How can the quality and diversity of news and current affairs output be maintained in the digital age? Public Service Broadcasting
Feb 16, 2016
How can the quality and diversity of news and current affairs output be maintained in the digital age?
Public Service Broadcasting
What is quality to you?
Our attempt to define quality...
This is what we came up with...•Everyone has an opinion on quality
•Quality is in perception
•BBC aiming to put quality first – this is outlined in a speech by Mark Thompson
•The public fund the broadcasts - so the masses expect what they perceive as quality
•In terms of news they expect truth, depth, authority, impartiality and knowledge
The public pay, the public want quality, but the public are a diverse audience...
What is diversity?
Our attempt to define diversity...
This is what we came up with...
•Diversity is variety•BBC have to cater for all audiences •Cuts could make it more difficult to be diverse
Not everyone wants to hear, read or see the same thing...
This is how the news used to be...
Clear, concise and authoritative.
What is the digital age?
•Introduction of technology which has digitalised our society
•World Wide Web
•News can read anywhere
•Social media
•User generated content
How has it affected the news output?
How news is now...
Conversation, accessible, available
Citizen journalism and user generated content
How useful is it?
NegativesAren’t aware of BBC guidelines
Not necessarily a reliable source
Have to be technically and editorially sound
Lacking in authority, impartiality, and technical ability
Adds to the richness
Encourages and increases diversity
Makes delivering news faster
Promotes involvement in the two-way conversation
Positives
BBC journalist Trushar Barot talks about the importance of user-generated content
Challenges facing Public Service broadcasting
License fee frozen
Government cuts
Versus commercial news companies
Lack of funding
Can they maintain quality and diversity?
This is how...
Filtration, quality not quantity
Online TV Radio