Dear all - are any of you based in London or close able to go to this meeting with Jeremy Hunt?<br><br>Thanks<br><br>Jaqui<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Linda Forbes</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:linda.forbes@vlv.org.uk">linda.forbes@vlv.org.uk</a>></span><br>
Date: 17 January 2011 10:56<br>Subject: Culture Secretary, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP to address Viewers - Tuesday, 8th February<br>To: Info <<a href="mailto:Info@vlv.org.uk">Info@vlv.org.uk</a>><br><br><br><div link="blue" vlink="purple" lang="EN-GB">
<div><p class="MsoNormal">News Release 17 January 2011 </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Immediate 001/11</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Culture Secretary, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP to address Viewers</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Tuesday, 8 February, </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">6-7.30pm</span><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> in Palace of Westminster.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> will speak and take questions from listeners, viewers and media users generally at a Voice of the Listener Westminster Seminar in the House of Commons on <b>Tuesday, 8<sup>th</sup> February from 6 - 7.30pm</b>. <b><span style="color: black;">There is no charge to attend but tickets must be obtained in advance from VLV. See details below.</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Roger Bolton, Independent Producer and Presenter of Radio 4’s <i>Feedback</i></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> programme, will be in the chair.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> The seminar will provide one of the first opportunities for listeners and viewers to hear and question Mr Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Media, the Olympics and Sport, on last November’s BBC Licence Fee Settlement - including the additional responsibilities laid on the BBC and their implications for licencepayers as the BBC’s funders. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The BBC will in future be expected to fund the World Service, the Monitoring Service, Welsh language TV service S4C, the roll-out of broadband in rural areas and the establishment of a new chain of local television stations: all in addition to completing the digital switch-over of existing television and radio services. So, to make the sums add up, what will be cut at the BBC, what will be altered or developed, and by what criteria will these decisions be taken? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In November’s Comprehensive Spending Review changes were also announced to Channel 4’s status and to the remit of Ofcom, the media regulator.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A particular issue concerning VLV and its members is the abolition of Ofcom’s independent Consumer Panel and of the statutory watchdog Consumer Focus. Both are to be subsumed into the Citizens’ Advice Bureaux, which have no special expertise in this area, and will not be reinforced by the transfer of any extra funds from Ofcom to match their new important responsibilities. This means there will be no statutory consumer representation in the media and communications area, leaving Voice of the Listener & Viewer as the sole consumer advocate covering the whole crucial field.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Commenting, VLV Honorary President, Jocelyn Hay said: ‘These decisions were taken behind closed doors without the public and Parliamentary debate that would normally precede a new Communications Bill. The manner and the nature of the changes greatly concern VLV, raising questions not only about the new demands on the BBC but also about applying licence fee payers’ money to finance services previously funded by Government.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">These changes seriously impact on the democratic process, which is why VLV will , over the coming months, be providing opportunities for licence fee payers to debate them and to hold key decision-makers to account. All these events will be open to the public.’ End</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">For tickets and details contact <a href="mailto:Linda.Forbes@VLV.org.uk" target="_blank">Linda.Forbes@VLV.org.uk</a> or phone 01474 338711 or 338716 </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, not-for-profit association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting. VLV represents the interests of listeners, viewers and increasingly new media users, as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV supports the principles of public service</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If you do not want to receive further e-mail information from VLV about forthcoming events linked to the future of public service broadcasting in the UK, Europe and worldwide, please return this e-mail, entering UNSUBSCRIBE into the subject box. </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Linda Forbes</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Conference Administrator</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=b7bd1e4779&view=att&th=12d93cd8c7d40f56&attid=0.1&disp=emb&zw" border="0" height="22" width="110"></span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Voice of the Listener & Viewer</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">PO Box 401, Gravesend, Kent DA12 9FY</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Tel: 01474 338711 or 01474 338716</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Email: <a href="mailto:linda.forbes@vlv.org.uk" target="_blank">linda.forbes@vlv.org.uk</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Website: <a href="http://www.vlv.org.uk" target="_blank">www.vlv.org.uk</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Forthcoming VLV events:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<b>Westminster Seminar</b> with the <b>Secretary of State, The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP</b>, Tuesday, <b>8th February 2011</b> 6-8pm, Palace of Westminster, London SW1 </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">For tickets/enquiries please contact Linda Forbes, Conference Administrator, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">tel: 01474 338711 </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">email: <a href="mailto:linda.forbes@vlv.org.uk" target="_blank">linda.forbes@vlv.org.uk</a> or visit <a href="http://www.vlv.org.uk" target="_blank">www.vlv.org.uk</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">A not for profit private company limited by guarantee registered in England No.4407712</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9pt;">Registered Office: Unit 9, The Old Rectory Business Centre, Springhead Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 8HN.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">VAT registration No. GB 835 5365 14 </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Disclaimer</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">This communication from VLV Ltd (and any attachments) is confidential. It is for the exclusive use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient(s) any distribution, copying or use of the information in this communication is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately and then destroy any copies of it. This communication may contain personal views which are not the views of VLV Ltd, unless specifically stated.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) has no relationship with Mediawatch (formerly the National Viewers' & Listeners' Association founded by Mary Whitehouse).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Jaqui Devereux<br>Director, Community Media Association<br><br><br>