Media Reform as Civic Renewal
UK media reform is being shaped by Ofcom’s Review of Broadcast Regulation and the BBC Charter Renewal process. This blog frames reform as civic renewal, […]
Articles by Rob Watson
BBC Charter Review 2025 – A Green Paper that Invites Serious Public Deliberation
The UK Government’s Green Paper on the BBC’s Charter Review is now published, and it is welcome. Whatever one’s preferred settlement, Charter Renewal is one […]
Public Purpose Media and the Conditions for Social Cohesion
This article examines the findings of Parallel Lives: 25 years on and considers how social cohesion is shaped by psychological, neighbourhood and narrative factors. It […]
Navigating the Grey Zone – Citizen Reporting, Influencers, and the Civic Work of Media
How did the Manchester Piccadilly Gardens brawl highlight the grey zone between citizen reporting and influencer livestreams? What responsibilities around consent and dignity apply when […]
Rebuilding Trust from the Middle – A Public Purpose Media Agenda for the UK
Ian Murray MP’s new role as UK Minister for Media offers a chance to build a public purpose media framework linking science, technology, business, health, […]
Questioning the Climate Narrative – Matthew Colthup on Media Selectivity and Environmental Debate
Podcast: Play in new window
https://decentered.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Decentered-Media-Podcast-008-2025-10-15-Mixdown.mp3Podcast: Play in new windowThis episode of Decentered Media Podcast features Matthew Colthup discussing concerns about selective reporting in UK climate coverage. He questions how […]
Leicester Emergent Arts Radio – A Platform for Metamodern Sound and Experimentation
Radio Lear, Leicester Emergent Arts Radio, is a metamodern sound platform broadcasting on the Leicester and Loughborough multiplexes. Combining AI-generated audio with artist-created soundscapes, it […]
Welcoming a Timely Intervention on Local Media – and Setting the Bar Higher
The Challenges and Opportunities for UK Local Media report offers a vital assessment of declining local journalism and fragmented media policy. Its call for coordination […]
From Preaching to Participation — Why Must Rebuild Civic Media from the Ground Up
Explore how communications managers can counter polarisation by rebuilding civic media from the ground up. This article sets out a participatory storytelling approach, showing why […]
Labour’s Cultural Policy – Why the ‘Creative Industries’ Frame Misses the Civic Middle
Labour’s cultural agenda is being shaped by a technocratic focus on the “creative industries,” prioritising scale, growth and industrial frameworks. This risks sidelining community arts […]
Spotlight on Leicester – Communities Together Festival 2025
The Spotlight on Leicester programme at the Communities Together Festival 2025 highlighted the role of community radio in fostering civic dialogue, creativity, and shared identity. […]
BBC Leicester’s “Only Station Made in Leicester” Claim – and What Came Next
BBC Radio Leicester’s claim to be “the only station made in Leicester for Leicester” has been challenged, with the BBC now admitting the promotion overstated […]
Local Radio News – Ofcom’s Missed Opportunity
Do Ofcom’s proposals on local radio news fall short of what is needed to restore trust, accountability, and civic value? In its response Better Media […]
How Can Public Service Communications Meet Equality Duties in the UK?
This blog explores how UK public service communications can align with the Public Sector Equality Duty. It asks key questions for Equality Impact Assessments and […]
Is There Sufficient Grounded Sociological Research into Media Use in the UK?
Grounded sociological research into media use in the UK is limited and under-attended. While community radio repeats outdated formats, social media creators like Billy Moore’s […]