Independence of public service media governance and funding

3.3.5. Independence of public service media governance and

Figure 3.3.5.a. Indicator on Independence of public service media governance and funding - Map of risks per country

This indicator consists of three sub-indicators: one looking at the risks arising from PSM funding, and two assessing the risks stemming from both appointments to the PSM management boards and the appointment of the Director General. As shown in the figure below (Figure 3.3.5.b.), generally, risks are more related to the appointment procedures than to PSM financing. In the majority of countries, appointment procedures for the management of PSM lack proper safeguards and remain vulnerable to political influence. While selection and appointment procedures are often run by special committees, or media authorities, the final approval is, in many cases, given by parliamentary vote or by the government (a competent Minister).

Figure 3.3.5.b. Indicator on Independence of public service media governance and funding - Averages per sub-indicator

The highest scoring countries under this indicator are Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey.

In Bulgaria, the formal legal procedures for the appointment of Directors General and management boards of the PSM do not provide adequate guarantees for their inde- pendence from government or other political influence. The appointment of the cur- rent Director General of the public service media, BNT, has triggered strong criticism by experts and professional organisations due to his previous engagements in politics and his experience with politically controlled media (Spassov et al., 2020). In Romania, built-in legislative flaws prevent politically independent appointment procedures. In particular, the procedures allow for the dismissal of members of the PSM executive board, including the president, based on the political vote and without due considera- tion of their performance (Popescu et al. 2020).

The lowest risk scoring countries are the Netherlands and Sweden. While the appoint- ment procedures of the PSM management there are also not entirely depoliticized, there has been no indication of political interference in the appointments and dismissals of managers and board members of PSM. In Sweden, the appointment procedures are well defined in law and provide for the independence of the PSM boards and manage- ment, while also allowing for political oversight. The PSM boards are appointed by the PSM Management Foundation (Förvaltningsstiftelsen), which, in turn, is appointed by the government following a proposal from the political parties in the Swedish parlia-

The Social Inclusiveness area examines the access to the media by various social and cul- tural groups, such as minorities, local/regional communities, people with disabilities, and women. The access of different social groups to the media is a key aspect of a participatory media system and it is a core element of media pluralism. In addition, the Monitor consid- ers media literacy to be a precondition for using the media effectively.

The area covers the following indicators:

• Access to media for minorities

• Access to media for local/regional communities and community media

• Access to media for people with disabilities

• Access to media for women

• Media literacy

In the area of Social Inclusiveness, more than two thirds of the countries (22) are in the medium risk band; 5 countries scored high risk (Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, and Turkey) and 3 countries are in the low risk band (Sweden, France, and the United Kingdom). These results to a large degree correspond to MPM2017.

3.4.

Social

Inclusiveness

Figure 3.4.a. Social Inclusiveness area - Map of risks per country

As shown in Figure 3.4.b. Access to media for minorities and Access to media for women are the two highest risk scoring indicators in this area. In most countries with legally recognised minorities, there is also a law that aims to guarantee access to airtime on PSM to those minorities. It is not always effectively implemented in practice, but more than half of the countries score as being at low risk on access to public service media for legally recognised minorities. The risk is more prevalent with regard to those minorities which are not recognised by law. In 16 countries most minorities do not have access to airtime, or their access is not proportional to the size of their population within the country.

Women continue to be heavily underrepresented in the managerial and top executive positions of both public service and commercial media. Systematically, male experts are more often invited to comment in political programmes and articles than are the female experts. No country recorded low risk on this matter.

Figure 3.4.b. Social Inclusiveness area - Averages per indicator

While most indicators in the area have maintained their composition, the Media liter- acy indicator has been expanded to include the risks related to hate speech, especially online. Media literacy can educate and empower individuals and provide them with the skills that they need to properly identify both harmful as well as illegal online speech and to respond to it rapidly. Media literacy initiatives can also aim to inform individuals about the reach and potential impact of such speech, as well as about legal frameworks and consequences for different forms of speech, in order to raise awareness and to im- prove the culture of communication and expression online.