Bad idea from Mediawatch-UK
The results of the Television Without Frontiers European consultation are in, and John Beyer’s contribution is available to view in .pdf format. Not that it’s worth the download time, apart from a few choice quotes and one barking idea.
The self-appointed defender of “our beautiful language” starts off in typically eloquent form:
We support, in particular, the aspiration and the emphasis placed on the protection of minors and human dignity. These two principles should underpin all other considerations with regard to accessibility to linear and non linear audiovisual services.
He then goes on to suggest that “the country of origin principle is the wrong way round”, and proposes his own “country of reception” principle. This would mean that every country would be required to regulate its broadcast services according to the whim to any other country where the signals could be received.
That seems to us to be the best mechanism in order to ensure respect and the protection of minors and human dignity. This change would also go some way to stopping the abuse and circumvention identified by those conducting the revision.
Not a recipe for broadcasting chaos, then?
On the “right of reply” issue, Mediawatch-UK are largely in agreement:
This is especially true now of some Internet sites where accepted notions of fairness, honesty, integrity and objectivity are absent.
Who can he be talking about?
(Thanks to Paul Taverner)
How dignified is it, to be censored, and told there are certain things you should not be able to watch because Massah Beyer and his band of censorious thugs, do not agree with them ?
The imposition of unjustified censorship, is undignified. It treats us all like children.
I have this enduring image of a cartoon with a muzzled Massah Beyer tied to chair sweating under some dazzling light with the caption:
“Censor that ya bast’d!”
or perhaps, with a more sinister overtone,
“Quite an experience to live in silence isn’t it: that’s what it is to be censored.”