Post-regime-change Afghan and Iraqi media systems: Strategic ambivalence as technology of media governance

This article investigates the governance of post-US invasion Afghan and Iraqi media systems by analyzing provisions pertinent to public broadcasting, licensing, and defamation in 14 laws and policy documents in the two nations. The author argues that the results point to a regime of regulatory ambivalence whereby state authorities have established an ontologically incongruent complex of legal and policy structures characterized by a simultaneous cohabitation of democratic and authoritarian tendencies. This ambivalence, born of struggles and contestations between state authorities, domestic civil societies and external supporters and donors, is a deliberate technology of media governance. The authoritarian tendencies of this regulatory regime have implications for media/journalists’ self-regulation as they are designed to curtail the agency of media institutions and journalists, and assert government control over speech and the flow of information.

Journaliste de sport et diversité

FR. Le sport occupe une place non négligeable dans la société médiatisée. Dès lors, les productions informationnelles, à propos du sport, doivent être appréhendées comme des denrées objectivées (Quére, 2000) et « normalisées » dans le sens ou le sport est traité en fonction de significations sociales existantes, co-construites et légitimées par le journaliste lui-même. La diversité constitue-t-elle alors une norme ? Comment est-elle construite ? Comment est-elle perçue par les journalistes ? Dans quelle mesure cela interfère-t-il dans les pratiques et les discours produits ? Sur le plan théorique et méthodologique, l’analyse convoque les travaux de Denis McQuail (1997 & 2003) à propos de « the accountability of media ». L’analyse prend alors appui sur l’identification des procédés discursifs proposés par Schaeffer (1989), qui se structurent, d’une part par un acte communicationnel qui s’élabore sur la base des processus d’énonciation et d’autre part par l’acte réalisé. En l’occurrence, les données de terrain utilisées émanent du Projet RSJ-MéDiS, elles proviennent de différentes rencontres, journées d’étude, colloques, entretiens et échanges parfois informels. Si ces données permettent de mieux appréhender le contexte d’énonciation, l’analyse de l’acte réalisé, s’effectue quant à lui, au moyen des commentaires produits à l’occasion des directs consultés sur l’INAthèque. Les événements choisis sont les compétitions d’athlétisme à l’occasion des Jeux Olympiques de Rio (2016) et les Championnats du Monde de Londres (2017) diffusés sur les différentes chaines du groupe France-Télévisions (France 2-3-4). Dans le cas du terrain exploré, celui des journalistes de France Télévisions et au regard des évènements analysés, celui des compétitions internationales d’athlétisme, ce sont les normes et les valeurs communément associées au sport qui servent de cadre à l'interprétation des événements et des performances sportives. Tantôt inclusif, tantôt ségrégatif et exclusif, le discours oscille en fonction des fluctuations des normes sportives. *** EN. Sports take a significant place in our media societies. Informational productions on sports should therefore be apprehended as objectified commodities (Quére, 2000) and "normalized". This implies that sports should be apprehended based on existing social meanings which are co-constructed and given legitimacy by the journalist himself. Can diversity be considered as a norm? What does it consist of? How is it perceived by journalists? To what extent does it interfere with practices and discourses produced? The analysis developed refers theoretically and methodologically to the work of Denis McQuail (1997 & 2003) on "the accountability of media". It builds on the identification of discursive processes suggested by Schaeffer (1989), which are structured on the one hand by a communicative act that is elaborated on the basis of the processes of enunciation, and on the other hand by the act performed. In this case, the field data analyzed was produced by the RSJ-MéDiS Project: it was gathered during multiple competitions, workshops, symposiums, interviews and occasional informal exchanges. This data allows to better comprehend the enunciation context; however, analysis of the performed acts was conducted thanks to the commentary produced during the live broadcasts of selected sporting events. Those were consulted on the French National Archive Institute online consultation service, the INAthèque. The sporting events considered were the athletics competitions of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games as well as the 2017 London World Athletics Championships, which were broadcasted on multiple channels of the French public broadcasting company France Télévisions (France 2-3-4). In the present field of research – the discourse of France Télévisions sports journalists, and with regard to the events analyzed – international athletics competitions, norms and values commonly associated with sports appear to serve as a framework for the interpretation of sporting events and performances. At times inclusive, at times discriminatory, the discourse evolves based on the fluctuations of norms in sports. *** PT. O esporte ocupa um lugar significativo na sociedade midiatizada. Consequentemente, as produções informacionais sobre o esporte devem ser entendidas como mercadorias objetivadas (Quére, 2000) e “normalizadas” no sentido de que o esporte é tratado de acordo com os significados sociais existentes, co-construídos e legitimados pelo próprio jornalista. A diversidade é então uma norma? Como ela é construída? Como é percebida pelos jornalistas? Em que medida isso interfere nas práticas e discursos produzidos? No plano teórico-metodológico, a análise recorre ao trabalho de Denis McQuail (1997 e 2003) sobre "a responsabilização dos meios de comunicação". A análise baseia-se, então, na identificação dos processos discursivos propostos por Schaeffer (1989), os quais se estruturam, por um lado, por um ato comunicativo que se desenvolve a partir dos processos de enunciação e, por outro, pelo ato realizado. Neste caso, os dados de campo utilizados provêm do Projeto RSJ-MéDiS, advindos de vários encontros, jornadas de estudo, seminários, entrevistas e por vezes trocas informais. Enquanto esses dados proporcionam uma melhor compreensão do contexto do enunciado, a análise do ato praticado é realizada por meio de comentários produzidos durante as visitas diretas ao INAthèque. Os eventos escolhidos são as competições de atletismo dos Jogos Olímpicos do Rio (2016) e do Mundial de Londres (2017) transmitidos nos diversos canais do grupo France-Televisions (France 2-3-4). No caso do campo explorado, o dos jornalistas da France Télévisions e no que se refere aos eventos analisados, o das competições internacionais de atletismo, são os padrões e valores comumente associados ao esporte que servem de quadro para a interpretação dos eventos e desempenho esportivo. Às vezes inclusivo, às vezes segregativo e exclusivo, o discurso oscila de acordo com as flutuações dos padrões esportivos. ***

