Dynamics of Media Politics: Broadcast and Electronic Media in Western Europe

"This book unravels the whys and wherefores of the process. The authors demystify and to a certain extent call the economic imperatives into question." --Diffusion EBU "This is a useful book for students of European audiovisual developments. For the dedicated professional it will also help to make sense of current trends in broadcasting. . . . Dynamics of Media Politics is a contribution to the continuing efforts to define and focus questions of relevance in communications. . . . Dynamics of Media Politics is recommended to anyone interested in the future of the audiovisual sector in Europe." --Irish Communication Review The broadcast and electronic media in Western Europe are undergoing a period of vigorous transformation and restructuring. In this wide-ranging and illuminating text a network of media social scientists from 17 Western European countries analyze both the nature and direction of these sweeping changes. This collaborative effort explores the increasing importance of transnational multimedia corporations and details the various challenges that commercialization and privatization are posing to the traditions of public service broadcasting. The contributors pay particular attention to the widespread development of local radio and television stations and discuss their regulatory framework. Geared towards media and communication professionals as well as academics, students and researchers, Dynamics of Media Politics offers the reader a base for understanding the volatile processes of European mass media.