Media pluralism

Media pluralism defines the state of having a plurality of voices, opinions, and analyses in media systems (internal pluralism) or the coexistence of different and diverse types of medias and media support (external pluralism).^[1]^[2]

Media pluralism is often recognized by international organizations and non-governmental organizations as being an essential part of a democratic state, Reporters Without Borders considers "access to a plurality of editorial lines and analyses [as] essential for citizens to be able to confront ideas, to make their own informed choices and to conduct their life freely".^[1]

Expanded access to the Internet and the digital switch-over has enabled an increased availability of media content, largely through sharing and user-generated content on social media, in addition to the digital channels to which individuals have access across television and radio. The diversity of content is however accompanied by what Hallin and Mancini call "polarized pluralism" in a media system, in Comparing Media Systems.^[3]

According to the UNESCO report on world trends in freedom of expression and media development, a sharper division in the way we use news is coming up due to the interaction between consumption habits, changing economic models and technical systems. This signifies that even if multiple kinds of information and programming are available, each segmented group may only ingest one branch of the whole. The increase of Internet penetration and reliance on online sources for news is thought of to producing siloed debates.^[4]

At the infrastructural level, ‘zero rating’— in which Internet or mobile service providers allow users to access specific content or applications without counting towards the user's data ‘cap’— expands in parallel to mobile uptakes, particularly in emerging countries. Traditional business models for the news media continue to be disrupted, leading to vertical and horizontal concentration and introduction of new types of ownership. Challenges to media funding introduce new types of economic models such as pay-walls and crowd-funding initiatives.^[4]

Gender is a part of media pluralism and is characterized by the under-representation of women in the media workforce, in decision-making and in media content. People with disabilities are also under-represented in the media system.^[5]

^ ^a ^b "Contribution to the European Union public consultation on media pluralism and democracy", Reporters Without Borders, July 2016
^ Doyle, Gillian (2002). Media ownership: The economics and politics of convergence and concentration in the UK and European media. Sage Publications. ISBN 9780761966814.
^ Hallin, Daniel C.; Mancini, Paolo (2004). Comparing Media Systems: Three Models of Media and Politics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521543088.
^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference UNESCO-2018a was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Disability and the Media | United Nations Enable". United Nations. Retrieved 20 June 2018.

[RWB-2016-1] "Contribution to the European Union public consultation on media pluralism and democracy", Reporters Without Borders, July 2016

[2] Doyle, Gillian (2002). Media ownership: The economics and politics of convergence and concentration in the UK and European media. Sage Publications. ISBN 9780761966814.

[3] Hallin, Daniel C.; Mancini, Paolo (2004). Comparing Media Systems: Three Models of Media and Politics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521543088.

[UNESCO-2018a-4] Cite error: The named reference UNESCO-2018a was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[5] "Disability and the Media | United Nations Enable". United Nations. Retrieved 20 June 2018.

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