ABSTRACT
The ways in which public service media (PSM) are regulated vary from country to country. Following from this, it is reasonable to hypothesize that the diverse regulatory contexts under which PSM are operated are de facto resulting in differing levels of journalistic autonomy. From a normative perspective only autonomous PSM can fulfil their remit. The autonomy of PSM is an elementary precondition for pluralistic media coverage and hence for a functioning democracy. Based on the theoretical considerations and the analytical framework developed in the first part of the book, this chapter will have a closer look at the different regulatory frameworks of PSM and their effects on the latter’s autonomy in four countries (France, Germany, Italy and Poland). In which way do regulatory frameworks and in particular the most recent regulatory changes impact on the nature of PSM in terms of their autonomy? The chapter will start with discussing the concepts of regulation and autonomy. By mainly drawing on a document analysis and a literature review, the different frameworks in the above named countries will then be outlined and the consequences of the varying regulatory environments for the autonomy of PSM will be discussed. Finally a conclusion on how different regulatory frameworks affect journalistic autonomy will be drawn.
