The European Handbook of Media Accountability

Description

In recent years, the Leveson Inquiry in Great Britain, as well as the EU High-Level Group on Media Freedom and Pluralism, have stirred heated debates about media accountability and media self-regulation across Europe. How responsible are journalists? How well-developed are infrastructures of media self-regulation in the different European countries? How much commitment to media accountability is there in the media industry – and how actively do media users become involved in the process of media criticism via social media? With contributions from leading scholars in the field of journalism and mass communication, this handbook brings together reports on the status quo of media accountability in all EU members states as well as key countries close to Europe, such as Turkey and Israel. Each chapter provides an up-to-date overview of media accountability structures as well as a synopsis of relevant research, exploring the role of media accountability instruments in each national setting, including both media self-regulation (such as codes of ethics, press councils, ombudspersons) and new instruments that involve audiences and stakeholder groups (such as media blogs and user comment systems). A theoretically informed, cross-national comparative analysis of the state of media accountability in contemporary Europe, this handbook constitutes an invaluable basis for further research and policy-making and will appeal to students and scholars of media studies and journalism, as well as policy-makers and practitioners. Cover Endoresment Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of Illustrations Figures Tables Notes on Contributors Chapter 1 Introduction: Putting media accountability on the map Media accountability on the rise? Definitions, concepts and previous research Aims and structure of the book Notes Chapter 2 Austria: Back on the democratic corporatist road? Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Notes Chapter 3 Belgium: Divided along language lines Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusions Chapter 4 Bulgaria: Regaining media freedom Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusion Notes Chapter 5 Croatia: Unfulfilled expectations Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Notes Chapter 6 Cyprus: Behind closed (journalistic) doors Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusion Notes Chapter 7 Czech Republic: The market governs Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusion Note Chapter 8 Denmark: Voluntary accountability driven by political pressure Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Notes Chapter 9 Estonia: Conflicting views on accountability practices Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Notes Chapter 10 Finland: The empire renewing itself Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusion Notes Chapter 11 France: Media accountability as an abstract idea? Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusion Notes Chapter 12 Germany: Disregarded diversity Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusion Notes Chapter 13 Greece: Between systemic inefficiencies and nascent opportunities online Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Notes Chapter 14 Hungary: Difficult legacy, slow transformation Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusion Notes Chapter 15 Ireland: Moving from courts to institutions of accountability Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Notes Chapter 16 Israel: Media in political handcuffs Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusion Notes Chapter 17 Italy: Transparency as an inspiration Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusion Notes Chapter 18 Latvia: Different journalistic cultures and different accountability within one media system Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Notes Chapter 19 Lithuania: The ideology of liberalism and its flaws in the democratic performance of the media Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Notes Chapter 20 Luxembourg: Low priority in a confined milieu Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusion Notes Chapter 21 Malta: Media accountability as a two-legged ‘tripod’ Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusion Notes Chapter 22 The Netherlands: From awareness to realization Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusion Notes Chapter 23 Norway: Journalistic power limits media accountability Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and the media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Notes Chapter 24 Poland: Accountability in the making Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Note Chapter 25 Portugal: Many structures, little accountability Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and the media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other instruments of media accountability Conclusion Notes Chapter 26 Romania: Unexpected pressures for accountability Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Notes Chapter 27 Russia: Media accountability to the public or the state? Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Notes Chapter 28 Slovakia: Conditional success of ethical regulation viaonline instruments Abstract Introduction1 Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Notes Chapter 29 Slovenia: The paper tiger of media accountability Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusion Notes Chapter 30 Spain: New formats and old crises Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusion Notes Chapter 31 Sweden: A long history of media accountability adaption Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Notes Chapter 32 Switzerland: A role model with glitches Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Conclusion Notes Chapter 33 Turkey: Sacrificing credibility for economic expediency and partisanship Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Notes Chapter 34 United Kingdom: Post-Leveson, media accountability is all over the place Abstract Introduction Journalistic culture and media system Established instruments of media accountability Innovative instruments of media accountability Other media accountability instruments Conclusion Notes Chapter 35 Summary: Measuring media accountability in Europe – and beyond Abstract Media accountability – a trending topic for journalists and policy-makers A qualitative comparison Towards a European Media Accountability Index Implications for European media policy Notes References Index