EU COMMUNICATION POLICY GROUP

By: Anna, Theresa, Steph, Geoff, and Jeff

Italy: the Threat to Media Pluralism Duopoly: RAI and Mediaset 85 - 90% audience share Media consolidation of both

television networks under Berlusconi Gasparri Law adopted in 2004

Conclusions & Recommendations Not adequate in protecting media

pluralism and ensuring fair competition – liberal model

Recommendations: include audience share and revenue limits in regulations; establish authorities with the power to act against media concentration; measures that actively promote plurality

French Cultural Diplomacy

3 main objectives for French cultural policy externally: Bring other cultures to France Promote cultural understanding and cooperation And, the biggest one, which is promote French culture

around the world

2 main players have to work together: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Culture and Communication

Laws analyzed in report: -Foundations: Constitution of 1954, Article 87 & 88: -Recent Changes: Act on The External Action of the State

of July 2010: Decree #2010-1695  

Implications:

Articles 87 & 88 of the Constitution: France has a historical tradition and structure

for cultural diplomacy & cultural aid: makes it a model

Decree 2010-1695: 1. gives cultural diplomacy a higher profile2. a broader mission3. different status: from ‘Not for Profit’ to

‘Public agency permitted to engage in commercial activities

ConclusionsAnalysis: Roots of the Aesthetic model here Also the Modern/Industrial model: Alternative to cultural An embrace of “soft power” Reaction to a more globalized world One independent organization potential to be better

organized and more effective

Recommendations: Is this French institutional model, post Act on Exterior

Action, one to follow? Build monitoring and evaluation into the institutional

structure of Institut Francais, especially for the development of new missions

Recommend further research on the change of the organization’s status (public/industriel from association)

Wait and see

Germany’s Strafgezetzbuch

“Whoever publically… approves of an act committed under… National Socialism… shall be punished by imprisonment up to five years or a monetary fine.” {ART CXXX}

Basic Law, Grundgezetz

“Leidkultur” vs “Leitkultur”

Application and Recommendation

Court cases from the Bundesgerichtshof

Effects on International Politics Germany and Israel

Speech and discussion about the past

Effects on moderns issues?

What is Germany?

Germany as a nation has had problems identifying their "leading culture" since it's inception. 

This constant questioning has led to the concept of "The German Question" which essentially asks "What is Germany?” 

Now that Germany has recently identified itself as an Immigrant Country, this question has yet again become relevant. 

The Immigrant Act of 2005

In 2005, The Federal Republic of Germany released the Immigrant Act of 2005. 

Integration courses and tests contained racially charged questions that went against the Grundgesetz.

The Immigrant Act of 2005 only created more barriers and in that that German Government is clearly sticking to a National Conception of Cultural Policy. 

National Integration Plan

In 2007 the German Government released the National Integration Plan. 

To achieve cooperation, the Turks need to feel comfortable participating in their own public space. 

Ultimately this participation should lead to more political representation, which will hopefully give way to political equality so that  these breaches of German Basic Law will come to a halt. 

Media Policy: the EU

The guiding documents of the EU specifically encourage and support the creation and dissemination of cultural works, including the Audiovisual sector.

The 2010 Audiovisual Media Services directive (AVMSD 2010) lays out that each member state bears primary responsibility for their own cultural policies.

The MEDIA program (1991-ongoing) is intended to supplement the AV aid and development programs in each member state.

Problems

MEDIA is criticized as being too commercially-focused at times.

Small filmmakers and artists have concerns that only larger, more mainstream projects will be funded.

The rules of collaborative/cross-national productions make single-nationality productions more attractive at times, making a "Pan-European" cultural program difficult to attain.

THANK YOU!