Children’s Media Foundation – Year 1

January 13, 2013

As we reach the end of the first year of operation for the Children's Media Foundation, here's a quick review of some of the CMF activities so far:

• Film - CMF contributed to the Smith Review of Film Policy and subsequently to the BFI consultation which followed it, including meeting the new Director of the Lottery Film Fund. There was some progress in support for animation and family film - but we need to pursue more specific support for children's film in the year ahead.
• Parliament - the CMF organises the All Party Parliamentary Group on Children's Media and the Arts.  The group met three times during the year with MPs and Peers receiving information on social media marketing, the animation tax-break campaign and progress in regulation and self-regulation since the Bailey Report.  The APPG is growing in numbers and influence.  The CMF also contributed to the Parliamentary Select Committee annual review of Channel 4 with briefings for committee members which led to questions concerning C4's commitment to the10+ audience on TV and online.
• Consultation - CMF responded to public reviews of Media Plurality and the Creative Economy (by the Culture, Media and Sport Parliamentary Select Committee), of the new Creative Europe Proposals (by the DCMS), of the Delivering Quality First Proposals (by the BBC Trust), and of the detailed implementation of the proposed animation tax-reliefs (by the Treasury).  Full details of the CMF responses can be found on our Action page.
• Contribution - CMF representatives have contributed to several radio and TV programmes through the year, been interviewed for newspaper and magazine articles, and spoken at some key conferences and Westminster briefing events.  We are now the natural first call for journalists researching children's media issues.
• Relationships - CMF is building connections in various ways: with regulatory bodies, starting with Ofcom; with key industry associations, such as PACT and the Advertisers Association; and with other child-focused organisations such as Childnet, the Mothers' Union and the NSPCC.  We believe that by partnering wisely we can achieve much more than working alone.
• Organisation - The CMF Board welcomed Professor Máire Messenger Davies of the University of Ulster as it's fourth member. An Executive Committee was formed from the leaders of the various working groups who have volunteered to help the CMF reach its goals. and early in the year, the Executive contributed a wide range of policy and activity proposals to the Board. In April, the CMF employed a Director and an Administration & Research Assistant, to initially work one day a week.  The CMF website has been launched, and is growing gradually as activity increases. The foundation also launched its patronage scheme.

And in the future...?

Plans are now in place to develop a "portal" on the CMF website to provide quick and easy access to research for the press, policy makers and parents.  Online discussion areas will also open soon so that supporters can contribute and communicate with each other on issues that concern them.

2013 will also see CMF develop its archive policy to track down missing content, produce a series of public debates around some of the key issues, and continue to pursue the main policy areas - including the new Communications Act, Film Policy, Internet security and media literacy, and extending support beyond the animation tax breaks to other areas of children's production.

Early 2013 will see the launch of the Children's Media Yearbook, a wide-ranging publication with articles by academics, industry insiders and CMF supporters which will sum up the "state of the nation" for UK kids' media in 2012-2013.  Copies will be available from the CMF website.

CMF Supporters and Patrons receive a free copy of the Yearbook, so all the more reason to save yourself the price of a copy by signing up in support now.

The CMF Needs You ITV and Channel 5 – Licence Renewal