SKTV Executive member Jayne Kirkham asks Lord Carter about children’s provision.
At the Westminster eForum held on 14th January 2009, policy makers from Parliament and Whitehall, professionals and stakeholders from the IT and telecoms industries met to discuss Lord Stephen Carter’s ongoing Digital Britain Report. Having heard Lord Carter state the importance of News in a healthy democracy, where a plurality of opinion can engage and include all, SKTV Executive member Jayne Kirkham wrote to him stressing that Children’s content is equally important and for the very same reasons.
Lord Carter wrote back agreeing that UK originated children’s television programming, which reflects a range of different cultures and views and which helps children learn about society, plays a much valued and important role. He welcomed the commitment of the BBC digital channels in this respect, but agreed that this is an area where plurality matters and should be preserved. So much so that the Digital Britain Report committee has identified children’s content as one of its priorities, that will be addressed by the new framework for public service content it wants to design. Lord Carter agreed that this should include content both transmitted on television and on new media platforms. He therefore welcomed the offer to meet and discuss our proposal.
This is a tremendous opportunity for Save Kids’ TV to make a difference to the future provision of children’s public service content. At the Westminster eForum, Lord Carter stated that his report would not be ‘just another review’ but a chance to look at a real cultural turning point, with the rare opportunity to change the framework. SKTV is keen to do just that.
