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?

Publicinterest

Govt interest

Private sector interest

POLICY

Summing up

• Key issues facing media policy

• Question: whose interests served?

Item: First & 3rd 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, consultation5. 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