Analysis of Genres of the BBC One TV Programs

The relevance of the study is based on the fact that the BBC One channel is interesting as an example of a public service broadcaster which retains its image and competitiveness on the global media market. The goal of the research is to analyze the BBC One programming with regard to its forms of journalists and cameramens work. The semiotic methodology is chosen for interpreting sign systems, i. e. journalists texts or TV frames, as interconnected phenomena of culture. As a result, important sociocultural and philosophical elements integrated into the BBC One programming and determining its genre profile have been revealed. The social mission of the public broadcasting, combination of regional and metropolitan grounds, the prevalence of serious news genres are among them. Moreover, the programs are open for entertaining content including a foreign-made one. There is also a visual and aesthetic adaptation of pre-TV cultural forms of theater and the tabloid press, etc. Therefore, we can speak of a rather flexible programming policy of the BBC One, which can be a good model to develop strategies for public service broadcasters in other countries.

Telling Holocaust Jokes on German Public Television

Since 2015, Israeli-born German artist Shahak Shapira has initiated several satirical campaigns targeting antisemitism and racism in Germany and the country’s relation to the Holocaust. These interventions set Shapira’s career in motion, and in 2019 he landed a slot on the ZDF public broadcasting channel for the talk show Shapira Shapira. The show mocked antisemitism and far-right movements in Germany and reminded the viewers of the country’s history with Jews. His jokes about concentration camps and their contemporary perceptions proved to be especially effective. This article shows how Shahak Shapira and his show challenged the official narratives about Jews, antisemitism and the Holocaust. It argues that Shapira’s jokes might empower Jews and foster Holocaust awareness among the general public in Germany.

The Rise and Fall of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, 1962-1973: a Study in Political and Administrative Relationships

<p>This thesis examines the political "career" of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation from the time of its inception in April, 1962, until the decision of the third Labour Government, 11 years later, to abolish it. In particular, it is a study of the ways in which the organisation's search for autonomy was mediated by evolving relationships among key actors: respective Ministers of Broadcasting, N.Z.B.C. Chairmen and Board members, and Directors-General of Broadcasting; and by the tensions that arose out of the demands of administrative accountability on the one hand and of professional autonomy - especially in respect of the organisation's journalistic staff - on the other. The thesis examines the implications of governmental appointment of the N.Z.B.C.'s Board members, and the problems arising out of the retention of ministerial responsibility for public broadcasting during this period. These aspects are discussed with reference to the theory of the public corporation in general. The thesis also examines aspects of administrative leadership within the Corporation, in particular the definition of organizational mission, and the promotion of institutional identity, both internally and externally. It concludes that the demise of the N.Z.B.C. is explicable principally in terms of conflicts which stemmed from the nature of the tasks the organisation was called upon to perform, especially the introduction and expansion of a television service within New Zealand, and the development of news and current affairs broadcasting; in terms of the political constraints and influences - both real and apparent - that worked upon it; and of shortcomings of administrative leadership within the organisation. The analysis is provided against the background of a review of the history of public broadcasting in New Zealand, from the early 1920's until the advent of the Corporation. This review is organised under five heads which bear upon the content of the main analysis: the control of broadcasting in New Zealand; the development of news and controversial broadcasting; the debate on monopoly and competition; the emergence of a philosophy of public broadcasting in New Zealand, with particular reference to the role of the first Director of Broadcasting, Professor (later Sir James) Shelley; and the advent of the N.Z.B.C.</p>

The Rise and Fall of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, 1962-1973: a Study in Political and Administrative Relationships

<p>This thesis examines the political "career" of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation from the time of its inception in April, 1962, until the decision of the third Labour Government, 11 years later, to abolish it. In particular, it is a study of the ways in which the organisation's search for autonomy was mediated by evolving relationships among key actors: respective Ministers of Broadcasting, N.Z.B.C. Chairmen and Board members, and Directors-General of Broadcasting; and by the tensions that arose out of the demands of administrative accountability on the one hand and of professional autonomy - especially in respect of the organisation's journalistic staff - on the other. The thesis examines the implications of governmental appointment of the N.Z.B.C.'s Board members, and the problems arising out of the retention of ministerial responsibility for public broadcasting during this period. These aspects are discussed with reference to the theory of the public corporation in general. The thesis also examines aspects of administrative leadership within the Corporation, in particular the definition of organizational mission, and the promotion of institutional identity, both internally and externally. It concludes that the demise of the N.Z.B.C. is explicable principally in terms of conflicts which stemmed from the nature of the tasks the organisation was called upon to perform, especially the introduction and expansion of a television service within New Zealand, and the development of news and current affairs broadcasting; in terms of the political constraints and influences - both real and apparent - that worked upon it; and of shortcomings of administrative leadership within the organisation. The analysis is provided against the background of a review of the history of public broadcasting in New Zealand, from the early 1920's until the advent of the Corporation. This review is organised under five heads which bear upon the content of the main analysis: the control of broadcasting in New Zealand; the development of news and controversial broadcasting; the debate on monopoly and competition; the emergence of a philosophy of public broadcasting in New Zealand, with particular reference to the role of the first Director of Broadcasting, Professor (later Sir James) Shelley; and the advent of the N.Z.B.C.</p>