media accountability in europe paolo baldi, media consultant eavi founding conference lucca, october...

Media Accountability in Media Accountability in EuropeEurope

Paolo Baldi, Media ConsultantPaolo Baldi, Media Consultant

EAVI Founding EAVI Founding ConferenceConferenceLucca, October 2004Lucca, October 2004

EAVI Conference – Lucca, October 2004

C o n t e n tC o n t e n t

I – Why Media Accountability is I – Why Media Accountability is important ?important ?

II – MA is in the Media Policy agendasII – MA is in the Media Policy agendas

III - Europe: a fragmented sutuationIII - Europe: a fragmented sutuationAdvanced countriesAdvanced countries

Less advanced countriesLess advanced countries

« Under construction » countries« Under construction » countries

IV – Concluding remarksIV – Concluding remarks


I – Why MA is important ?I – Why MA is important ?

Viewers / citizens participation is Viewers / citizens participation is highly dependent from: highly dependent from: the « quality » of the information the « quality » of the information

publicly available (on media activities) ;publicly available (on media activities) ; the « quality » of the formal / informal the « quality » of the formal / informal

procedures used for listening to procedures used for listening to audiences interests;audiences interests;

This transparency helps in monitoring This transparency helps in monitoring the performances of the media.the performances of the media.


I – Why MA is important ?I – Why MA is important ?

Complaints UnitsComplaints Units OmbudsmannOmbudsmann Audience CouncilsAudience Councils Public ConsultationsPublic Consultations ‘ ‘Media Meetings’Media Meetings’ Qualitative ResearchQualitative Research

Ethics ChartsEthics Charts Programs Programs

classificationclassification Programme policyProgramme policy Infomation on:Infomation on:

Complaints handlingComplaints handling SanctionsSanctions Etc…Etc…

« listening » to audiences

« informing » audiences


II – MA is in the Agenda… II – MA is in the Agenda…

Authoritative & ongoing PSBs reviewsAuthoritative & ongoing PSBs reviews

Innovative & audience-oriented Innovative & audience-oriented accountability instrumentsaccountability instruments

Creation of accountable self-Creation of accountable self-regulated bodiesregulated bodies

Promotion of Media LiteracyPromotion of Media Literacy


III – A fragmented EuropeIII – A fragmented Europe Most Most

AdvancedAdvancedLess Less

AdvancedAdvanced« Under -« Under -

Construction »Construction » UKUK IEIE DEDE NLNL BEBE SESE NONO F IF I

FRFR ITIT ESES CHCH LULU GRGR

P L P L CZCZ SKSK HUHU S IS I EE / LT / LVEE / LT / LV RORO BUBU


III – Most Advanced Countries III – Most Advanced Countries

Authoritative & ongoing PSBs reviewsAuthoritative & ongoing PSBs reviews

UK / OFCOM: PSBs review / BBC ChartUK / OFCOM: PSBs review / BBC Chart► « « maintaining and strengthening the quality maintaining and strengthening the quality

of PSB television in the future… »of PSB television in the future… »

► BBC: reviewing complaints handling processBBC: reviewing complaints handling process

IE / Gov.: « Forum on Broadcasting »IE / Gov.: « Forum on Broadcasting »► RTE Audience Council / RTE CharterRTE Audience Council / RTE Charter


III – Most Advanced Countries III – Most Advanced Countries

Innovative & audience-oriented Innovative & audience-oriented accountability instruments:accountability instruments: UK / OFCOM: Consumer Panel (indip.)UK / OFCOM: Consumer Panel (indip.)

DE / MA-NRW: Media Meeting (indip.)DE / MA-NRW: Media Meeting (indip.)

New elements:New elements: Create a stronger link with audiences / Create a stronger link with audiences /

publicpublic

Introduce non-politically appointed citizensIntroduce non-politically appointed citizens


III – Less Advanced CountriesIII – Less Advanced Countries Authorities (NRA) just supervise the

implementation of current legislation:: FR / GR: no complaints handlingFR / GR: no complaints handling Spain: CAC cannot revoke licencesSpain: CAC cannot revoke licences CH: no « Indip. Media Council » (law CH: no « Indip. Media Council » (law

revision)revision)

NRA have limited sanctionary powers:NRA have limited sanctionary powers: Italy: no starting or « cash settlement »Italy: no starting or « cash settlement » Spain (Andalusia) / LU: no sanctionsSpain (Andalusia) / LU: no sanctions


III – Less Advanced Countries III – Less Advanced Countries

Convoluted and « unworkable » legislation:Convoluted and « unworkable » legislation: IT: need for one systematic Code TV & MinorsIT: need for one systematic Code TV & Minors

GR: « non-implementability » of the legislationGR: « non-implementability » of the legislation

Questionables accountability mechanisms:Questionables accountability mechanisms: FTV: « Médiateur » / « Charte de l’antenne » FTV: « Médiateur » / « Charte de l’antenne »

CH / SRG: « Regional Societies » limited influence CH / SRG: « Regional Societies » limited influence (contradictory role)(contradictory role)


III – « Under Construction » III – « Under Construction » CountriesCountries

Lack of a civil society tradition:Lack of a civil society tradition: RO : « we miss consumer’s education » (NAC)RO : « we miss consumer’s education » (NAC)

Weakness of the regulatory framework:Weakness of the regulatory framework: EU Regulation not fully implemented (PL / CZ)EU Regulation not fully implemented (PL / CZ) No good laws: Wrestilng (BU); Nova (CZ)No good laws: Wrestilng (BU); Nova (CZ)

NRAs have too many competences:NRAs have too many competences: lack of visibility / attention on « viewers lack of visibility / attention on « viewers

interests » issuesinterests » issues


IV – Concluding Remarks IV – Concluding Remarks

ICTs are accelerating the adoption of ICTs are accelerating the adoption of more performant accountability toolsmore performant accountability tools

Self-regulation is a solution if seriously Self-regulation is a solution if seriously endorsed & monitored by the Govsendorsed & monitored by the Govs

Small countries with « next door giants » Small countries with « next door giants » urgently need pan-European regulationurgently need pan-European regulation

« Complaints » and « Sanctions » are « Complaints » and « Sanctions » are two negatives approaches: dialogue and two negatives approaches: dialogue and visionvision

T h a n k sT h a n k s

media accountability in europe paolo baldi, media consultant eavi founding conference lucca, october...

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