TY - JOUR
T1 - The disintegration of the state model in the english speaking caribbean
T2 - Restructuring and redefining public service broadcasting
AU - Storr, Juliette
N1 - Funding Information:
As in Europe, the region also favors the ‘light touch’ approach to regulation which allows industry self-regulation with the creation of independent regulatory authorities that have media representation. Jamaica began the process of reregulation in 1997 with the introduction of the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica Act (PBCJ Act). The Act allowed the government of Jamaica to divest and sell the state-owned broadcasting corporation and establish public broadcasting. The regulatory body responsible for all broadcasting in Jamaica is the , established by the Broadcasting and Radio Re-Diffusion Amendment Act of 1986. That Act was amended several times to accommodate the rapidly changing environment; it was last amended in 2009 to include more control of programming content with regard to explicit verbal and visual content deemed harmful to vulnerable members of society (). With the launch of PBCJ radio and television in 2006 the new public broadcaster was mandated to promote and broadcast national issues, including values and attitudes within the society, culture, educational programs, national activities such as state and official events, national campaigns, church services, civic activities, public debates and spiritual and motivational activities. The PBCJ began with 140 million Jamaican dollars from the divestment of JBC with continued funding coming from the private sector and civic organizations (). However, since this initial partial funding by the state, the PBCJ has been funded predominantly by the private sector and civic organizations through donations and fundraising activities. Some media analysts () believe the private funding of the PBCJ is problematic as private funders could influence content. The commercial sector has also opposed the private funding of public service broadcasting and has made strong arguments of unfair competition. These accusations raise the specter of sustainability and autonomy for the PBJC.
Copyright:
Copyright 2011 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2011/11
Y1 - 2011/11
N2 - Public service broadcasting evolved in the small states of the English speaking Caribbean as state broadcasting. As such, state broadcasting has been forced to change to compete with private broadcasters, cable, satellite and the internet. This article assesses the paradigm shift in public service broadcasting within the former British colonies of the Caribbean, with particular emphasis on Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago. Then the article discusses the changes in state broadcasting in the Caribbean region in recent decades in relation to market sector, audiences and digital technology. This is followed by a discussion on the policy directions, programming and mission of newly minted public service broadcasting (PSB) in the English speaking Caribbean with questions of the future of PSB in these small states.
AB - Public service broadcasting evolved in the small states of the English speaking Caribbean as state broadcasting. As such, state broadcasting has been forced to change to compete with private broadcasters, cable, satellite and the internet. This article assesses the paradigm shift in public service broadcasting within the former British colonies of the Caribbean, with particular emphasis on Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago. Then the article discusses the changes in state broadcasting in the Caribbean region in recent decades in relation to market sector, audiences and digital technology. This is followed by a discussion on the policy directions, programming and mission of newly minted public service broadcasting (PSB) in the English speaking Caribbean with questions of the future of PSB in these small states.
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U2 - 10.1177/1748048511417155
DO - 10.1177/1748048511417155
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:81055143815
SN - 1748-0485
VL - 73
SP - 553
EP - 572
JO - International Communication Gazette
JF - International Communication Gazette
IS - 7
ER -