The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has launched a campaign to demonstrate that public service media (PSM) is key to a strong society.
The new campaign called Keep Media Good aims to highlight how PSM organisations exist to inform, inspire, engage and innovate audiences.
The proliferation of fake news, political imbalances, disputes over funding and the rise of online streaming giants, has clouded the media. EBU’s campaign aims to raise awareness on how PSM’s are in fact society’s most valuable assets.
In a European first, nine organisations have come together to share the positive impact they have had on their viewers, in a series of untold stories from the perspective of everyday people overcoming fears, sharing triumphs and following their dreams.
”It is vitally important that people are reminded of the critical role public service media plays in society and everyday life” - Noel Curran
Research conducted by the EBU found a positive correlation between countries who have accessible good public media services and countries with stronger democracies.
Keep Media Good showcases inspiring stories of personal change and the PSM inspiration behind people following their dreams. It is EBU’s mission to “keep media good” through the support and awareness of PSM’s across Europe.
EBU Director General Noel Curran said: ”It is vitally important that people are reminded of the critical role public service media plays in society and everyday life.
”Public service media organisations are the biggest investors in European audiovisual production, European journalism and European audiovisual culture.
”They impact positively on people’s lives every day across the whole Continent. That is why we’ve launched the Keep Media Good campaign.”
Curran continued: “From France, to Portugal and Slovenia, members of the public have come together to share the impact PSM has had on their own lives.
”Whether a Paralympic athlete who was inspired to compete after watching the sport on television or people who have dedicated their lives to helping refugees having heard news reports on the crisis, I am proud we have been able to take these stories to audiences across Europe.”
The EBU research
EBU data shows that public service media is a critical component to broadcast production in markets around Europe:
- PSM organisations are the highest spenders on original content in 13 of the main 15 European countries and contribute far more to the support of independent production than commercial companies.
- PSM organisations spend 2.6x more on content than Amazon and Netflix combined worldwide.
- Almost two-thirds of programming shown by EBU Members is original content and 87% of it is made in the country itself or in an EU 28 nation.
- PSM is a major employer - in the 56 nations that belong to the EBU, more than 250,000 people are directly employed in PSM work.
- PSM sets an example in women’s leadership. Across all member nations, 22% of PSM leaders are women compared to only 3.4% of leaders in the general business community in the EU.
- Vital societal indicators such as freedom of the press and low levels of corruption are statistically linked to the performance of PSM in each country.
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