Premier Ewart Brown is expected to advise the House of Assembly today that the Media Council Act 2010 will not be taken up by the Government this Session.

The Premier is encouraged by the media's willingness to establish a council on it's own. But, he notes that the Media Council should actively reach out to the public. To that end, he is calling for “ownership of the Code of Practice” to be “fostered through ease of access and a committed Public Relations campaign to ensure that the public is well informed of its rights...” Premier Brown:

...the business of accountability is not new to Governments in Bermuda but it is unchartered territory for the media. In much the same manner as the affairs of government are enhanced by strict accountability measures and the vigilance of members of the public, the same is required of the media. In the absence of a statutory framework it is the responsibility of every citizen to demand accuracy, fairness and balance in the media’s reporting.

Ownership of the code of practice must now be fostered through ease of access and a committed PR campaign to ensure that the public is well informed of its rights. Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that prior to the growth of a self-regulating council, its brief adolescence was characterized by vilification of this Government for promoting the very ideals that now form the coalition of self-regulation. Clear evidence Mr. Speaker, that in Bermuda, its not what you say but who says it.

The Media Council is designed to ensure that media outlets maintain the highest ethical and journalistic standards.