NNI seeking minister for the media

A CALL for the appointment of a specialist minister for media — with a remit encompassing all media outlets — was made by the National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI) last night.

NNI chairman Paul Cooke addressed a special dinner for the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) in Dublin Castle, and revealed the organisation would be lobbying the Government about its concerns — including the need for newspapers to be financially independent.

“Our industry is facing an unprecedented array of challenges on a variety of fronts.

“First and foremost, freedom of the press is something we must always cherish and never take for granted.

“However, economic independence is an essential condition for press freedom, and in this regard, we face perhaps our greatest challenge,” Mr Cooke said.

“Like many newspapers around the world, Irish titles are being impeded and commercially harmed by issues such as a growing disregard for copyright, competition for digital revenue from publicly-funded broadcasters, restrictions on advertising, unfair taxes on reading and other obstacles.

“We’re trying to embrace the potential of the digital age, but the goalposts are moving all the time. With the increasing convergence of print, broadcast and digital media, our view is that the Government must appoint a minister for media with a remit that includes all media — not just broadcast.”

Mr Cooke added that the NNI has already submitted a briefing document to the Government, detailing its issues of concern.

Meanwhile, the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) has called a proposal from RTÉ to offer visual news clips to newspapers for use on their websites, free of charge, “a knee-jerk reaction” to pressures from the NNI.

RTÉ is finalising such a formal offer to the NNI, which is being seen as a direct response to the NNI calling on Government to rein in RTÉ’s commercial online activities, to avoid market distortion.

An RTÉ spokesperson said yesterday the offer was being made as a “constructive and genuine proposal, recognising the significant degree of interdependence that exists in the Irish media”, aimed at being to the mutual advantage of all media.

While the NNI made no comment on the matter, IBI chairman, Scott Williams said that the offer gives more reason for the licence fee to be abolished “and the new public broadcasting charge to be levied in a way which supports both independent and public sector media.”