Cairncross Review: A Sustainable Future for Journalism
This House of Lords Library Briefing contains a selection of material relevant for the forthcoming question for short debate on the Cairncross Review on 6 February 2020.
BroadcastingCompetitionPress
Briefing
- The Cairncross Review was established in March 2018 to consider the sustainability of high-quality journalism in the UK. The review was set up under the chairmanship of Dame Frances Cairncross.
- The review examined the overall state of the news media market; the threats to the financial sustainability of publishers; the impact of search engines and social media platforms; and the role of digital advertising. The review reported in February 2019. It contained several recommendations, including:
- establishing an Institute for Public Interest News;
- direct funding for local public-interest news;
- setting up an innovation fund focusing on improving the supply of public interest news;
- the development of a media literacy strategy; and
- new forms of tax relief aimed at encouraging payment for online news content and the provision of local and investigative journalism.
- On 27 January 2020, the Government responded to the review saying it “fully accepts the analysis contained in the report, and is supportive of almost all of the recommendations”.
- The Government pointed to several actions that corresponded with the review’s recommendations, such as the development of an online media literacy strategy and the launch of a pilot innovation fund. It did not accept the recommendation to establish an Institute for Public Interest News, stating “it is not for the Government to lead on this issue”.
- The Government also announced plans to “go beyond the recommendations” of the review, by supporting the modernisation of court reporting; supporting transparency in the advertising supply chain; and continuing to ensure a free and independent press in the UK and internationally.
Documents