Government response to the Cairncross Review

28 Jan 2020 02:13 PM

Series of measures will help secure the future of the UK’s free and independent press.

The Government yesterday published its response to the independent review into the sustainability of high-quality journalism in the UK, which was led by the journalist and academic Dame Frances Cairncross.

The Cairncross Review looked at the overall state of the news media market; the threats to the financial sustainability of publishers; the impact of search engines and social media platforms; and the role of digital advertising. The Review identified a range of challenges facing the sector and made recommendations for government, regulators and industry.

The Government supports almost all of its recommendations, and in a Written Ministerial Statement published yesterday, Digital Secretary Baroness Morgan set out the Government’s formal response to the Review.

Digital Secretary Baroness Morgan yesterday said:

Newspapers play an invaluable role in the fabric of our society and are uniquely placed to undertake the investigative journalism and scrutiny of public institutions, including local councils and our courts. This is vital to help ensure a healthy democracy both nationally and at a local level.

We know that the digital age poses significant challenges to newspapers though and are committed to supporting the industry in its transition to a more sustainable footing.

Dame Frances Cairncross yesterday said:

The Government’s response underlines the important role high-quality journalism must play in our national and local democracy.

I am particularly pleased to see the establishment of the innovation fund and it will be important to build on this to ensure it is as effective as possible going forward.

I also welcome the Government’s support for the need to formalise relationships between news publishers and online platforms as part of wider work on digital regulation, and urge the government to ensure that the press sector remains very clearly in focus.

In relation to the specific recommendations for Government made by Dame Frances, the Government has now:

The Government is not taking forward the recommendation for the establishment of an Institute for Public Interest News. Government does not wish to have a role in defining what is ‘public interest’ news as this risks interference with the freedom of the press.

The Cairncross Review also outlined how news publishers are increasingly reliant on the online advertising market, and the threat this poses to the future sustainability of journalism.

Alongside the response to Dame Frances’ recommendations, the government has committed to review how online advertising is regulated. In a call for evidence published yesterday, the Government is seeking views on the challenges, as well as the benefits, that the rise of online advertising has brought for people and businesses, including news publishers - with a particular focus on content and placement standards.

This work will complement and supplement other reviews underway in this area, including work by the CMA, the Information Commissioner’s Office and the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation. DCMS welcomes views from participants engaged in all stages of the online advertising supply chain, as well as those who work in complementary or competing markets. The open call for evidence will run for 8 weeks between 27 January and 23 March.

Notes to Editors

The Government response to the Cairncross Review can be read here

The Online Advertising Call for Evidence can be read here

The Cairncross Review: a sustainable future for journalism published in February 2019 can be read here