People demonstrate to stop Murdoch media monopoly - London

On-line global campaign network Avaaz organised 'Save UK media and democracy' rally outside the Department of Culture, Media and Sport against minister Jeremy Hunt's decision to allow Rupert Murdoch to take over BSkyB. London, UK. 30 June 2011

This was an emergency protest, called within minutes of most of us hearing the announcement by Jeremy Hunt that he would allow the takeover, and was thus a fairly small event. Many of those who might otherwise have responded to this morning's e-mail from Avaaz were probably already on their way to work or taking part in today's public services strikes and demonstrations against the cuts.

It included a tall stilt walker with a large but rather inappropriately avuncular head of Rupert Murdoch, surely one of the ugliest figures in world media and pursuing a clear aim of world domination, toying with two large string puppets representing David Cameron and Jeremy Hunt.

Taking part with Avaaz was the NUJ, whose members are appalled like most of the thinking population by the thought of the UK's largest commercial broadcaster falling into Murdoch's hands, and the threat that this poses for in particular for news coverage, but also for a diverse and broadly based media culture. They want the government to act in the public interest rather than as puppets for Murdoch's interest and don't want Sky News to become another Fox News.