Lawyer Christian Luthi will head up the Media Council of Bermuda, it was announced today.

Members of the eight-person council were named today — it is not yet known when the council will be up and running.

In a joint statement members of the media said: “The Media Council has two main goals — to help resolve complaints against the media and to protect freedom of expression.

“There will be a short induction process and within the next few weeks a date will be set for the formal inception of the council.

“It will not handle retroactive complaints and only stories printed, posted or broadcast after the start date will be heard.”

The council, which Mr. Luthi will chair, will also include deputy chairman Wendell Emery, Tom Vesey, Charles Webbe, Qian Dickinson, Kelly Francis, Rebecca Davies and Amanda Outerbridge.

The council was chosen by an independent selection committee.

The joint statement said: “We had planned a mid-September launch but the extensive preparatory work has required an extraordinary level of commitment and collaboration all from those involved and despite some delays, we’re enthused about progress.”

The statement was sent by Government senator and radio host Thaao Dill, programme director of Inter-Island Communications; Chris Lodge, news director at DeFontes Broadcasting Company; Tony McWilliam, editor of the Bermuda Sun; Tracey Neale of Bermuda Broadcasting Company; and Bill Zuill, editor of The Royal Gazette.

It is the first time Bermuda will have an independent media council. It was promoted after Premier Ewart Brown tabled legislation to form a Government appointed council. Local journalists and global press freedom campaigners claimed it would be politically biased and could infringe freedom of expression and volunteered to form an independent council. As a result Dr. Brown decided to take the proposed legislation off the table before Members of Parliament voted on it.

For the full story read tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.