On the evening of 22 August, Jeremy Corbyn shared a radical proposal to reform the BBC:
We need to set journalists and citizens free to hold power to account, by breaking the grip of tech giants and billionaires on our media.#ChangeTheMedia
https://t.co/k9y5Nu0cJ0— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) August 22, 2018
Resounding support
The internet hasn’t stopped talking – or using the hashtag #ChangeTheMedia – since. And there’s been resounding support for the proposals, which are being hailed as an important step in holding those in power to account:
Journalism should be about holding the wealthy and powerful to account, but that's dying. So Labour's plans to strengthen Freedom of Information, give charitable status to local and investigative journalism, and tax digital giants to fund the BBC is a big deal. #ChangeTheMedia
— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) August 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/seantduffy/status/1032374486069260288
Transparency and diversity
The proposals also call for greater transparency and diversity in the BBC‘s hiring practices, by requiring it to “publish equality data, including for social class, for all creators of its content”:
Corbyn proposes greater transprancy in regard to the diversity and make up of the BBC workforce, including class. He knows it will expose how unrepresentative of the UK population as a whole it is.
The time has come to #ChangeTheMedia to better represent the many, not the few— Chelley Ryan #WeAreCollective #VoteCorbyn (@chelleryn99) August 22, 2018
Who could argue against more transparency and diversity in our media? Apart from all of those in power who have something to hide, obviously. And…..cue the next @jeremycorbyn smear… #ChangeTheMedia
— Jon Knight 🌍⬇️🚽 (@J0nKn1ght) August 22, 2018
Greater democracy and independent media
If the plans are implemented, large tech corporations would be taxed to fund the BBC, and licence-fee payers could influence the BBC‘s output by electing representatives to the governing board.
And plans to facilitate and support local and independent media have also made people optimistic:
Corbyn an absolute warrior. Democratise the media!
Tax billionaires&tech giants to fund BBC.
Take Govt power over BBC away
Support not for profit journalism
Astonishing policy!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
How’s the Tory right wing media taking it? #ChangeTheMedia pic.twitter.com/Spox7WHDUP— ARTIST TAXI DRIVER (@chunkymark) August 23, 2018
THREAD:
Corbyn’s proposals to #ChangeTheMedia are some of the most exciting and radical policies he’s announced yet.
A truly independent, democratic and diverse BBC.
Local & investigative reporting funded by the billionaire tech firms who helped put them out of business.— Kerry-Anne Mendoza 🏳️🌈🍉 (@TheMendozaWoman) August 23, 2018
Ready for change
There was some criticism, of course:
https://twitter.com/MarkDiStef/status/1032555210152062976
But the issue of BBC bias, and the popularity of the #BBCswitchoff campaign, suggest that many are ready for change:
This is a huge announcement by @labourpress.
•Ending #BBCBias by taking away political interference.
•Supporting those on low incomes.
•Supporting independent journalism & recognising it's importance.
•Forcing big techs to pay#ChangeTheMedia #JC4PMhttps://t.co/c1NMORDBzo— Alex Tiffin (@RespectIsVital) August 22, 2018
Remember days when journalism = exposing the truth? The days before manipulation, censorship and bias?The days before Murdoch #BBCBias etc destroyed our trust in ‘the news’? #ChangeTheMedia
— DebQ 🇵🇸💙🌍🇪🇺🐕🌹 (@DebbieQuick9) August 22, 2018
reasion we need #ChangeTheMedia #BBCBIAS #BBCswitchoff #JC4PM https://t.co/6dgLRWEL3N
— Jim Slogh (@JSlogh) August 23, 2018
Hope
All in all, Corbyn’s radical new proposal to reform the BBC and #ChangeTheMedia has given many people hope – hope for an opportunity for real democracy, accountability, and lasting change. And we are definitely here for it.
Get Involved!
– Tweet and follow #ChangeTheMedia.
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Featured image via Chatham House/ Wikimedia
