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 are 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? Public interest Govt interest Private sector interest POLICY

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 3G or WiFi?

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-content- systems 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