the CMA, comments:

"The CMA is delighted to be working with other Consortium members to
increase digital inclusion across the UK.  The role of community
media, and community radio in particular, in reaching out to people in
digitally excluded communities is well recognised.  Participatory
media is a vital tool to encourage people to take their full place in
the digital world, with consequent social and economic benefits for us
all".

The launch of the Consortium forms part of a fortnight of activity to
raise awareness and encourage digital participation across the UK,
starting with the launch of Race Online 2012 by the Governments
Champion for Digital Inclusion Martha Lane Fox earlier this week. The
BBC will launch its Online Access Forum at an event on 16th October
and Ofcom will be supporting UK Online Centres Get Online Day on 23rd
October.

Ofcom has today also published its UK Adults Media Literacy interim
report which revealed that since 2007 there has been considerable
growth in household take-up of the internet among older adults aged 65
and over (41 per cent vs. 26 per cent) and those in low income
households (51 per cent vs. 35 per cent). However, these figures are
still at a much lower level compared to all UK adults (73 per cent).
The full research can be found here:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/media_literacy/medlitpub/medlitpubrss/uk_adults_ml/

The Consortium:
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Following the Government's publication of the Digital Britain report
in June, it asked Ofcom to form and chair the Consortium which, at
today's launch, has over fifty members. They will contribute expertise
and communications channels to promote Digital Participation.
Membership is open to any organisation that can use its communication
channels to inform and motivate people to become engaged with digital
technologies or offer outreach to people who need support.

Stephen Timms, Minister for Digital Britain, said:

"The benefits to being online access to online health, financial,
recruitment and communication services can significantly enhance a
persons quality of life both economically and socially. I am pleased
to be part of the Consortium for the Promotion of Digital
Participation which will lead this project to ensure all the UK can
enjoy the benefits of the internet for a brighter digital future."

Ofcom Partner for Content and Standards, Stewart Purvis, who chairs
the Consortium said: "This is a great opportunity to really make a
difference and its fantastic to have such enthusiastic support from
our stakeholders. There is a lot to do to make it happen but we are
all willing to give it a go."

The outcomes of the Digital Participation work will contribute to
Ofcom's overall Access and Inclusion priorities which have today been
confirmed. The full Access and Inclusion statement can be found here:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/access/ai_statement/.

NOTES:

1. Ofcom's Digital Participation proposals were endorsed by
Governments in the final Digital Britain Report, where the Government
announced proposals for a National Plan for Digital Participation
which combines an improved offer to increase motivation to get online,
with social networking and outreach, and with skills training. The
final Digital Britain Report can be found here:

http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/digitalbritain-finalreport-jun09.pdf.

2. The full list of Consortium members can be found here:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/digitalparticipation/

3. Adapted from: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2009/10/nr_20091015

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