Vision for the mass media

BERNARD MARGUERITTE, President of the International Communications Forum (ICF), addressed a one-day media conference organized by the Royal Society of Edinburgh in March. Its aim was to consider the breakdown of public trust in the media, and how well journalism properly served the public interest. In Scotland, concerns have been voiced about the relationship between the Scottish media, the Parliament in Edinburgh and the public, as well as about the concentration of media ownership.

Margueritte said that the media could and should play a prominent role in the battle to build a better world, but in order to do so 'we have to refind our dignity and sense of mission. At stake is our own credibility, as media people and as human beings, and at stake is the future of our societies and our world.'

The other main speakers were Prof Philip Schlesinger, head of the Media Research Institute at Stirling University, Lord Steel, former presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, Tony Stoller of Ofcom (the regulator for the UK communications industries), and Alastair Campbell, the former head of communications for Prime Minister Blair. The Chairman was BBC presenter James Nochtie.