Cross Party Group on Culture and Media

As the article below explains, the CPG started out as the CPG on Media. When Cathy was approached to start up a group for the Theatre, she proposed that because there was a significant overlap between theatre and broadcasting (many people and professions being involved with both) and because there were so many Cross Party Groups already (with actively participating MSPs spread thinly amongst them), that it would be better to extend the aims and membership and change the name to the Cross Party Group on Culture and Media.

The membership of the CPG can be found here

Article for Holyrood Magazine

In the beginning … Cross Party Groups (or as some preferred, All Party Groups) were elements of parliament without a blueprint. The Standards Committee settled that, and shortly thereafter the officially titled Cross Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on the Media held its inaugural meeting on Thursday 2nd March. But I will call it CPG Media for short.

The origin of CPG Media lay in meetings that I had with representatives of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU). They were concerned about various developments within the Scottish and Grampian television companies (both part of the Scottish Media Group, along with the Herald, the Evening Times, Virgin Radio, magazines, advertising, web companies, a chunk of Hearts, Ginger TV and a quarter of GMTV). While some aspects of broadcasting such as licensing are reserved matters, there were several Scottish Parliament angles on what was happening, such as culture and enterprise. So I organised meetings, which quickly expanded to include members of other parties (the SNP in particular is a hotbed of former media workers). Motions were tabled and debated, links were made with colleagues active on the issue at Westminster, and eventually the ITC reported, substantiating the concerns that had been voiced about the marginalisation of regional content.

Along the way, we realised that there was a place for a forum where such matters could be discussed with people who work in the industry, and which could serve as a focus for responding to new issues. It was agreed that the issues we covered should encompass not just broadcasting, but also the printed media, and the new online media. Our aims are "To provide a platform for parliamentarians to discuss all issues relating to the media; to liaise with consumers, workers and owners of media; and to raise specific issues of concern with the Scottish Executive."

How the Scottish Parliament relates to the media is part of our declared remit, but the CPG is not there to promote a cosy relationship with those who report on our activities (although we may discuss what our relationship should be). We are concerned about the interests of those who work, at whatever level and role, in the media industry; about the interests of the viewers of television, the readers of newspapers, and the surfers of online content; and about the importance of the industry to the Scottish economy. We want to focus attention on conflicts between those interests, and where possible to assist in their resolution. If there is any issue that anyone thinks we should be addressing, let me know.

The system of Cross Party Groups has not yet settled down. The expanding number of groups has created difficulties sorting out dates that don't clash for too many members. Some of the implications of the new rules have not yet sunk in. Before the second meeting of CPG Media, security asked whether people from outside parliament, who had expressed an interest, would be allowed to attend the meeting. Not our decision, they were told. The rules say that all cross party group meetings should be held in public. That's difficult if only members can get through the door of the parliament.

So far, our registered membership only includes two people from outside parliament, but doubtless that will expand as we get into our stride. We have already added several others to our distribution list, and are keen to get more people involved from across the spectrum of the media industry. If you want to be kept posted on future meetings, please send an email to cathy.peattie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk. I will also be adding a page for the CPG to my web site or you can check details of meetings through the Cross Party Group Bulletin.