Public service

versus

Marketmodel

Market Model: Society’s needs can be met without regulationvia demand and supply.

media are like any other good or service

“a toaster with pictures”.

so long as there is enough competition business will respond to peoples’ needs.

Public service broadcasting

Each person is important not justbigger spenders. Since media are vital to democracythey cannot be just business.Citizens not consumers.Convenience and necessity not dollars.

Public convenience and necessity

To inform educate and entertain.

BBC vs NBC vs PTV

The public sphere

PTV Geo

bbc

Habermas: Frankfurt school, Marxist critic of capitalism

- Assembly and dialogue- to generate ideas and attitudes- that affirm or challenge and soguide government - In a democracy- public opinionlegitimates authority

remember what Innis said about public

opinion?

Media’s special role

Watchdogs/ fourth estate.Inform public opinion.

These roles require media to befree from manipulation.

Who manipulates mediadepending on the kind of system in play it can be

OWNERS GOVT CORPORATIONSBUREAUCRACIES COURTS

Food for thought

- Who trains journalists to fulfill their special role.- Media are made up of people not aliens.- What other factors besides commerce can prevent- Media from fulfilling their obligations to democracy?- Is information and access to media a human right?

Advantages of Markets:EfficiencyResponsivenessFlexibilityInnovation

Disadvantages of Markets:

UndemocraticReproduce inequalityAmoralDo not meet social needsDo not meet democratic needs

Does the trend of integrationmake media more or lessCompetitive as a business

Critics says: Less Supporters say: changes in tech mean this argument is moot

Why are media not like toasters?-Special legal protections-Advertisers not consumers pay-Media has special functions in a democratic society-Media broadcasters are using a scarce public resource- theairwaves-Toasters do not impact the national interest/ national security

Public Broadcasting system Commercial broadcasting system Owned by the state or public

Private ownership

Funded by public via license fees / parliament funds / donations

Financed by advertising dollars Dependant on ratings

Goal: universal reach: including minorities and underserved parts of population

Goal: draw the largest audience

Inform, educate and entertain Entertain and attract audience to gain higher ratings

Concern for national identity and community

Concern for demographics with largest pocketbooks and with interest in exporting programs

Detachment from vested interests and government

Shareholders important Advertisers very important (unlikely to run shows that undermine the business interests of advertisers.)

Vertical integration:

Worldcall?

Horizontal Integration:

promotes synergy

ARY? Geo?

Globalization

Concentration of Ownership

- Suggests media should “create and sustain a citizenry prepared for participation in public life” --- idealistic?-Public TV can become pedantic and bureaucratic- Innovation, diversity and substance costs money- Civic lessons can be boring.- Audiences tend to choose media they agree with and media they enjoy.-Says media should promote culture- which culture?- Public service TV can be old fashioned and paternalistic as well as elitist.

What’s missing from the author’s argument?

Central Questions

What are horizontal and vertical integration? Give examples from the media world. Why do you think businesses might liketo pursue integration?

Why should the public worry about media monopolies or concentration of ownership in the media?

What is convergence?

Why do media companies target the global market?

What is the Public Sphere.

What do you think are the weaknesses and strengths of each system , what would you prefer for Pakistan, why?