'Frozen' media subsidies during a time of media change: A comparative analysis of media policy drift in six Western democracies. (August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nielsen, Rasmus Kleis
• Is Part Of: Global media and communication. Volume 10:Number 2(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 121
• Page End: 138
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Subjects: Comparative research -- media policy -- media subsidies -- press subsidies -- public service broadcasting -- United States -- Western Europe; Communication, International -- Periodicals; Communication, International -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Mass media -- Periodicals; Mass media -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Mass media and culture -- Periodicals; Globalization -- Periodicals; 302.2
• DOI: 10.1177/1742766513504203
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-7665

Abstract

Media systems around the world have changed in significant ways in the early 21st century. In this article, I analyse how various forms of media subsidies have changed in response to these transformations in a sample of six different affluent democracies. On the basis of interviews, official documents and secondary sources, I show that media subsidies have largely remained frozen in their late-20th century form. The absence of major reform means that media subsidies are increasingly subject to policy drift, a process by which the operations and effectiveness of policies change not because of deliberate reform, but because of changing conditions on the ground. Analysis of interviews with relevant stakeholders suggests that the main obstacles to reform across all six countries are: (1) limited political attention to the problem; (2) strong incumbent industries protecting their interests; and (3) a perceived shortage of desirable, cost-effective, and governable alternatives to existing policies.