The coalition urges the government to deal with the “imbalance of power between media providers and the tech platforms” putting the publication of trusted news at risk
The letter, signed by leaders from across the news, print, TV and radio industries, stresses the importance of bringing forward legislation that puts the Digital Markets Unit (DMU) on a statutory footing early in the next parliamentary session.
Underlining the importance of action as soon as possible, the letter says: “Any delay to the legislation risks the UK slipping behind other jurisdictions.
“We welcome the efforts of government to date on this vital issue, but our sectors cannot afford any further delay to this critical legislation.”
Explaining how the Digital Markets Unit will help news providers, the letter continues: “We believe the DMU can tackle the root causes of large platforms’ market power, rebalancing the relationship between platforms and creators of trusted and much-loved content.
“This will be critical in ensuring the sustainability of the UK’s vibrant media sector, ensuring fair value and treatment for creators of content, and ultimately benefitting audiences.”
The full list of signatories is:
Owen Meredith, Chief Executive, News Media Association
Ian Moss, Chief Executive, Radiocentre
Sajeeda Merali, Chief Executive Officer, PPA
Richard Reeves, Chief Executive, AOP
Stephen Lotinga, Chief Executive, Publishers Association
Alex Mahon, Chief Executive, Channel 4
Clare Sumner, Director, Policy, BBC
John Battle, Head of Legal and Compliance, ITN
Find out more here.
