Jean Seaton, Steven Barnett contribute to proposal for BBC reform

The British Broadcasting Challenge, whose steering group includes CAMRI Profs Jean Seaton and Steven Barnett, has set out proposals to strengthen the BBC’s independence and long-term stability amid increasing political and technological pressures on public service media. 

In an article for the Guardian, written by the organisation’s chair Pat Younge, the organisation highlights growing risks to democratic debate, including AI-generated misinformation, hostile state activity, and the concentration of global media power in a small number of technology companies, and argues that the UK needs stronger structural protections for the BBC.

The BBChallenge proposes establishing a permanent BBC Charter to guarantee the corporation’s core principles of independence, universality and public service. A renewable 10-year agreement with the Culture Secretary would determine priorities within this protected framework. It also recommends the creation of an independent governance board, appointed by an external body and subject to parliamentary scrutiny, to oversee editorial performance and strategic direction separately from BBC management.

A further priority is the reaffirmation of universality, ensuring that BBC services remain accessible across the UK and continue to provide a broad range of programming, including content not supplied by the commercial market. The BBChallenge also calls for a sustainable funding settlement that reflects the BBC’s contribution to the creative economy and addresses the funding reductions imposed over recent years, supported by a reformed universal funding model that considers ability to pay.

With the BBC’s charter-renewal process now beginning, the BBChallenge encourages the government to incorporate these measures into a long-term approach to safeguarding the BBC’s independence and public service role. Profs Seaton and Barnett continue to contribute to this work through their positions on the organisation’s steering committee. 

Learn more about BBChallenge here: British Broadcasting Challenge.