Media Accountability in Europe Paolo Baldi, Media Consultant EAVI Founding Conference Lucca, October 2004

EAVI Conference – Lucca, October 2004 C o n t e n t I – Why Media Accountability is important ? II – MA is in the Media Policy agendas III - Europe: a fragmented sutuation Advanced countries Less advanced countries « Under construction » countries IV – Concluding remarks

EAVI Conference – Lucca, October 2004 I – Why MA is important ?  Viewers / citizens participation is highly dependent from:  the « quality » of the information publicly available (on media activities) ;  the « quality » of the formal / informal procedures used for listening to audiences interests;  This transparency helps in monitoring the performances of the media.

EAVI Conference – Lucca, October 2004 I – Why MA is important ?  Complaints Units  Ombudsmann  Audience Councils  Public Consultations  ‘Media Meetings’  Qualitative Research  Ethics Charts  Programs classification  Programme policy  Infomation on:  Complaints handling  Sanctions  Etc… « listening » to audiences « informing » audiences

EAVI Conference – Lucca, October 2004 II – MA is in the Agenda…  Authoritative & ongoing PSBs reviews  Innovative & audience-oriented accountability instruments  Creation of accountable self-regulated bodies  Promotion of Media Literacy

EAVI Conference – Lucca, October 2004 III – A fragmented Europe Most MostAdvancedLessAdvanced « Under - Construction »  UK  IE  DE  NL  BE  SE  NO  F I  FR  IT  ES  CH  LU  GR  P L  CZ  SK  HU  S I  EE / LT / LV  RO  BU

EAVI Conference – Lucca, October 2004 III – Most Advanced Countries  Authoritative & ongoing PSBs reviews  UK / OFCOM: PSBs review / BBC Chart ► « maintaining and strengthening the quality of PSB television in the future… » ► BBC: reviewing complaints handling process  IE / Gov.: « Forum on Broadcasting » ► RTE Audience Council / RTE Charter

EAVI Conference – Lucca, October 2004 III – Most Advanced Countries  Innovative & audience-oriented accountability instruments:  UK / OFCOM: Consumer Panel (indip.)  DE / MA-NRW: Media Meeting (indip.)  New elements:  Create a stronger link with audiences / public  Introduce non-politically appointed citizens

EAVI Conference – Lucca, October 2004 III – Less Advanced Countries  :  Authorities (NRA) just supervise the implementation of current legislation:  FR / GR: no complaints handling  Spain: CAC cannot revoke licences  CH: no « Indip. Media Council » (law revision)  NRA have limited sanctionary powers:  Italy: no starting or « cash settlement »  Spain (Andalusia) / LU: no sanctions

EAVI Conference – Lucca, October 2004 III – Less Advanced Countries  Convoluted and « unworkable » legislation:  IT: need for one systematic Code TV & Minors  GR: « non-implementability » of the legislation  Questionables accountability mechanisms:  FTV: « Médiateur » / « Charte de l’antenne »  CH / SRG: « Regional Societies » limited influence (contradictory role)

EAVI Conference – Lucca, October 2004 III – « Under Construction » Countries  Lack of a civil society tradition:  RO : « we miss consumer’s education » (NAC)  Weakness of the regulatory framework:  EU Regulation not fully implemented (PL / CZ)  No good laws: Wrestilng (BU); Nova (CZ)  NRAs have too many competences:  lack of visibility / attention on « viewers interests » issues

EAVI Conference – Lucca, October 2004 IV – Concluding Remarks  ICTs are accelerating the adoption of more performant accountability tools  Self-regulation is a solution if seriously endorsed & monitored by the Govs  Small countries with « next door giants » urgently need pan-European regulation  « Complaints » and « Sanctions » are two negatives approaches: dialogue and vision

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