THE amount of programming to be made within the UK but outside of England for Channel 4 is to be increased from a minimum of three per cent to nine – according to broadcasting regulators, Ofcom, which has just announced a ten-year licence extension for the station.
The possibility of an increase to nine per cent was reported on allmediascotland.com at the beginning of the year. And today, Ofcom said, in an announcement: “Ofcom has decided that Channel 4’s quota for programmes produced outside of England (in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland combined) will triple from its current level of three per cent of volume and spend to nine per cent from 2020.
“This will require Channel 4 to increase the proportion of its TV production spend and volume in the UK nations by a minimum of an estimated 60 per cent and 30 per cent respectively from the current levels.
“Ofcom believes an increase in production in the UK nations would benefit viewers by increasing the range of production centres, and programmes produced in them, that are broadcast on Channel 4. Production in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may also contribute to the reflection of different communities and cultures in the UK.”
Read more, here.
* * *
THE editor of The Scotsman newspaper is understood to have attended a meeting today at The City of Edinburgh Council, to discuss the role of newspapers.
Writes Richard Lewis – culture and sport convener at the Council – in the paper this morning: “…what I’m interested in is the role of the media – and local reporting in particular – in cultural and artistic coverage of the museums and music, galleries and theatres and many ‘one- off’ community events.”
Lewis says that, among others attending, will be Edinburgh Napier University’s journalism lecturer, Allan Boughey.
It’s not clear whether up for debate was The Scotsman’s recent decision to cluster its live music, etc reviews on Mondays and Saturdays, which upset some.
* * *
A COMMITMENT to tackling gender imbalance and unequal pay for women in public relations has been made by the industry representative body, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
Says the CIPR, the commitment “comes after the results of the latest CIPR State of the Profession survey published [last month] which revealed an average gender pay gap of over £12,000 in favour of men, and the fact that, from account manager/press officer level and above, men, on average, are being paid more than women when performing the same roles.”
* * *
FOR pics from the Glasgow and West of Scotland Press Ball – held the weekend before last – go to today’s Herald newspaper, its Social section.
* * *
THE Glasgow office of contract magazine publisher, Think, has reportedly won a five-year contract to publish the world’s oldest photography publication.
Says the Professional Publishers Association (Scotland): “The Royal Photographic Society has announced that the Society’s RPS Journal will be published by Think Publishing Ltd under a new five-year contract, starting with the June 2014 issue. The change of publisher follows the end of the current contract in May, an extensive consultation with The Society’s 11,000 membership and a detailed tender process.”
* * *
IT is the annual general meeting of the Scotland branch of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. And for those who are unable to attend in person, there is the option of viewing proceedings online.
Says the CIPR, it is hoping to livestream the event. Tune in, this evening, here, from around 1830.
* * *
CATCH last night’s Scotland Tonight programme, on STV, where ‘digital strategist’, Craig McGill, discusses advertising billboards put up by the Yes campaign for Scots independence and how it ties in, or otherwise, with the digital campaigns of both the yes and no camps.
McGill is digital strategist at comms agency, Weber Shandwick Scotland, and also a blogger on allmediascotland.com. Watch the show, here, from the 25-minute mark.
* * *
SEEN anything you think readers of www.allmediascotland.com should be made aware of? Then just send the weblink to info@allmediascotland.com and we’ll do the rest. All suggestions gratefully received. We’re back at noon tomorrow.
PS Your Noon Briefing is a relatively new venture for allmediascotland.com. We are no longer going to report news, story-by-story. Instead, we are going to find content we hope will be useful, in the belief it will prove to be a more comprehensive service.
* * *
THE Herald newspaper has launched a TV ad, emphasising its rich news heritage from its founding in 1783 to the ‘tablet age’, now.
Says a media release issued by the paper’s publisher: “Herald and Times Group, publisher of the UK’s fastest-growing regional news site, HeraldScotland.com, is building on the healthy growth of its digital subscriptions by releasing a new TV campaign aimed at inspiring both current and potential audiences.
“The group, which is enjoying a growing share of overall profits from digital revenue (over 40 per cent in 2013), has invested in a new campaign to cover TV, radio and digital advertising. This will centre on the ‘heritage and relevance’ of the news group’s 250-year history, providing a backdrop to its contemporary content.”
The campaign was aired from yesterday on Channel 4, Sky Adsmart, Classic FM Scotland and Smooth Radio in Scotland.
Adds the release: “Digital revenue has increased by 19 per cent in the 12 months to January 2014, underlining the success of Herald and Times’ strategy in introducing subscriptions for its digital content.”
View the ad here…
