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Scottish Broadcasting Commission announced |
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Wednesday, 08 August 2007 |
Scotland’s television and industries will be closely examined by a Scottish Broadcasting Commission announced by First Minister Alex Salmond today.
The Commission will be chaired by experienced television industry figure Blair Jenkins, formerly head of news and current affairs at BBC Scotland. Its full remit and membership will be announced later this week, although Salmond said it was not solely a vehicle to agitate for a ‘Scottish Six’ BBC news programme.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for politicians to design television programmes, but what we can do is design policies – and by implementing those policies we help to create an environment in which talented people can do great things, and significant and dynamic creative companies can built for this generation and the next generation,” said Salmond.
But he did point to falling investment in Scottish news and current affairs broacasting, as well as the fact that the BBC produces a nightly half hour news programme for the Welsh channel S4 entirely in Welsh, as proof that a ‘Scottish Six’ was feasible and achievable.
Salmond denied the Commission was the first step to creating a ‘Scottish OFCOM’ or ‘Scottish Broadcasting Corporation’, saying such institutions could only exist in an independent Scotland.
He also guaranteed that the Commission would be independent of political control and would not reflect one particular view in its make up:
“Let me be clear that it will combine substantial industry expertise with a broad spectrum of political opinion – people united not just by a view that something needs to be done, but also with the knowledge to identify which initiatives will work.”
Salmond said the Commission would begin work in the autumn and report to the Parliament as soon as possible.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 August 2007 )
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