Tomorrow's BBC: Belfast seminar

The fourth of the Trust’s Charter Review seminars was held in Belfast on 3 November 2015. The event was chaired by BBC Radio Ulster’s William Crawley.

Rona Fairhead, Chairman of the BBC Trust, introduced the event by outlining the work the Trust had been doing to understand audience views of the BBC.

A panel of Anne Bulford, Managing Director, Finance and Operations, BBC; Nick Garbutt, PR consultant and former editor of the Irish News; Professor Neil Gibson, Director, Economic Policy Centre, University of Ulster; Aideen McGinley, the BBC Trust member for Northern Ireland; and Aaron Taylor, digital entrepreneur and co-founder of the ICONS Festival discussed a range of issues. The conversation was then opened to the audience.

Amongst the topics discussed were:

• The scale and scope of the BBC, and whether it should be doing more or doing less

• The BBC’s role in the digital world and how it needs to change to ensure it remains current

• The independence of the BBC – and its relationship with the UK Government

• How it could provide something for everyone, especially those considered 'underserved' including younger audiences

• Future funding models for the BBC

• How the BBC should reflect and represent today’s Northern Ireland

• The need for effective regulation and governance which recognises a devolved UK

• Creative and cultural partnerships.