The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lucy Frazer MP has praised the ‘absolutely indispensable’ role of the news media while addressing editors and news leaders in London.
Speaking at the Society of Editors 25th Anniversary Conference in London, Frazer praised the essential role that the industry plays in a democratic society while highlighting the campaigning work of the Society over more than two decades.
She said: “It’s great to be here and have the chance to recognise the absolutely indispensable role that our news media plays in maintaining and enhancing our democracy. And where better a place for that message.
“Since it was formed in 1999, the Society of Editors has consistently campaigned for editorial freedom, the right to report and the public’s right to know. Today, 25 years after the Society was founded, your mission is even more important than ever.
And although you may represent over 400 individual publications, programmes and websites, the Society of Editors is widely respected as an organisation that speaks with one voice in advocating for press freedom at every opportunity.”
Setting out ways in which the government had prioritised protecting press freedom, Frazer confirmed that, following the government putting forward legislative proposals to ban foreign ownership of UK newspapers, RedBird IMI had abandoned its bid to buy the Telegraph and would now start the process of selling the title.
She added: “Our changes to the (Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers) Bill now bans absolutely any foreign state ownership, control or influence over the newspaper enterprise.
As you may know earlier today the prospective buyers have formally confirmed to me their intention to sell their option over Telegraph. And so today I have granted them the flexibility and regulatory space to begin preparations for a sale, which absent that consent they would not have had.
“The sale process will be run by RedBird IMI alone and I will not be engaging with or approving any prospective buyers, but of course, I will monitor the outcome with a view to taking any further regulatory action as required under the Enterprise Act.”
The full text of the Culture Secretary’s address can be read here.
