MSPs to debate motion arguing for a media advisory panel

MEMBERS of the Scottish Parliament are today to debate a motion suggesting the setting up of an advisory panel, to brief them about the media industry “to help identify a strategy and direction, to help enable stability and growth and ensure that there is no democratic deficit in reporting on the Parliament and politics”.

On the day Lord Justice Leveson unveils his long-awaited report on Press standards, SNP MSP, Christine Grahame, is proposing the following motion: “That the Parliament would welcome a panel of experts to provide advice to ministers on Scotland’s media industry to help identify a strategy and direction, to help enable stability and growth and ensure that there is no democratic deficit in reporting on the Parliament and politics at what it considers this most important time of social and political change in the Scottish Borders, Midlothian and elsewhere in Scotland; while acknowledging that this is a time of financial restraint, believes that funding such a panel would have longer-term benefits for both the industry and democracy, and understands that such a proposal is currently under consideration by the Welsh Assembly Government.”

It is being debated at 12.30pm.