Topic > Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) in Australia

Public Service Broadcasting can be seen as an agent for providing information and innovative ideas in a democratic society. Syvertsen (1999) mentioned three meanings of public service, firstly as a public function while providing public services such as roads, public transport, etc., secondly as a public sphere in which people of a society engage for purposes of common good, finally it was radio broadcasting at the service of the listener or spectator. This essay attempts to argue the need to support public service broadcasting especially in Australia. In Australia there are two public service broadcasting institutions: the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). ABC is modeled on the BBC and aims to provide general interest information and entertainment services and traditional public service content on television and radio; SBS aims to provide a more specialized service of multicultural and multilingual programming (reference). The SBS focused on meeting the media needs of Australia's culturally diverse population. Both broadcasters are public bodies operating under charters approved by the Australian Federal Parliament (Mendel reference). The Charter specifically advises ABC to produce its core programming on educational broadcasts. The ABC was also meant to present the multiculturalism of Australian society; provide a sense of national identity, information and entertainment through the promotion of music, theater and other performing arts in Australia (Mendel). The Charter instead requires SBS to produce multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain the Australian people, and at the same time narrow… mid-paper… narrow by channel capacity and can provide a diverse audience at the same time . Furthermore, with the online Internet anyone can collect all the information they need and thanks to social networks people can interact in real time even remotely and reveal a new perspective of democracy. From this perspective, younger generations will also consider the difficulties that public service broadcasters will face. In conclusion, the public service is seen as a form of governance rather than an individual form of media institution. Indeed, the challenge for state-funded broadcasting is the emergence of cultural diversity and complex development between citizen and national public interest. To assert public value, relevance and public resources, the public service organization should manage them effectively.