MINISTERS promised the "biggest ever public debate on the future of the BBC". They have a funny way of going about it.

The consultation roadshow hit York last night. Originally it was a invitation-only event - hardly the most open forum.

By Monday, however, this idea had been dropped. An advert in the Evening Press stated: "If you wish to attend, just turn up."

This change was not prompted by the realisation that the original restricted format was at odds with something billed as "Your BBC, Your Say". Despite Government denials, it is more likely to be a result of a poor response.

So Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell's event at the National Railway Museum was nothing other than an open public meeting.

Even so, the media were not invited. Organisers have reluctantly conceded that they could do nothing to stop the Evening Press attending, although they wanted to restrict what we reported and stop us taking photographs. Oh, and there was no time to interview the minister.

How ludicrous.

Coverage of the debate in this newspaper would have reached many times more licence fee payers than will attend the meeting. Yet we get the distinct feeling we were not wanted.

This is an important debate. At a time when the BBC's privileged position is challenged by a multi-channel world, and when its journalism has been criticised, it is a debate that should be held - and reported - in public.

Updated: 11:58 Wednesday, March 24, 2004