In her report laid before Tynwald, Kerry Sharpe MLC said an effective public service media would help push back against the spread of fake news and extremism.

In her report, the Future of Public Service Media in the Isle of Man - A Proposal, Mrs Sharpe says: ’As use of the internet and social media has risen and spread globally, so too has the ability for what were once considered fundamentalist or extreme ideas to gain purchase with individuals who might previously have remained isolated

’Public service media makes it less possible for people to exist in their own bubble or echo chamber and never have their views challenged.’

Tynwald needs to recognise the importance of public service media as it has ’equated PSM with only the existing licence-holder and reliance on this existing, historical organisation may have prevented members and (and the public) from considering what is best in terms of the bigger picture’.

Her report could be seen as critical of Manx Radio.

’The public service media licence holder is not engaging with and meeting the needs of the majority of the island’s population,’ she states. ’The people of the Isle of Man deserve better.’

She also says a reliance on advertising could raise concern about influence on editorial content.

However, she has acknowledged there have been improvements since she first outlined her ideas.

The report outlines 10 proposals:

Have one single public service media licence-holder

Choose a name to reflect multimedia output e.g. Manx Media, or Media IOM or Manx Live.

Content to be produced both in-house at PSM provider and via outside, commercial media organisations and/or volunteer contributors.

Senior public service media editor to manage overall output.

Funding to come from Treasury and BBC.

Annual audit by for Treasury to be carried out by auditors with media knowledge.

Abolish adverts for public service media.

As well as business people, licence-holder’s board to contain modern media professionals willing to embrace new ideas and technology to engage younger demographic.

Location of licence-holder to be in fully accessible building in central Douglas.

Extend remit of Communications Commission to proactively monitor, from time to time, public service media output to ensure impartiality and quality of a national level.