Media Pluralism Monitor

Pilot test implementation

2013-2014

Centre for Media Pluralism and Media FreedomBrussels

17 December 2013

Context and general overviewStructure of the monitorGoalsMethodology

Freedom and pluralism of the media are key elements for safeguardingthe exercise of freedom of expression, an essential pillar of EU.

The EU Commission launched in 2007 a three-step approach, presentedby Commissioner Reding and Vice-president Wallström, to safeguard andreinforce media pluralism in the EU:

1. A commission Staff Working Paper on media Pluralism

2. An independent study on media pluralism in EU Member States

3. A Commission Communication on the indicators for media pluralismin the EU Member States (abandoned)

Context and general view: the 3 steps approach

The Independent Study on Indicators for Media Pluralism inthe Member States – Towards a Risk-Based Approach wasissued in 2009 by three major universities K.U.Leuven – ICRI(lead contractor), Jönköping International Business School –MMTC and Central European University – CMCS, with thetechnical support of Ernst & Young Consultancy Belgium

Context and general view: the MPM

A key issue regarding media pluralism is the question ofcompetencies between European Union and single MemberStates

Also the MPM raises the question of competencies: if there isa risk for pluralism who should intervene?

In 2012, the Commission asked to the CMPF to realise a policyreport on EU Competencies with respect of media pluralism

Context and general view: competencies

-The MPM is not a therapy, it is a diagnosis

- it is neutral, holistic and comprehensive, objective, EU-standardised, evolved, practical and user friendly tool;

-Risk based approach, scored on basis of 3 border values:

red light: need for action

orange light : medium risk, attention point

Green light: no need for action

Structure of the MPM: the indicators

Risk domain RisksIndicators

Total Legal EconomicSocio-

demogr.Indicators numbering

Basic domain 3 11 11 0 0 1-11

Pluralism and Media Ownership&Control 10 28 13 15 0 81-108

Pluralism of Media Types and Genres 6 21 7 12 2 146-166

Political Pluralism in the Media 8 37 16 0 21 109-145

Cultural Pluralism in the Media 10 44 13 6 25 12-55

Geographical Pluralism in the Media 6 25 7 6 12 56-80

Total 43 166 67 39 60 1-166

The Study features 166 indicators measuring 43 different risks, groupedin 6 risk domains.

The indicators are divided into three different types: legal, economicand socio-demographic

Structure of the MPM: the indicators

Structure of the MPM: the indicators (areas)

Risk domain RisksIndicators

Total Supply Distribution UseIndicators numbering

Basic domain 3 11 10 0 1 1-11

Pluralism and Media Ownership&Control 10 28 20 8 0 81-108

Pluralism of Media Types and Genres 6 21 15 3 3 146-166

Political Pluralism in the Media 8 37 32 3 2 109-145

Cultural Pluralism in the Media 10 44 40 2 2 12-55

Geographical Pluralism in the Media 6 25 17 5 3 56-80

Total 43 166 134 21 11 1-166

Risks are also divided into 3 different areas, representing the “traditional valuechain”: supply, distribution, use.

Free speech, independent supervision, media literacy

Structure: the risk domains

Basic domain

Concentration in audience and resources in several mediamarkets (radio, TV, press, internet…), concentration incross-media ownership, vertical integration, ownershiptransparency

Pluralism of media ownership / control

Financial and audience parity, public interest channels,public access to content. Resources to support diversity ofmedia. Resources to support PSM

Pluralism of media types

Representation of European, national, world cultures,Representation of cultural and social groups,Representation of minorities and communities

Structure: the risk domains

Cultural pluralism

Political bias in media (during election campaigns);Politicisation of media ownership; Editorial independence;(In)dependence of PSM and news services; Pluralism ofdistribution systems; Citizen activity in online media

Political pluralism

Centralisation of national media systems, local and regionalmedia; Representation of local and regional communities;number of information sources for local issues, access to mediaand distribution systems

Geographical pluralism

Structure: the resultsRISK PROFILE PLURALISM OF OWNERSHIP & CONTROL: INDICATORS PER RISK

0

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

O1.1

O1.2

O1.3

O2.1

O2.2

O2.3

O3.1

O3.2

O3.3

O4.1

O4.2

O4.3

O5.1

O5.2

O5.3

O6.1

O6.2

O6.3

O7.1

O7.2

O7.3

O8.1

O8.2

O8.3

O9.1

O9.2

O10.1

O10.2O1 High ownership concentration in terrestrialtelevision

O2 High ownership concentration in radio

O3 High ownership concentration in newspapers

O4 High ownership concentration inCable/Sat/ADSL/TV

O5 High ownership concentration in magazines

O6 High ownership concentration in internetcontent provision

O7 High ownership concentration in bookpublishing

O8 High concentration of cross-media ownership

O9 High vertical concentration

O10 Intransparency in ownership structures

HIGH RISK

MODERATE RISK

LOW RISK

SCORE

The CMPF has been granted by the European Commission to conduct apilot test implementation of the Media Pluralism Monitor.

The pilot test implementation will be held in nine EU countries.

The project started in September 2013 and will run until August 2014.

The results will be discussed with the European Commission and publicly

The pilot test implementation aims at creating the conditions for a fullimplementation in all 28 Member States.

The Centre will also work to make the MPM a permanent tool

Goals: pilot test implementation

The pilot test implementation will help to clarifywhether some of the indicators can show someproblems in their practical application.

In particular, the pilot test implementation will try tounderstand if it is possible to narrow the focus of theMPM only (or mainly) on news and information

Goals: simplification

A specific work will be done to update the MPM inparticular respect of the area of internet. Althoughthe internet was of course already included in theStudy, recent developments of social media and ofportable and mobile devices requires an in-depthanalysis of the impact of these technologies on mediapluralism

Goals: update

The CMPF will carry out a preliminary simplification of theMPM.

-definition of the scope of the MPM

-simplification of some indicator according to “external andobjective criteria” (time/cost framework for assessing theindicator and time/cost limits of the project)

Methodology: preliminary simplification

The CMPF proposed to the European Commission a selectionof 9 countries where to conduct the pilot testimplementation. The selection was carefully elaboratedfollowing some objective criteria:

- Population

- Economic condition (GDP per capita)

- Geopolitical position (according to Hallin/Mancinidefinitions

- Level of attention of the European institutions (EPresolutions/hearings/particular national cases)

Methodology: the choice of the countries

The selected countries are:

BelgiumBulgariaDenmarkEstoniaFranceGreeceHungaryItalyUK

Methodology: operationalisation

To operate in every single country, the CMPF will rely on theexpertise of local institutions: universities, NGOs, mediaconsulting companies .

Independence and impartiality criteria will be adopted toavoid interferences and guarantee the maximum level ofobjectivity and reliability.

A workshop to train the local experts will be organised inFlorence in March 2014.

Methodology: fieldwork

A particularly important aspect will be the selection of the sources inorder to guarantee the highest accuracy of the data that will begathered.

National regulation authorities will represent a primary source of data. Apossibility is to contact regulators through their platform, EPRA.

The European Commission and Eurostat databases will also be used as aprimary source of information to collect data.

The European Audiovisual Observatory will be used both to gatherprimary information and to doublecheck the data gathered from othersources

Permanent exchange with stakeholders (a specific meeting in Brussels?)

Methodology: sources

For further information:

Cmpf.eui.eu

cmpf@eui.eu

elda.brogi@eui.eu

Thanks