What is the role for regulation in the future of the news?
The Communications and Digital Committee takes evidence from experts on the appropriate role for the government and regulators in the future of the news.
Meeting details
At 2:30pm: Oral evidence
Inquiry
The future of news: impartiality, trust and technology
Director at Centre for Policy Studies
Director, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and Professor of Political Communication at University of Oxford
Professor Emerita of Journalism Innovation at City, University of London
Background
The inquiry examines the changing media landscape and what needs to happen to ensure a thriving, trusted and financially sustainable news ecosystem. Key areas include the broadening concept of what constitutes ‘news’, the impact of a decline in trust in traditional news outlets, the challenges around editorial decisions, and the impact of tech platforms and generative AI on news media business models. It comes amid the world’s largest election year, and ahead of an anticipated U.K. general election.
Possible areas for discussion
Possible areas for discussion with witnesses include:
- the opportunities and risks associated with Government intervention in the news media, and whether the Government has a coherent strategy to help the sector navigate a period of technological disruption;
- interventions around financial sustainability;
- the role of tech platforms and options for addressing issues of concern;
- the work of Ofcom in overseeing media plurality and ownership (particularly in light of advances in generative AI); and
- implications for accessing trusted news.