91Èȱ¬

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In his lecture, Michael Grade will reinforce the 91Èȱ¬'s commitment to impartiality and say that new challenges associated with a fully digital Britain mean delivering impartiality in broadcasting is becoming more complex.

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He will say that the 91Èȱ¬ cannot take the idea of impartiality for granted and must ensure it has the right measures in place to preserve it in principle and in practice.

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Michael Grade will say:

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"As spectrum scarcity mutates into digital spectrum plenty, so the central argument for a blanket imposition of impartiality on broadcasters begins to weaken.

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"In the digital universe, barriers to entry are falling away dramatically, enabling unlimited new providers to enter the marketplace."

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Michael Grade will point to the United States, where the challenges the 91Èȱ¬ faces in the future are already part of today's American broadcasting ecology.

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These include radio and television networks that allow presenters to express opinions, religious broadcasters with distinct positions on sensitive areas of the political agenda, and how some religious groups have mounted successful campaigns to restrict and redefine the freedoms of the main US networks.

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He will explain that, whilst the United Kingdom lags behind the US in these developments, the changing cultural landscape of this country means that, increasingly, impartiality, freedom of expression and offence are becoming interconnected.

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"Broadcasters aspire to reflect society as it is in order to connect with their audiences. Today, that includes balancing the interests of people of many different faiths - and people of none. Many different value-systems now co-exist and are accorded equal respect as long as they operate within the law. The 91Èȱ¬ has to reflect that fact - and reflect it impartially.

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"Impartiality, freedom of expression, and offence are not separate, disconnected issues. They overlap. In regulating and legislating, society has to balance freedom of expression against the need for impartiality and decisions over where the boundaries of taste lie."

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Michael Grade will go on to say that: "There is no doubt that some commercial media groups see the obligation to broadcast impartially as needlessly restrictive. They look forward to the day when competition reigns and there is no further need for impartiality rules for any part of the media.

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"There are also influential voices among media commentators suggesting that the time is right for Britain to start experimenting with opinionated broadcast news.

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"We know from our research how important impartiality is to our licence-fee payers. It's one of the 91Èȱ¬ assets on which they place great value.

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"But we must not take [the idea of impartiality] for granted.

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"We have to ask ourselves: in this new world we are about to enter, do we have the right defences in place for the principle of impartiality?

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"Do we have a really robust understanding of what it means for the 91Èȱ¬ in the 21st Century? Of what it would mean if we were left standing as the only broadcaster still committed to delivering an impartial news service?"

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The Board of Governors - to be replaced by the 91Èȱ¬ Trust - are responsible for ensuring the 91Èȱ¬ is impartial.

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Michael Grade will say that the Governors must begin to consider now the challenges of the future so that the 91Èȱ¬ is equipped to deal with them and - on behalf of licence fee payers - ensure that changes to the British broadcasting ecology overall do not affect the impartiality of the 91Èȱ¬.

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"I think it is time to open up the debate [about impartiality]. To take it beyond its application to particular issues, and to treat it on a more fundamental level. To try to establish a broadly accepted understanding of what it means for the 91Èȱ¬ in the digital age. Not just the traditional balancing of mainstream opinion, but ensuring that the fullest diversity of significant voices and beliefs is reflected throughout our programmes.

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"Impartiality must remain the cornerstone of the 91Èȱ¬'s editorial mission. Remove it and the whole edifice begins to totter."

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Notes to Editors

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Michael Grade is delivering the 11th Goodman Media Lecture.

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The Goodman Media Lecture is an annual event organised by Goodman Derrick, a leading media law firm.

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The event was originally established in 1994 to mark the contribution of Lord Goodman (founding partner of Goodman Derrick) to the Media Industry in the UK.