• siora-photography-Rm6Z-SfMOkw-unsplash-1

How do Public Service Broadcasters Make a Case for Themselves? An Analysis of BBC’s “Charter Manifestos”

A Research Paper by Alessandro D'Arma, published by Journal of Information Policy

Abstract

As publicly funded organizations operating in a sector characterized by ever-greater private-sector provision, public service broadcasters need to build a robust case for their continuing legitimacy. This article examines the discursive strategies of the BBC in the United Kingdom in the context of the last three Royal Charter reviews. It shows that since the early 2000s, and particularly during the most recent Charter review, the BBC has deployed influential policy ideas on the creative economy to build a case that in keeping with the times emphasizes its economic contribution as well as its more traditional role in fostering political and cultural citizenship.

 

Introduction

Making a persuasive case for their legitimacy has become over time a more pressing and challenging task for public service broadcasting (PSB) organizations seeking to protect their position.1 The end of “spectrum scarcity” has long undermined the technological case for PSB. Since the 1990s, new communications technologies and neoliberal policies have brought about a new market-driven era of digital plenty. Against this backdrop, free-market advocates and private-sector competitors have argued that there is no need for large PSB institutions funded through taxation. For their part, PSBs have had to reconsider their role in light of evolving political, social, market, and technological realities, and make a case in terms that are relevant for contemporary conditions and discourses. Arguably, at its core, the story of PSB around the world in the last 30 years has revolved around a battle for legitimization and, ultimately, survival. As publicly funded organizations operating in a sector characterized by disruptive technological change and ever greater commercial provision, and in an age dominated by a political ideology that accords primacy to the market, PSBs have had to work hard to spell out their contribution to society in order to try to secure their future.

.

Alessandro D'Arma

About

Alessandro D’Arma is Reader in Media and Communication and Director of the CAMRI PhD Programme. He holds a Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).

He is the elected Co-President of the International Association of Public Media Researchers (IAPMR – 2021-2024). Previously (2016-2021) he served as Co-Chair of the Public Service Media Policies Working Group of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR).

Before pursuing an academic career, Alessandro had worked as a media industry analyst and contributed to numerous consultancy reports.

Details

Date
1 August 2018
Published By
Journal of Information Policy
Share this article
FacebooktwitterredditlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
CAMRI | How do Public Service Broadcasters Make a Case for Themselves? An Analysis of BBC's “Charter Manifestos” - CAMRI
class="pirenko_portfolios-template-default single single-pirenko_portfolios postid-2316 samba_theme samba_left_nav samba_left_align samba_responsive thvers_85 wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-6.5.0 vc_responsive"