Check out Newsnight on the BBC most evenings and you might just notice that any discussion on the economy features three establishment `experts' usually a former `economic advisor' to Cameron or Osborne, a Times journalist and some very batty person from a think tank or university...all basically agreeing with each other, while the interviewing bambi-in-the middle smiles and nods a lot.
Where's the voice of the trade unions? Where's the voice of the Robin Hood Tax people? The Debt Resistance campaign? War On Want? The alternative voice is nowhere to be heard. Is this any way to run an `independent' current affairs programme? A BBC that's scared of its own Tory shadow?
The Real Media campaign, backed by many independent groups, including the Salford Star, is aiming to try and re-adjust the media to a more balanced output. One that might be of relevance to more than white, moneyed, upper middle class, southern, share-holding, nose-turning, establishment-sucking, frightfully-fucking-frightful people who have never stepped foot near a food bank or a Bedroom Taxed house.
For those who want more than Newsgag seeping through the BBC, the Real Media tour might just be the antidote. Via a host of cities it arrives in Manchester this Wednesday `to discuss the future of the BBC and its relation to independent, alternative media'...
"Even with a rapidly diversifying and fragmenting media landscape, the BBC remains the channel through which a large number of British people get their news" state the organisers "With its television services holding a third of market share and its radio holding over a half of the market, the BBC is a media player that cannot be ignored.
"Its status as a public service broadcaster, with its unique funding model through the licence fee, gives it room to manoeuvre and experiment in ways that commercial media platforms often cannot" they add.
The evening will be discussing subjects like `What is the future of the BBC? How can it adapt and innovate to create a viable model of public service broadcasting for the 21st century?' and `What are the problems with its coverage at the moment and how can these problems be solved?'
On the panel will be Aaron Bastani (Novara Media), Des Freedman (Media Reform Coalition), Colette Williams (Black Activists Rising Against Cuts), Kam Sandhu (Real Media) and Tom Mills, author of The BBC: A Myth of Public Service.
The evening will see the launch of a Real Media app and a crowdfunding campaign for real media (more on this to follow).
The Future of the BBC Real Media in Manchester
Wednesday October 12th 7pm-9pm
Central Methodist Hall
Manchester M1 1JQ
£6/free tickets are going fast click here for more details
For further details see also the Facebook event page click here and the Real Media Facebook page click here
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