Just about any politician who's ever been misquoted or unfairly wronged in the pages of Bermuda's newspapers will tell you the Island is long overdue a media council.

But they won't necessarily all be turning up at the House of Assembly to simply rubberstamp the bill tabled by Premier Ewart Brown 11 days ago.

The Progressive Labour Party caucus has not yet debated the issue and at the end of last week many Government MPs hadn't read the finer details of the Media Council Act.

However, some said while they support the idea of a press council, they are sceptical of the way Dr. Brown could go about creating one, expressing concern he could try to flood the council with appointees who would push his own agenda.

And if the legislation is presented as a Ewart Brown bill, backbenchers could provide the same stumbling block as they did in the gambling debate earlier this month.

With the United Bermuda Party and Bermuda Democratic Alliance virtually certain to oppose the bill, it would only take a handful of dissenting or absentee PLP MPs to bring more frustration on the Country's leader.

Some MPs are expected to take their lead from Deputy Premier Paula Cox who, like her possible leadership opponent Dale Butler, is said to support the concept of a media council. Sports Minister and Hott 107.5 owner Glenn Blakeney has stated he'll be voting yes.

Deputy UBP Leader Trevor Moniz warned the bill would allow Government to suppress free speech, while BDA chairman Michael Fahy believes the body should be named the "Government Media Council" to reflect who's really going to be in charge.

Mr. Moniz said in a statement: "We have grave concerns and reservations about the Media Council Act as tabled in the House of Assembly by the Government.

"The legislation, if approved as drafted, would position Government to shut down reportage and opinion on any subject; in effect suppressing what people hear, say, read or write.

"As such, the proposed legislation constitutes a threat to free speech in Bermuda. All Bermuda should be alarmed that their government could put forward such a dangerous plan.

"We support the concept of a media council, but believe it should be self-regulating and governed by a clearly established set of principles."

Mr. Fahy said: "There are particular areas of concern that certainly will need to be closely considered. In the first instance it would appear that the media council perhaps should be named the 'Government Media Council' per the Premier's sarcastic remarks, since the composition of the media council is not in fact under the control of the media in the bill.

"While the bill purports to be an attempt to allow the media to control the composition and the operation of the media council it does not seem to have been terribly successful as drafted.

"If the council is to be self-regulating as the Premier said, it is strange that the majority of members are appointed by the Governor after consultation with the Premier who in turn is to consult with the Opposition Leader."

Mr. Fahy warned the costs of maintaining an executive officer, staff and office could be "incredibly financially constraining" to a media already feeling the pinch of reduced advertising revenue.

He noted it is "strange" that the bill specifically refers to the online content of The Royal Gazette while not naming other online news organisations or newspaper websites.

And he said there is "something sinister" about Government's statement that it shall "review the operation of the Media Council after the Council's establishment".

Mr. Fahy also questioned the specific references in the Act to editorials and headlines, which he said are not in the British Press Complaints Commission; while he cautioned against making authors of letters to the editor reveal their identity in such a small community, where there is fear of recrimination.

He added that it was ironic that the bill was tabled at the same time as public access to information legislation.

Mr. Blakeney said: "I would feel that based on the intent of the piece of legislation, that I would vote yes, and that's because in this process there were people consulted in the media.

"I think it could serve all of the industry well in holding themselves and each other to a higher standard of journalism."

* You can download and read the complete Media Council Act. by clicking here.