Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said she wanted to see strong regional programming from the BBC and ITV networks in the Midlands. Ms Jowell said she had an open mind about the renewal of the BBC's licence fee, but remained to be convinced about better alternatives. She was speaking during a visit to Birmingham yesterday to discuss the future of the corporation as it approaches the renewal of its Charter which expires in 2007. During her visit, Ms Jowell met young people who have benefited from First Light, a lottery-funded initiative to help five to 18-year-olds make their own mini-movies. Fears had been raised about the future of regional programming following the merger of Carlton and Granada into a combined ITV and 400 job losses proposed in Birmingham and Nottingham. Ms Jowell said: "The regional character of ITV is absolutely fundamental. It is important to have a strong regional presence in both production and programming broadcast whether it be by the BBC or ITV which reflect the distinct identity of the region. "That is what people want to see and is part of the core business of broadcasting." She also said she was looking forward to listening to people's views during an ongoing consultation process on the future of the BBC. She said: "We have talked about a wide range of issues, including the important role of the independent production sector in making programmes for the BBC. "We also had discussions about the governance of the BBC and the role it has in promoting citizenship that takes place in the wider community. "We are really listening. This is the first time ever that the people who pay their licence fee, the people who the BBC serves, have been as intimately engaged in making decisions about the future shape of the Charter." Ms Jowell said she did not want to close down the discussion by revealing her views, except to say that every aspect of the BBC was up for discussion, including funding. She said: "I still have an open mind on the licence fee. We have to have a better alternative for it to be replaced, but at the moment the licence fee is the default position. "It will also be about what the BBC's role is beyond broadcasting. The BBC's website is arguably the most popular in the world, it commissions more new writing than any other organisation in the world. "There is a huge investment in creative talent, but do people think that is good value for money, do they think that is what the BBC should be doing?" She was also clear about the power of the organisation and how it could influence public debate. "Don't tell me that putting a strong social message story line in Eastenders about drugs or child abuse or teenage pregnancy is not going to have a greater impact than any campaign that Government gets involved in," she said. | 
