The Legitimacy of Public Service Broadcasting in the 21st Century
JOURNAL
The Case of Scandinavia
University of Oslo, Norway
Nordicom Review 35 (2014) 2, pp. 65-76
Abstract
“The present paper examines the debate on the future of public service broadcasting in Norway and Sweden in the 2000s. I have analysed the discourses on PSB that dominate the public debate in the two countries, the cultural policy related to PSB, as well as the legitimising rhetoric of the Norwegian public service broadcaster Norsk Rikskringkasting (NRK) and that of the Swedish public service broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT). Theoretically, the analysis draws on normative theories on the role of PSB in promoting democracy, culture and a well-functioning public sphere, as well as theories on democracy and the public sphere per se.”
Autonomy and Regulatory Frameworks of Public Service Media in the Triangle of Politics, the Public and the Economy
REPORT
Eva Nowak
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
University of Oxford
2014
Overview
“Traditional regulatory frameworks for public service broadcasters in Europe are challenged by developments in media technology, media use, and media economy. European states react in very different ways to these challenges emphasising political, public, or economic objectives in their regulation. This study analyses the influencing factors on PSM regulatory frameworks in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom”
To read the full article, click here.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority
POLICY BRIEF
The ACMA is Australia’s broadcasting, internet, radio communications and telecommunications regulator. Their intention is to make “media and communications work for all Australians“.
The role of the ACMA is diverse, from online safety courses for children and parents to conducting research on the Australian media communications environment to inform decision makers. Away from education and research, the ACMA also manage Australia’s radio frequency spectrum, ensuring that it is equipped for the continuing pressures rapidly growing ownership of mobile internet devices.
As regulators, the AMCA is responsible for investigating codes of conduct and practice both on an individual and organisational level. This includes combatting the misuse of content, abuse and producing guidelines that help to protect consumer and citizen rights.
The links below take you to two of the ACMA’s most recent reports. ‘The Communications Report 2014-2015‘ reports on the “performance of carriers and carriage service providers, including consumer satisfaction, consumer benefits and quality of service“, whilst the inaugural ‘ACMA snapshot‘ (September quarter, 2015) offers an overview of the ACMA’s “broad and diverse” regulatory activities.
Germany: Interstate Treaty on Broadcasting and Telemedia
POLICY BRIEF
This treaty is a great example of how to implement a funding transition and regulatory changes within a federal State.
Written by Germany’s Die Medienanstalten (the corporation representing all state media authorities in Germany), this 2019 version of the Interstate treaty contains the principal regulatory framework for public-service and commercial broadcasting in a dual broadcasting system of Germany’s federal states. It also takes into account the development of the broadcasting sector in Europe.
Mapping Digital Media: News and New Media in Central Africa
REPORT
Challenges and Opportunities
Marie-Soleil Frère
The Open Society Media Program, December 2012
Abstract
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa. Rwanda and Burundi are among the continent’s smallest states. More than just neighbours, these three countries are locked together by overlapping histories and by extreme political and economic challenges. Their populations are overwhelmingly rural and young. In terms of media, radio is by far the most popular source of news. Levels of state capture are high, and media quality is generally poor. Professional journalists face daunting obstacles.
Telecoms overheads are exorbitantly high. In these conditions, new and digital media — which flourish on consumers’ disposable income, strategic investment, and vibrant markets — have made a very slow start. Crucially, connectivity remains low. But change is afoot, led by the growth of mobile internet access.
In this report, Marie-Soleil Frère surveys the news landscapes of DRC, Burundi, and Rwanda. Marshalling an impressive range of data, she examines patterns of production and consumption, the often grim realities of law and regulation, the embryonic state of media policy, the role of donors, and the positive impact of online platforms. Most media outlets now have an online presence. SMS has become a basic tool for reporters. Interactivity gives voice to increasing numbers of listeners. The ease of digital archiving makes it possible to create a collective media “memory” for the first time. Chinese businesses are winning tenders for infrastructure projects.
The report ends with a set of practical recommendations relating to infrastructure, strategies to reduce access costs for journalists and the public, education and professionalisation, donor activity, governance, regulation, and media management.
Quality Indicators for Public Broadcasters – Contemporary Evaluation
Guide | Policy brief | Report
This UNESCO report discusses ways of assessing quality in public media.
This report, published by UNESCO, gives an insight into possible indicators for quality in public media. Public broadcasters and companies around the world are striving to produce high-quality content and face the market competition, but often their efforts cannot be quantified, and there is no structured way for public media companies to assess their performance. Public broadcasters can currently rely only on audience measurement instruments and ratings. According to the report, indicators are necessary to correctly assess the services provided by public broadcasters, make evaluations clearer and more objective and paving the way for continuous improvements.
This study offers a set of indicators that can be adapted or considered for different institutions and offers indicators related to production diversity, originality, the use of new languages and platforms and much more.
Public policies for public service media
JOURNAL & REPORT
UK and the German policy cases, with warnings and lessons from the USA
A 2010 article by Prof. Peter Humphreys (University of Manchester) that focuses on the impact of new technologies and changing media markets on public service broadcasting. The first part of the article focuses on the impact of new technologies and changing media markets on PSB whilst the second focuses on how to maintain a plurality of content and public service players. US examples and broadcast experiences are used comparatively throughout this paper.
This article was published for the RIPE@2010 conference series.
For the full article, click here
Beyond Broadcasting: The future of state owned broadcasters in Southern Africa
JOURNAL
Written in 2009, this recommended article, supported by FesMedia Africa, conveys the complicated changes facing state-owned broadcasters in Southern Africa.
These changes include those influenced by the “digitisation of production, distribution and consumption of public interest news and current affairs” and their impact on key broadcast players across the region.
The report is split into sub-reports about the media landscape in individual states and the influence of technological, regulatory and conceptual changes to broadcasting services.
For full access to this open-source article, click here
Public Media 2.0
Guide | Policy brief
Dynamic, Engaged Publics
Jessica Clark & Patricia Aufderheide
Future of Public Media Project, Center for Media and Social Impact
Center for Social Media, School of Communication, American University
2009
This White Paper explores the future of public media in the USA whilst considering its historical democratic role. The report lays out a vision for “Public Media 2.0” and what this may entail with the development of multi-platform, participatory technology.
To read the full report, head to the Center for Media & Social Impact website, here.
Reinventing Public Service Broadcasting in Europe
JOURNAL
Prospects, Promises and Problems
Johannes Bardoel & Leen d’Haenens
University of Amsterdam; Catholic University of Leuven; Raboud University Numegen
Media, Culture and Society, SAGE Publications, 2008, 30(3), p.337-355
Abstract
New information technologies, liberalising policies and rapidly changing societies – from mono- to multicultural – entail serious consequences for the prospects of European public service broadcasters in a network society. The European concept of PSB as a comprehensive and universal service is challenged by both EU and national authorities at three levels: 1) mission and program task (comprehensive or complementary programming?), 2) organization (central organisation or a ‘distributed public service’?) and 3) financing (license fee, advertising or ‘state aid’?). There are pressures towards a more ‘pure’ model of public service broadcasting and/or towards de-institutionalisation of PSB and ‘distributed public service’. Recent pleadings for (eg, in the Netherlands) and practices (eg, in New Zealand) of new PSB policy directions will be evaluated. The paper deals with the question whether the European full-fledged PSB model is still realistic or a more small-scale public service à la the American PBS would be a more viable prospect.
To read the full article, see Sage Publications here.