An e-mail invitation from Jeremy Hunt MP arrives:
"Media and technology speech
Following my email last week, I am very pleased to be able to invite you to a re-arranged reception.
As you know, I am keen to share with you what I believe my priorities as Secretary of State should be and to answer any questions or concerns you might have. I will be making my first key note speech on media and technology at 11.45am next Tuesday 8 June at The Hospital Club, 24 Endell Street."
Suggest we use #dcms for Jeremy Hunt's speech? Don't know whether anyone else here will be tweeting - but will add to liveblog if so
We're at the Hospital Club in trendy Covent Garden. People gathering and going up to have a chat with Jeremy Hunt. Beginning to fill up now.
Have just said hello to Jeremy hunt, making his first major speech on media & technology #dcms #digitalbritain #inca_nextgen
Apparently he will speak at 1215.
In the ususal way of covering these events - there's a lot of waiting about. Just seen Richard Hooper and am sitiing next to Malcolm Corbett and David Brunnen.
Malcolm Corbett and David Brunnen at the #dcms event
tweetphoto.comPeople coming in now and the room is filling up - about 50-60 people I think at the moment
And some details about super fast broadband....
Richard Hooper who chaired the IFNC Board #dcms
tweetphoto.comAbout 100 people here now - mostly senior figures in Meeja (no idea how I got an invite!)
OH at #dcms meeting - remarks about the "Twitterati" and teenage kids - somewhat negative;
some people from ITV I think!
Jeremy Hunt being introduced by CEO of the Hospital Club.
Jeremy will speak fro about 30 minutes.
Jeremy Hunt takes the stage
tweetphoto.comHe's thanking people in the room who helped with the thinking that has gone into this speech.
He wants to set out, in the first month, his main priorities - and to say that he considers his responsibility for media policy to be 'sacred'.
HUNT: media policy sacred
Jeremy Hunt MP takes to the stage: "I consider my responsibility for media policy to be one of the most sacred ones that I have."
The media is a voice wholly independent of government. We need open debate between plural and diverse voices. This matters. Our regulkatory structure is long out of date. Needs a radical rethink.
Jeremy Hunt: "Our regulatory structure has been left long out of date by changes in technology."
HUNT: radical rethink in policy needed
A positive starting point is the strength and diversity of our media industries. Rooted in public service traditions and with commercial models alongside gives quality and maturity.
Jeremy Hunt has already invoked Karl Popper and Thomas Paine and we're only on p1 of the speech.
Our medai industries have grown consistently faster than the rest of the economy; even in the recession.
J Hunt mentions video games after TV/film but before music in the roll-call of 'key areas' in media... can haz tax breaks?
One thing binds all the industries together - the creation of digital content - it's about trade routes fro digital property. We are the 'second best' in the world at digital content creation. But we have stod still when others want to 'eat our lunch'.
J Hunt: "In many ways we seem to have stood still while other countries with far less to gain march ahead and steal our lunch" in digital
"We have no local TV stations in our cities"; We are 33rd in the world on Broadband speed.
"At critical moments we have faced up to technology change and not avoided it". Example of Digital and Cable TV.
Hunt: "We have no local TV stations in our cities"; We are 33rd in the world on Broadband speed via @brian_condon #dcms
Ad giant @WPP gets a mention from J Hunt for leaving the country - tho more in regret than reproach...
Core to the success of British broadcasting is strong competition for the BBC.
Two specific areas for immediate action
Hunt: "Nothing we will do will compromise either the independence of the BBC or the quality of its output." Scant BBC-bashing here.
Broadband
Other countries are ahead of us he says. Australia, Canada, Korea, Singapore. Mentions 1Gbps in Korea.
We have a commitment to a 'paltry 2MB connection' - we are behind. Some people ask why we need these speeds - they are missing the point. It's about doing totally new things.
by brian_condon via Tweetphoto 6/8/2010 11:05:15 AM
by brian_condon via Tweetphoto 6/8/2010 11:10:36 AM
by brian_condon via Tweetphoto 6/8/2010 11:16:01 AM