Future-Proofing the UK’s Public Service Media

POLICY BRIEF

Future-proofing the UK’s public service media

PSM AP
2024


The rise of global platforms has brought new challenges that have threatened the legitimacy of public service media and broadcasters. In this context, PSM-AP has carried out a large-scale comparative research project, studying media laws, broadcast contracts and licences, annual reports, and current policy debates. This brief presents the core findings, analysis and recommendations to better support public service media in the UK.

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Towards a Future-Proof Public Service Media?

POLICY BRIEF

Towards a Future-Proof Public Service Media?

PSM AP
2024


Social and technological advances that appeared in the last few years have brought new challenges for public service media. Radical changes in media use, the advent of streaming services and the dominance of big tech as well as the increasing diversity and polarisation of societies have led to the erosion of trust in traditional media. This policy brief results from the comparative research project analysing ‘Public Service Media in the Age of Platforms’(PSM AP). It outlines key discoveries and conversations regarding Public Service Media (PSM) and platformisation in several markets in Europe and Canada. Among the recommendations made by the authors, was the emphasis on adopting a digital-first approach while ensuring universality and bridging digital and socio-economic divides.

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Democracy and Public Service Broadcasting

REPORT

Democracy and Public Service Broadcasting

European Broadcasting Union
2023


In a world with increasing challenges to democracy and a market-driven landscape, public service broadcasters are increasingly being asked to justify their value to society.

But how can public service media’s role as a reliable and stable source of information that plays a vital role in a healthy democracy be measured? This report from the EBU attempts to answer this question and offer broadcasters a way to respond to challenges.

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Shifting TV Audience Expectations in the UK during Covid-19

JOURNAL

Public Service TV in the Age of Subscription Video on Demand: Shifting Audience Expectations in the UK during COVID-19

Catherine Johnson and Lauren Dempsey | Media, Culture and Society
2023


During the Covid lockdowns in the UK, television viewing surged, driven primarily by a doubling in the number of hours people spent watching subscription video on demand (SVOD) services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. If anything, lockdown appeared to catalyse the adoption of SVODs.

This paper, based on empirical research, examines how these changing behaviours might alter the cultural meanings people attach to television, and what this fast-changing dynamic may mean for public service broadcasters.

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Addressing AI Intelligibility in Public Service Journalism

JOURNAL

AI ‘Everywhere and Nowhere’: Addressing the AI Intelligibility Problem in Public Service Journalism

Bronwyn Jones, Rhianne Jones, and Ewa Luger | Digital Journalism 10(10)
2023


Based on document analysis and interviews with 14 journalists, this paper explores how artificial intelligence is deployed at BBC News, and the level of literacy and understanding that those who are using AI for journalism have of the technology.

The rising prevalence of AI and algorithms has prompted concerns about how journalists understand and engage with the technology, without compromising their professional judgement and accountability.

Ultimately, the authors recommend better strategies for organisations and better AI literacy for journalists so public service organisations can uphold their norms and values.

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News Personalisation and Public Service Media: The Audience Perspective

JOURNAL

News Personalisation and Public Service Media: The Audience Perspective in Three European Countries

Annika Sehl, Maximilian Eder | Journal Media 4(1)
2023


News organisations are increasingly providing personalised offerings curated by algorithms. This offers a tailored experience of a broadcaster’s content, but concerns have been raised about how it conflicts with public media values of universality of access, reach and content, particularly when an algorithm replaces an editor as curator.

This paper explores the opportunities and challenges, taking a look at users’ attitudes, concerns and expectations. Comparing three counties — the UK, Germany and France — it finds that some users are concerned about missing certain stories or viewpoints, though the extent of concern differs depending on each country’s media system.

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The Governance of Artificial Intelligence in Public Service Media

REPORT

The Governance of Artificial Intelligence in Public Service Media: A Comparative Analysis

Colin Porlezza, Laura Pranteddu, and Petra Mazzoni | Federal Office of Communications report
2023


With AI-driven tools becoming pervasive in newsrooms, influencing nearly every aspect of journalism from retrieving information through to production and distribution, this report examines both the opportunities and questions which artificial intelligence raises for public service broadcasters.  

Laws recently introduced in Europe to regulate AI are examined, as well as forms of self-regulation that many broadcasters have introduced to ensure their use of AI holds true to values and ethics as public service broadcasters, to ensure reliability, transparency, diversity and fairness.  

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PSM countering disinformation: opportunities and challenges

REPORT

Opportunities and challenges of public service media organisations in countering information disorder: The Case of Nordis

Elis Karell and Minna Aslama Horowitz l Nordis
2023


One of the key challenges that Public Service Media have to face today is the dissemination of disinformation. With the flourishing of so-called “fake news” all over social media platforms and certain media outlets, finding strategies to combat the spread of disinformation has become an important role of PSM. Based on the cases of the NORDIS countries, where PSM are known to have a strong legacy and are highly trusted by the population, this report investigates different remedies that are put into place to counter disinformation and educate citizens about this growing issue.

This study stresses out how important it is for PSM to be politically, editorially and financially independent to carry out their mission against disinformation, but also that they have to be supported by national governments and EU institutions in this fight, in terms of finance and design of policies. The conclusion to this report highlights the necessity for PSM to be allocated means that would allow them to tackle disinformation from different a front, as strong PSM are vital for a healthy national media system.

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Traditional broadcasting features in VoD services

REPORT

The reappropriation of time in television: How traditional qualities of broadcast media are being adopted by their video-on-demand services

Julie Münter Lassen l Nordicom
2023


In an increasingly digital media landscape, traditional broadcasters adapt their services to suit the new habits of their audience, who are spending more and more time using digital platforms. But how does it affect the presentation and the scheduling of programmes? Are old broadcasting theories such as immediacy, being live, being daily, and providing event television compatible with the new on-demand services offered by more public broadcasters today?

This study takes a look at these different questions through two different models of Danish Video on-demand services, DRTV and TV2 Play and demonstrates how features of traditional linear television are still key characteristics of SVoD services in Denmark.

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Public Service Media's contribution to Society

REPORT

Public Service Media’s contribution to Society

Manuel Puppis & Christopher Ali l Nordicom
2023


According to the authors, the contribution of Public Service Media (PSM) to society is a concept that has lost its meaning and this is why its legitimacy is being questioned in a context of transnational and fluid media ecosystem.

In this research, the authors take a look at the different perspectives and assessments that Public Service Media could undertake, in order to truly embody and legitimise their mission of a public service. They emphasise the fact that the crisis that PSM are currently facing regarding their role in society is not just a problem of communication with citizens and principal stakeholders. It delves deeper, to its conceptualisation and the fact it is currently tangled up in a neoliberal discourse to maintain its legitimacy. Through the lenses of public value, social integration or even rising technologies, this research rethinks the contribution of PSM to society to recover its initial and essential mission.

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