PM launches media inquiry, and throws BBC into the mix

THE dominant position of the BBC will form part of the year-long public inquiry into Britain's media as Prime Minister David Cameron revealed yesterday that its scope would be widened dramatically to examine the role of broadcasting and the web.

In a marked change to the judicial inquiry to be launched by Lord Justice Leveson, Mr Cameron linked the public broadcaster to media groups like News International, insisting no single media organisation should "get too powerful".

He maintained in parliament that he backed the licence fee, but the inquiry will now examine the question of "plurality" across the UK media landscape, not just in the press.

It suggests that, as well as inquiring into the ethics of the press and the extent of illegal activity in newspapers, the inquiry will also examine whether there is sufficient competition across all media groups in Britain.

Complaints about the BBC's position have been long-standing, with News International's James Murdoch leading the charge in recent years. Mr Murdoch has claimed the "land grab" of media share sought by the BBC was "chilling".

He has also claimed the BBC was seeking to "throttle the news market". The public broadcaster's share of national news is estimated to be around 70 per cent.

Mr Cameron said: "We need competition policy properly enforced. We need a sensible look at the relevance of plurality and cross-media ownership. Above all we need to ensure that no one voice, not News Corporation, not the BBC, becomes too powerful."

He added: "I think we should be frank: I think in this country sometimes the Left overestimates the power of Murdoch, the Right overdoes the left-leanings of the BBC.

"But both of them have got a point and never again should we let a media group get too powerful."

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His decision to single out the BBC was a surprise yesterday in a debate which until now focused on the conduct of newspapers and alleged illegality at the News of the World.

The published terms of reference for the inquiry, finalised yesterday, show it will be split into three sections.

The first will examine the ethics and culture of the press, and the contacts between press, politicians and police. It will also study whether the regulatory framework has failed to protect the public from misconduct.

The second section asks Lord Justice Leveson to make recommendations on a new regulatory regime which supports freedom of the press and media while maintaining ethics, and on how current concerns about "press behaviour, media policy, regulation and cross-media ownership" should be dealt with by the authorities. The peer will also be asked to make recommendations on how politicians, press and police conduct their relations in future.

The third section will specifically probe unlawful conduct and management failures at newspapers, the past approach of all UK police forces when investigating the press, and corrupt payments to police.

The decision to include broadcast and internet media in the inquiry was made at the request of the chairs of Westminster's committees who warned it would be wrong to single out the press.

One of the chairmen, Bill Cash MP, said last night: "We must return to basic principles which can then be applied to everyone in media, not just those accused of alleged phone hacking at one newspaper, if we are to see justice in this inquiry."He added: "The inquiry requires consistency across the board on a common baseline and it must, therefore, cross over the entire media. This inquiry must be the benchmark for a new era for a responsible and free media."

Earlier Mr Cameron said he supported removing politicians from making decisions on media ownership, such as News International's bid to take over broadcaster BSkyB.

Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry should consider whether the maximum size of a media organisation could be capped, Mr Cameron said.

After the debate, Lord Justice Leveson said: "I am delighted to be joined by a panel comprising distinguished people, all respected in their fields, who will bring a vast range of very relevant knowledge and experience to support me in the work ahead.

"We will work, together with all of those who provide us with evidence, to ensure we fulfil the wide remit contained in the terms of reference.

"The panel and I will be meeting shortly to discuss how we want to go about our task, and to consider our priorities.

"At this stage, I can only repeat what I said last week. The terms of reference raise complex and wide-ranging legal and ethical issues of enormous public concern. The inquiry must balance the desire for a robustly free press with the rights of the individual, while at the same time, ensuring the critical relationships between the press, parliament, the government and the police are maintained.

"The press provides an essential check on all aspects of public life. That is why any failure within the media affects us all. At the heart of this inquiry, therefore, may be one simple question: who guards the guardians?"

He confirmed the hearings would be held in public.