Is it all over for public service broadcasting?

Media is now global. We get our news from all around the world, and for entertainment the giant American streaming companies – Netflix, YouTube, Disney and the rest – are watched by millions of British viewers every day. So, is there a role left for the traditional UK-based media? The BBC is facing a battle to hang on to the loyalty of licence-fee payers, and the advertising-funded broadcasters such as ITV and Channel 4 are no longer the force they were. Are we opening ourselves to purveyors of disinformation and misinformation, and is British culture at risk if the decision-makers about what we watch are abroad rather than here?

Discussing these themes will be a panel of experts:
Ben Fenton – media strategy consultant, former media editor at the FT
Shelagh Fogarty – journalist and presenter on LBC
Peter Salmon – former executive at the BBC, Channel 4, ITV and in the independent sector; former controller of BBC1
Pat Younge – media executive and former BBC Chief Creative Officer

Chaired by Richmond Society Trustee Roger Mosey – himself a former head of BBC Television News and director of BBC Sport.

This event will be held at Duke Street Church, Duke Street, Richmond TW9 1DH on Wednesday 18 February at 7:30pm. Doors open at 7:00pm with wine and soft drinks available.

No charge for Richmond Society members in person and online. A Zoom link will be emailed shortly before the meeting.