WHO WE LOBBIED, WHAT THEY SAID
Ed Vaizey, MP for Wantage and Didcot, is shadow minister for culture, media and sports.
Branch member Carol Cattley spoke to him on the lobby and introduced him to NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear.
He listened to the NUJ’s objections to deregulation and asked to be sent more information on the NUJ’s views on how to resolve the current crisis and also a copy of a report written by Norman Fowler as part of a House of Lords enquiry into media ownership, which suggested that any media merger or takeover should be subjected to a second public interest test requiring proof that any deals would not affect "news gathering and investigative journalism".
He invited the General Secretary to participate in a roundtable he has called for leaders of the media industry, “to provide an alternative view”.
Andrew Smith, MP for Oxford East, was lobbied by Peter Cann, former FoC at the Mail and Times and Jim Boumelha, NEC member for this region.
He promised to write to the Culture Secretary Andy Burnham about the concerns of the branch. He noted the evidence presented to him about the decline in local coverage in Oxfordshire and the cuts facing staff at the Oxford Mail, and asked that the branch keep him informed of the situation.
John Howell, MP for Henley, was unable to attend a meeting with branch member John Fray.
However, he did write expressing the sentiment that, “I think we are all with you on this.” Fray has written back pointing out that Tory party policy is not with us at all, and explaining what needs to change.
Evan Harris, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, also failed to make a meeting with his constituents, Mike Taylor and Bill MacKeith.
However, they have agreed to fix up to meet locally to go through the issues. AW 2009-04-06
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