A report commissioned by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) says the response of public service newsrooms to the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the value of public service media (PSM) to society overall.
However, the report also warns that this will not be enough in itself to guarantee the growth of PSM — or even its survival.
Based on feedback from editors-in-chief at European media organisations, as well as their own insights, authors Maike Olij and Atte Jääskeläinen predict the likely developments for reportage, and outline what media organisations need to do to keep pace with a fast-changing news environment.
“COVID-19 has accelerated change and forced through digitalisation at a rate that we could not have predicted this time last year,” Ms Olij and Mr Jääskeläinen said.
“PSM met that challenge by proving its capacity to innovate and turn around its own organisational structures, cultures and production schedules in just days,” they said.
“These transformations are good indicators for PSM’s future relevance, whatever issues emerge.”
However, Ms Olij and Mr Jääskeläinen said “we’ve also seen journalism being criticised and real threats to media freedoms, where Governments have used COVID-19 to push through legislation that is negative for news outlets”.
Editor-in-Chief at RTVSLO in Slovenia, Nejc Jemec says he can see a situation where the broadcaster’s survival is threatened.
“We are known for our critical reporting, during the crisis too, and even though the public highly appreciates that approach, politicians are seizing the opportunity to change legislation,” Mr Jemec said.
The report authors said the Slovenian situation is being repeated elsewhere.
“There are also economic implications for PSM as a result of the crisis, from PSM losing valuable advertising monies to national politicians weighing up intense competition for public funds,” they said.
Director General of the EBU, Noel Curran (pictured) said there was a need for PSM to work together to ensure Governments understood the critical role it had played and would always play in times of crisis.
“The output provided by our newsrooms across Europe needs support, commitment and investment, sustained over the long term,” Mr Curran said.
Brussels, 26 November 2020
