Paradigms broadcasting key issues analysis PARADIGMS Paradigm spectacles

Paradigms, broadcasting, key issues, analysis

PARADIGMS

Paradigm spectacles: 1. Functionalism 2. Liberal Pluralism 3. Power view 4. Participative 5. Chaos theory

Paradigms 1: Functionalism • Policy = systems to harmonise for the reproduction of the whole entity. • Relevance to policy on media: – Plays integrative role – eg. get agreement that political parties will not be allowed to have radio station licences. – Gives predictability, avoids ad hoc decisions: there agreed rules & procedures for getting licences. – Should go through clear stages/steps

Paradigms 2: Lib pluralism • Policy reflects interests: competition and contest among those who can. • Highlights elite politics of policy. • Policy “sales” seen to = the most rational outcome for the whole. • Relevance to policy on media: – Fair & open competition for licences. – Recognise diff interests amongst power -holders who need to be satisfied by policy process if result = legit.

Paradigms 3: Power view • Policy reflects the rulers. – Highlights final power in policy – Focus on class and gender. • Relevance to policy on media: – Policy decisions (& ambiguity) reflect not just compromise but control. – Do govt, international orgs, owners or advertisers call the final shots? – Sometimes “policy as political theatre” – Discourse of policy coverage is nb.

Paradigm 4: Participative • Policy as consultative and empowering of powerless. • Relevance to policy on media: – Are there provisions for media workers, and audiences, to make input or register complaints? – Are there provisions for access to public service media by all voices? – Grassroots ownership – community media possibilities.

Paradigm 5: Chaos theory • Policy as piecemeal muddle. – Disorderly, ad hoc. • Media relevance: – Policy arises from poor info, poor process, false perceptions, flawed cause-effect views, inconsistencies, irrational humans.

Summing up • Paradigm insight: – – – policy as integrative policy as politically contested policy as power of the dominant policy as empowering policy as patchy

Exercise • Apply the paradigms to an internal policy issue: a policy on smoking in the newsroom.

In whose interests? Govt interest POLICY Private sector interest Public interest

Summing up • Key issues facing media policy • Question: whose interests served? Item: First & 3 rd World policy issues. Horwitz, Crede & Mansell, Linden

SINGLING OUT BROADCAST

Outside of USA … • Historically authoritarian: – media content – industry structure • Form: – state monopoly – public must pay licence fees – universal service notion

Why broadcast & not print? • Rationale: – uses public frequency spectrum – nation-building power • Exceptions are the rule! – Print is regulated in many countries! – Rationale: seen as powerful

Regulatory rationales • Broadcast liberalisation is also regulated: – Spectrum and order argument – Social factors arguments = License commercial broadcasters. • Thus policy covers all broadcasters: • Eg. Local content, morals, elections, news, language, univ service, tariffs, etc.

Perspectives • Broadcast control in whose interests? – – – the society (functionalist view) government/ruling class (power) elite private interests (pluralist) consumers & communities (participative) nobody, random beneficiaries (chaos)

Convergence confuses • Digital broadcasting: – Policy when frequency not at stake? • Different channels: – When broadcast goes via Net? • Other frequency use: – When goes via 3 G or Wi. Fi?

Summing up • Broadcast policy issues: – Historically more susceptible to policy and regulation – Frequency and social issues – Convergence issues

KEY ISSUES

Key issues: A. Role of state B. Philosophies C. Scope of policy D. No policy & failure

A. Role of the state – The most NB site of policy? – Role of independent regulators? – Role of foreign influences? – Role of international orgs? – Role of the media?

B: Philosophies & values • Libertarian/commercial values: • Light touch - abstentionist • Democratic values: • Consultative, self-regulatory • Social democratic values: • Directive • Statist/control-freak values: • Heavy touch

C: Scope of policy • Policing policy, or “regulate the regulatable”: • Selection of gender sources? • Defining field: • Training? Freebies? Plagiarism? • Also: Capacity, monitoring, review.

D: Impact issues • Formal vs informal policies. • Living vs dead-letter policies: • “No policy” can be a policy position – de facto, it is status quo friendly.

D: Impact issues cntd • Assessing policy success: • Measurable indicators needed • Evaluation must be done • When policy fails: – Impractical & unrealistic – Inflexible re: changing conditions • Policy vs practice: – Where does fault lie?

Re-cap • Definition & purpose of policy. • Who, what, where, when, how, why, so what? • Issues in policy, structure-contentsystems • 4 paradigms: functionalist, liberal, power, participative • Broadcasting, convergence • Key issues: philosophy, scope, impact

POLICY ANALYSIS

Ingredients of good policy 1. It should be relevant and clear: – Why this policy, what’s the purpose? (eg. predictability, enabling, empowering) – – – Whose problem/possibility is addressed? Thus: Dont’s and do’s. Who the policy is for? Whose interests? Clear objectives are spelled out.

Ingredients of good policy 1. It should address: – Who should implement it? – Where is it made, where does it apply? – How is it made, how is it applied? – What paradigm informs it? Good policy shd be comprehensive.

What makes for good policy? 2. Clear definition of what it covers (scope), and whether it is formal or not: eg. What exactly is “convergence” if you wanted a policy on this?

Good policy: 3. Specifies its own genesis Who makes/made the policy: – Stakeholders? (Ownership)? – What interests & politics? – Where? How? Why (legitimacy)? – Who makes/made the final decision? (power? )

Good policy also: 4. Recognises inputs: – – External policy determinants & context Underlying values made explicit Research that is conducted Consultative contributions. 5. Has suitable philosophy of implementation as regards objectives. 6. Is practical (esp. budget & time issues)

Good policy further: 7. Is assess-able (yields indicators) 8. Specifies who communicates it and how. 9. Tells who monitors & assesses. 10. Sets out who must take corrective action or initiate policy review, … and when.

Checklist: Cover all points 1. Relevance, purpose, interests, objectives. (= paradigm) 2. Definition of what it covers. 3. Who will make the policy, who adopt it? 4. List of inputs: external, values, research, consultation 5. What philosophy of intervention?

Checklist: Cover all points 6. Practical implications (budget, time) 7. Assessment – what indicators are there? How gauge degrees of success or failure? 8. Who will communicate the policy? 9. Who will monitor and assess? 10. Who will action change?

Conclusion • Policy is a major factor for media • It matters! Thank you