New British Prime Minister Liz Truss has appointed Michelle Donelan as the new Secretary of State for Culture.
Donilan replaces Nadine Doris, who resigned from the position on Tuesday morning. Doris, a former actress and romantic novelist appointed by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said Truss had asked her to stay on as culture minister but turned down the offer. She was in office less than a year.
Donelan, who previously served as Minister of Higher Education and Minister of Education, will now be responsible for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sports. Among the most important items to consider is whether to go ahead with the privatization of Channel 4, to which both Johnson and Doris have committed despite industry criticism for the move, as well as a review of the BBC’s licensing fees. In addition to freezing license fees, a mandatory tax for anyone who watches live TV on any network or device, Doris has indicated she hopes to eventually eliminate it entirely.
Despite appearing on several UK shows including ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here’ and ‘Block of Commons Tower’, Doris was almost universally unpopular in the television industry during her tenure, particularly after a series of slips; These apparently included a lack of understanding how Channel 4 was funded (during a government commission that suggested it be funded by taxpayers, when in fact it is funded through advertising, despite being publicly owned) and accusing Love Productions, the makers of the “Tower Block of Commons’ unwritten show falsification (Channel 4, which aired the show, found that this did not happen after an investigation).
It remains to be seen if Donelan, who got involved in media and entertainment before becoming a politician, would fare better. Donelan reportedly worked briefly for The History Channel and Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment in the marketing department.
Last week, anticipating a change of leadership, the Pact Producers Authority sent an open letter to Liz Truss asking her to stop the privatization of Channel 4.
“We recognize that Channel 4 is not perfect, just like any other,” says the letter, signed by more than 700 production companies. However, proceeding with privatization plans in their current form would damage a thriving independent sector, deter voters, and jeopardize Margaret Thatcher’s legacy. We strongly urge you to reconsider these plans.”
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