The European Media Freedom Act: media freedom, freedom of expression and pluralism
REPORT
The European Media Freedom Act: media freedom, freedom of expression and pluralism
Elda BROGI et al. | Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (CMPF), European University Institute (EUI)
This study analyses the European Media Freedom Act (EFMA) proposal, providing a political and historical overview of EU policies regarding media and information society at large. The authors looked into the debate around EMFA concerning the EU’s competences on media freedom and pluralism. Based on the analysis of each provision of the Act, the authors conclude with a set of policy recommendations to further strengthen the objectives of the EMFA.
Conformity of public policy and citizens’ attitudes towards the public service media
JOURNAL
Conformity of public policy and citizens’ attitudes towards the public service media
Deimantas Jastramskis | European Journal of Communication
2024
This study takes a look at the structure of public service media (PSM) – ownership, management, funding and accountability – and how it matches with the involvement and perception of citizens on public media. The authors focus on the Lithuanian PSM, LRT, as one of the public media organisations in Europe which has the best conditions for editorial independence. This research shows that there is a disparity between what public policy is aiming for and what citizens want. This study also unveils the fact people want more influence in PSM management and for PSM organisation to be more accountable to society
Funding Democracy: Public Media and Democratic Health in 33 Countries
REPORT
Funding Democracy: Public Media and Democratic Health in 33 Countries
Timothy Neff, Viktor Pickard | The International Journal of Press/Politics
2024
This study explores the relationship between public service media (PSM) systems and the strength of democracy. The authors focused on 33 countries around the world and identified different models of public service media, creating a spectrum ranging from systems with low independence from the state to PSM with strong and secure funding models and a high degree of independence. This research shows the existing correlation between healthy democracies and public media systems which boast high levels of secure funding and strong structural protections for their political and economic independence.
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.
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.
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.
The value of public service broadcasting in Japan during Covid-19
JOURNAL
The value of public service broadcasting in Japan during COVID-19 pandemic: An analysis of WTP by Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition
Hisanobu Kakizawa | Telecommunications Policy
2023
The article analyses the shift in willingness to pay (WTP) for public service media (PSM) before and after the first Covid-19 outbreak in Japan. NHK Japan’s public broadcaster offered pay subscriptions to get premium services. Based on the data of the NHK survey WTP estimation was noted. During the pandemic, NHK increased public service educational and medical programmes to combat Covid-19. This led to increased WTP, the satisfaction level of viewers, and the value of journalism. The data also revealed that the WTP for PSM fell slightly as a result of the reduction in sports programmes.
How Business Can Support a Healthy Infosphere
REPORT
Investing in Facts: How the Business Community Can Support a Healthy Infosphere
Marius Dragomir | CIMA
2023
The report emphasises the relationship between the private sector and independent media and why the private sector should care about independent media. It studies three countries’ – Czechia, Romania, and Serbia – media and business sectors, and examines how efforts have been made to counter disinformation and boost independent media. The business community in all these three regions has different reasons for supporting independent media but all of them have realised that a healthy business environment can only thrive if the community is well informed. In addition, the report highlights limitations experienced by the business sector, lack of financial resources, and absence of communication between independent journalism and the private sector.
Between the Fourth Estate and the Fifth Power
REPORT
Public Service Media in Europe: Between the Fourth Estate and the Fifth Power
ORF Public Value Texts
2022
ORF is required by law to provide comprehensive quality control. In addition to the Public Value Report and the Annual Report, this consists primarily of elements created with the help of scientific expertise: The “Audience Panels”, during which the audience‘s opinion on various program pillars is explored, are evaluated by a social science institute. The representative survey on program appreciation, among other things, is conducted by social scientists, as is the testing of the quality profiles – the self-commitments of ORF editors to various program genres. And ORF‘s annual public value study, which has been published for years in cooperation with other European public broadcasters, is entrusted to outstanding experts, especially from the field of communications science. Not only the ORF-programmes with their public mission and remit to inform and educate on TV, radio, and online, but also ORF quality control is thus closely linked to scientific knowledge.
Consequently we reacted positively to the request of RIPE founder Greg Lowe and the University of Vienna to hold a separate ORF Day in Vienna for RIPE, the most important scientific conference on public service media. This first day of the conference focuses on the exchange between journalism and science on the conference topic “Between the Fourth Estate and the Fifth Power”. In addition, this issue of PUBLIC VALUE TEXTE publishes the extended abstracts of the scholars invited to the conference. We
would like to thank Michael-Bernhard Zita and Regina Außerwöger from the University of Vienna for organizing the conference and all the authors for writing the abstracts.
[Text sourced from ORF]
Are public service media distinctive from the market?
JOURNAL
Are public service media distinctive from the market? Interpreting the political information environments of BBC and commercial news in the United Kingdom
Stephen Cushion | European Journal of Communication
2022
With many citizens having access to a variety of media, this paper questions whether public service provides a distinctive and informative news service compared to private media? It found that BBC news and commercial public service platforms mainly covered politics, public affairs and international issues, plus BBC news online covered more informative topics than the market-based media which reported more on celebrity and entertainment news. In addition, where public service media reported with a world view perspective, market-driven media reported news with a UK perspective.