Peta Buscombe
Contents
Background
Baroness Peta Buscombe is former chief executive of the Advertising Association and Chairman of the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), as of March 2009.
Buscombe was cited as one of the top 10 networkers in the UK by prominant marketing magazine in 2008.[1]
Praising Buscombe's political connections, Marketing magazine reports she was "hired to be a change agent who could speak to government at the highest level" and that
- she has certainly fulfilled that brief. Under her stewardship, the profile of the organisation has rocketed and there is a real feeling that the AA has the ears of the people in power in a way that it did not before her arrival.[2]
History
According to the Press Complaints Commission website, Peta Buscombe "trained as a barrister, she has had an extensive career in politics and the private sector. In 1998 she was made a Life Peer and has been a Conservative front bench spokesman in the House of Lords on several briefs including Trade and Industry, Social Security, Legal Affairs, Cabinet Office, Education and Skills, Home Office and Culture, Media and Sport.[3]
Views
With regards to the rising numbers of obese children, Buscombe is promoting industry as being part of the solution, not the problem. Her creation Business4Life “aims to prevent stronger regulation.”[4]
As spearhead of self-regulation of the advertising industry, Buscombe has clashed with groups campaigning to place stricter regulations, particularly on advertising to children. One such group is the watchdog Which?. In a report published in late 2008 Which? claimed that regulations introduced in Jan 2008 by Ofcom, did not stop ads for HFSS food being aired during the top 5 kids programs, with only 4 of the 20 most popular being covered. Buscombe responded, dismissing their claims as “sensationalist, unconstructive and missing the point.”[5]
Commenting on the change in attitude and relationship between government ministers and the advertising industry, Buscombe states that there is “much better ease of access to government departments and a generally warmer reception by ministers.”[6]
Notes
- ↑ Marketing Direct Top 10 Networkers, 1 May 2008, accessed 27 February 2009
- ↑ Marketing magazine The Marketing Profile: Baroness Peta Buscombe, Charles, G, 29 Jan 2008, accessed 27 February 2009
- ↑ Press Complaints Commission website News & Features 14 November 2008, accessed 27 February 2009
- ↑ Marketing, Buscombe exits AA for press complaints role, Barrett, L, 19 November 2008, accessed 27 February 2009
- ↑ The Herald Children exposed to adverts for unhealthy food despite new rules, Chiesa, A, 19 September 2008, accessed 27 February
- ↑ Campaign Live Issue - Government boost for a brighter creative future, 26 September 2008, accessed 27 February 2009
