Martyn Lewis: Media ignores voluntary sector
16th December 2010
The government's Big Society agenda will deliver real change in Britain and when it does the media will have a responsibility to report on it, according to our new Chair, veteran broadcaster Martyn Lewis.
Speaking at our Christmas Parliamentary Reception on Tuesday, Martyn was critical of the UK national media for its lack of coverage of the voluntary sector.
"I am optimistic enough to believe that, in due course, The Big Society WILL deliver the Big Picture. When it does, I hope the media will want to play a much bigger role than in the past," he told the gathered audience.
"I was struck when Downing Street announced the Big Society awards and there was hardly any media coverage and no television coverage. When the second Big Society award was given out only one national newspaper reported it," he said.
"There is nothing surprising there perhaps, as for the last eight years the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service and the Beacon Award have awarded thousands. Local coverage is usually good, but national coverage is virtually non-existent – how are we going to build the Big Society if the trailblazers in voluntary and social enterprises continue to be largely ignored by the national media?" he added.
Having long campaigned for more balance in the British media, Martyn suggested that as well as reporting on problems, the press should also talk about what work is being done towards solutions.
"It wouldn't be appropriate for every story," said Lewis, "but journalists should be challenged to make the search for such antidotes as part of their professional behaviour. For example a story on a drugs bust should also cover what is being done to tackle the problems of drugs.
"It's a win-win situation. Editors still get their negative story which they judge essential to maximise audiences and the viewer is not left with the feeling that their country is going down the plughole."
The reception also saw speeches from Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd and chair of Compact Voice, Simon Blake.
