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About Des Freedman

Des Freedman is chair of the Media Reform Coalition and Reader in the Department of Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is the author of 'The Politics of Media Policy' (Polity 2008) and co-editor of 'The Assault on Universities: A Manifesto for Resistance' (Pluto 2011).

Articles by Des Freedman

Media corporations: too big to fail?

Des Freedman 20 December 2012

As with the banking system, Britain needs to shake up the way its media works as a whole: nothing less can tackle the unaccountable power of the industry giants.

Murdoch and the UK culture secretary: we shouldn't be surprised, we should be angry

Des Freedman 25 April 2012

James Murdoch's appearance before the Leveson Inquiry has revealed the complicity between the government and the media empire in pushing for the takeover of satellite broadcaster BSkyB. Independence was thrown to the wind in the gleeful rush towards de-regulation.

If the Sun hates attacks on press freedom, how must it despise itself!

Des Freedman 13 February 2012
The highest-selling daily paper in the UK is under arrest - or at least mounting numbers of its journalists and contacts are. But after colluding for decades in the assault on press freedom and independence, the Sun is in no position to play the victim.

Still hacked off with the media? Come join the campaign for UK media reform

Des Freedman 15 November 2011
The hacking scandal exposed corruption, illegality and immorality at the heart of the British media. A new committee, formed to push for wide-ranging media reform in the wake of the scandal, holds its first public meeting this week.

The BBC is not part of the problem raised by Hackgate

Des Freedman 20 September 2011
A strong, constructive response to Dan Hind's call yesterday for a democratic media policy and not a defense of the BBC - as the debate over Britain's inquiry into the future of its media get's hotter.

Hackgate and the Communications Review: two separate planets?

Des Freedman 11 July 2011
When the government launched its ongoing review of the UK communications sector, 'ethics' was not judged as part of its remit. Yet the hacking scandal has exposed the need for both the content and structure of British media to be radically re-thought

A Radical Manifesto for Higher Education

Des Freedman 3 June 2011
Our universities are under attack, with the Coalition determined to throw them to the mercy of the market. Support is growing for a Manifesto for Higher Education that sets out demands on universities and the government, but will it reignite the student movement?

The BBC Strategy Review: Goldsmiths Leverhulme Media Research Centre responds

James Curran, Des Freedman, and Natalie Fenton 6 June 2010
Staff at the Goldsmiths Leverhulme Media Research Centre give their verdict on the BBC Strategy Review: its proposals "would lead to a reduction in quality, would signify a shrinking of ambition and would undermine the public space facilitated by the BBC"

Witnessing whose truth?

Des Freedman
David Loyn’s assault on ‘peace journalism’ misses the target, argues the editor of a new book on war and the media. The real problem is corporate media’s coverage of conflict. Good, diverse reporting will best be ensured not by a clerisy of crusading truth-tellers, but via the sceptical engagement of millions of citizens.

This week's editor

Heather McRobie


Heather McRobie is a regular contributor to 50.50

Europe from the bottom up

European Union stars in Paris. Flickr/notarim. Some rights reserved.

A new Europe can only come from the bottom up
Etienne Balibar

A social Europe must be a political Europe
Bo Stråth

As Europe is provincialized: a reply to Etienne Balibar
Sandro Mezzadra

European debate

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Democratic Wealth

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Nuclear non-proliferation

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Women and the Arab Spring

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oDRussia at journalismfestival .com

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Mali - the plot thickens

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Remote control war

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The media in Europe

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