7pm, University of Westminster, 309 Regent Street, London W1 (closest tube Oxford Circus)
The last year has given us an unprecedented understanding of the power of the owners and editors of the British press. The Leveson Inquiry showed that a handful of people have the power to destroy lives, make deals with Prime Ministers, collude with corrupt police – and to label anyone who criticises them as an enemy of ‘free speech’.
The unaccountable power of media corporations undermines our democracy: it leads to politicians who care more about Daily Mail headlines than their citizens, allows cover ups like the Hillsborough disaster, and excludes millions of ordinary people who never see their lives or opinions reflected in the mainstream media.
We want to see world where media moguls are cut down to size, where journalists can stand up to bullying editors, where investigative journalism is protected, and where the media is seen as a public good, not a channel of influence for the super-rich.
If this is the future you want to build, join us June 17th. Speakers will include:
Bob McChesney, founder of FreePress
Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary NUJ
Owen Jones, columnist and author of ‘Chavs’
Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party
Professor Steve Barnett, University of Westminster
tbc, Trans Media Watch
Justin Schlosberg, author of ‘Power beyond Scrutiny’