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2.18 Deputy M. Tadier of the President of the Chairmen's Committee regarding an interim ban on all media filming, accredited or otherwise, of Scrutiny meetings pending proper guidelines being established:
Will the chairman consider an interim ban on all media filming, accredited or otherwise including photography, of Scrutiny meetings pending proper guidelines being established and, if not, will he instead put an end to the policy which requires members of the citizens' media to give notice of intention to film but not the established media?
Senator B.E. Shenton (President of the Chairmen's Committee):
We have a meeting today at 1.30 p.m. to put down the agenda for the next Chairmen's Committee meeting and the question will be added to the agenda for the next Chairmen's Committee. There is also a meeting of the Media Working Group tomorrow so the answer to the Deputy is, yes, we will consider it.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
I wonder if my highly-esteemed chairman could perhaps, on behalf of the Chairman of P.P.C., (Privileges and Procedures Committee) announce who the members are of this Media Working Group?
Senator B.E. Shenton:
It is myself as president of the Chairmen's Committee, the Constable of St. Mary as a representative of Privileges and Procedures and Deputy Jeune representing the Executive.
- Deputy M. Tadier :
It is reassuring to know that the group will be meeting and that we have a very balanced panel to look at the controversial issue of filming. Does the chairman agree that we have made things far too complicated for ourselves; there have been unintended consequences and that, in reality, the solution is quite simple, that what we need to do is form a very simple yet comprehensive code of conduct to which any person who wishes to film, be that an organisation, a blogger, or a member of the new media, can sign up to. If they break anything in the code they are simply not allowed to film any more and that would apply equally to the established media as well as the new media?
Senator B.E. Shenton:
All I can say is that we will take on board all the Deputy 's points.
- Senator P.F.C. Ozouf :
Just that I might have missed this, could the president of the Chairmen's Committee explain what the terms of reference and the purpose of this media group is; what are they attempting to achieve?
Senator B.E. Shenton:
What I could do for the Senator is to distribute the criteria that we are going to be working under. I believe the matter was raised at the Council of Ministers.
- Deputy M. Tadier :
A final, if I may. Does the chairman acknowledge that the new media, be they
bloggers or otherwise, have a very important role to play when it comes to covering Scrutiny meetings? Often those who work on Scrutiny realise that the media cannot attend everything and that blog sites, no matter who runs them, are a valid outlet for the 21st century and should be encouraged?
Senator B.E. Shenton:
I think one of the first things that the committee will have to do is to define what
media is and who are members of the media and who are just political activists, but it
will be something that we will look at.
- The Connétable St. Mary :
Will the chairman please just clarify, following on from Deputy Tadier 's comments, Deputy Tadier seems to have a very focused line on this. Will he just confirm that the terms of reference for the Media Working Group will be open and all matters will be considered and there will not be any particular slant taken before we set our own
terms of reference because, if there does seem to be some predetermined agenda, it
seems pointless having the working group. Senator B.E. Shenton:
The Constable is quite right and we have not had a meeting yet, so it is very difficult to say what the way forward is going to be but certainly there are a number of issues that are to be addressed. I think perhaps we need to send information to all other States Members as soon as possible as to how we are working and what the aspirations of the working group are.
- Deputy M. Tadier :
A final, if not maybe the second final; I am not sure. Will the chairman consider drafting a fourth person on to the panel so that there may be more representation from Back-Benchers, notwithstanding the fact that the chairman himself is, I guess, technically a Back-Bencher? If so, I would just like to say that I would be very happy to come on to the panel [Members: Oh!] ... not to provide balance but perhaps to provide slightly more balance.
Senator B.E. Shenton:
I think the Deputy is jumping the gun. As I said before, we have not even met yet so I think we need to at least get our first meeting out of the way before we make any assurances.