Let's take up the challenge

Pam Giddy (London, Power Inquiry): The media has never been comfortable with democracy. It may like campaigns which it can brand and have a populist edge, for example the Independent on fair voting, the Daily Telegraph currently on local  power, the Guardian on freedom of information. But once the steam has run out of the coverage the support created is left to wither. The same is true of the BBC and the other TV and radio channels. They want to be the 'voice of the people' and this in fact makes it hard for people to be heard in an independent way. For this we need hard work and campaigns. It was good of Anthony to acknowledge the work of the Power Inquiry on having had an influence on the thinking and the direction the Prime Minister is taking. All reformers now need to stand together to ensure that we cut through the mixture of indifference, hostility and lack of real understanding among even the thinking press. The key challenge for all of us is to explain WHY it matters and what difference the reforms the Prime Minister announced could have on our way of governing and our sense of connection and influence with the democratic process.  The Prime Minister has given us something to really work on - lets take up the challenge.