This may be of interest to some of you.

Regards,

Maria Michalis

 

IS THE PUBLIC INTEREST UNDER THREAT?

MEDIA POLICY RESPONSES TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR RECESSION IN EUROPE

 

A Symposium jointly organised by the Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI) at the University of Westminster, and the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA)

 

2 October 2009

 

University of Westminster, 309 Regent Street, London, W1B 2UW

 

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Matteo Maggiore (BBC Group Controller, European and International Policy)	Carole Tongue (Chair, UK Coalition for Cultural Diversity)

 

 

 

 

 

 

SESSIONS ON:

-         Threats to pluralism: ownership, content, and public service ethos

-         Policy developments within the EU

-         Individual country perspectives

 

Across Europe, the private media sector is suffering intense economic pressure from the cyclical downturn in advertising and the structural shift of advertising revenue to the web. As a result, corporations are pursuing every avenue to exploit new and existing means of generating revenue, and of maximising the potential of digitalisation. This is having a direct impact on the policy making process at both national and supranational levels as governments and regulatory agencies come under increasing pressure to restrict new initiatives in the public sector, to apply the strictest possible criteria to publicly funded media organizations, and to relax regulatory oversight of the private sector.

 

This symposium offers an opportunity for scholars, regulators and industry representatives to come together and discuss the nature of new policy initiatives being canvassed or implemented throughout Europe, and their repercussions for promoting (or foreclosing) the public interest.

 

 

Outline Timetable: 2 October 2009

 

9.00 – 9.30                Registration

 

9.30 – 11.00:             Session 1. The threat to pluralism and public service

 

11.30 – 1.00:             Session 2. Keynote speakers and plenary discussion

 

Lunch

 

2.00 – 3.30:               EU policy developments

 

4.00 – 5.30:               Perspectives from nation states

 

5.45 – 7.30:               Reception

 

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Please return this form with payment to Helen Cohen ([log in to unmask]) or post to Conference Administrator, Room FG-03, University of Westminster, Watford Road, Northwick Park,  Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3TP England or by FAX: +44 (0) 20 7911 5995.

Phone No +44 (0) 20 7911 5000 Ext 4298.