BBC faces review over concerns size of its taxpayer-funded online news empire is killing newspapers - The Sun

THE BBC is facing a review over concerns that its taxpayer-funded news empire is threatening commercial rivals. A report today calls on Ofcom to consider setting new boundaries for the Beeb's online operation amid fears its size is killing papers. Reuters A report today calls on Ofcom to consider setting new boundaries for the Beeb's online operation Dame Frances Cairncross' report also urges the Competition and Markets Authority to probe Facebook and Google's dominance of the £11.5billion UK online ad market to ensure it is "fair". Former journalist Dame Frances was hired by the Government to look into the ways of ­protecting, funding and sustaining quality journalism. Sales of national and local papers have halved since 2007. She concluded the Beeb should consider how to "complement rather than substitute" private news provision, and said Ofcom should probe claims  the BBC was going beyond its "core  purpose" by moving  into "softer" news. She also said online giants should reveal  news sources on sites while Ofcom oversees their efforts to stamp out "fake" news. The News Media Association welcomed the report and Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright  vowed to consider its recommendations. The Society of Editors said the report showed the importance of good journalism to a "vibrant democracy". But the BBC denied it was crowding out other providers and warned: "Any curtailing of the BBC's news offer would be counter-productive." THE SUN SAYS Local and national newspapers are under siege from BBC and web giants LOCAL and national papers play a vital role in our democracy, breaking stories in the public interest. Yet they are under siege from the BBC and web giants. So we welcome the major Cairncross Review into the future of journalism, which urges action on both. The BBC's ever-expanding online news empire has been calamitous for local papers in particular. A broadcaster gifted £4billion a year in public money must not be allowed to crowd out and destroy commercial rivals with coverage far beyond its remit. Ofcom must take it in hand, as the review recommends. Meanwhile news publishers get a fraction of their fair share of money from ads sold alongside their content when accessed via Facebook and Google. A new deal is vital, overseen by a regulator. You would expect The Sun to fight our corner. But with industry revenues in freefall this is about the survival of journalism itself — and the chilling prospect of a Britain without a diverse media holding the powerful to account. Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright must take notice . . . and act. Getty Images - Getty Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright vowed to consider Dame Frances's recommendations Facebook's Mark Zuckerburg blasted for for failing to show up at a grilling on fake news at the Houses of Parliament Let's block ads! (Why?) via Business - Latest - Google News http://bit.ly/2tf4rw2 If New feed item from http://ftr.fivefilters.org/makefulltextfeed.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.google.com%2Frss%2Ftopics%2FCAAqJggKIiBDQkFTRWd Unsubscribe from these notifications or sign in to manage your Email Applets.

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