Results of media plurality debate and upcoming events this week...

Debate Result:

Thank you to everyone who made it out for last Thursday's debate on media plurality, but in particular to our speakers: Bianca and Craig for the proposition and Myles who joined me (Tony) on the opposition team.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable debate made all the more interesting by the illuminating comments and thoughtful questions raised by the audience.

The motion was defeated in the end, but both sides acknowledged that the press is a flawed institution in need of reform and I am confident everyone who attended left the debate a lot more informed about this important issue than when they arrived - and our members know their stuff, so that's saying something.

Please see below for a full summary of the arguments made by both sides and a breakdown of the result

Events this week:

If you enjoyed last Thursday's debate or are simply looking for something interesting to do this week, you will enjoy these events.

1) Tuesday 26th July - 6.30pm - LSE debate: Keynes vs Hayek - to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 - Old Theatre, Old Building, Houghton Street, WC2A 2AE - This is a free event, but places are limited, so arrive early to get a seat.

For further details, see: http://www2.lse.ac.uk/publicEvents/events/2011/20110726t1830vOT.aspx

2) Wednesday 27th July - 7pm - Westminster Cogers - The Plumber's Arms, Lower Belgrave Street, Victoria - Have your say on the issues and news stories of the last month - Admission to this event is free

For further details, see: http://cogers.org/Westminster.html

Results Summary:

Motion: This House Would clean up the media by imposing restrictions on press ownership

Preliminary vote: For 8, Against 6, Abstentions 4

Definition: No entity (individual or corporation) may own more than 20% of British newspaper titles.

Key arguments:

Proposition: The press is a powerful force. If that power is in the hands of too few people then these men can dictate opinions to the politicians and the public.
Opposition: The press is a weak and rapidly dying force. This proposition will reduce the amount of resources available to the press too much and hence kill it off entirely.

Proposition: The press has influence over what stories are presented and how they are presented. They have influence over how people think.
Opposition: People do not follow the press that much any more. Their opinions are not being influenced by the media's line.

Proposition: Politicians think that people follow the press and hence they put a lot of effort into courting press opinion.
Opposition: Even if people have their opinions influenced by the media there is more to the media than just the press. The broadcast media and the internet both beat the print media on influence.

Proposition: The competition commission is woeful when it comes to dealing with the influence of press barons as it is controlled by politicians who themselves are controlled by the media.
Opposition: The competition commission does a good job of promoting plurality of opinion in the press.

Proposition: The fundamental problem with the British press is a lack of plurality of ownership.
Opposition: The fundamental problem with the British press is a lack of resources.

Final vote: For 5, Against 15, Abstentions 0

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