Broadcasters and Citizens in Europe

Introduction: overview of a European study
Paolo Baldi and Uwe Hasebrink 
 
Media accountability in Europe: a fragmented picture
Paolo Baldi

1. Media accountability is entering into the political agenda
2. Europe: a highly fragmented picture
2.1. Most-advanced countries
2.2. Less-advanced countries
2.3. The “under construction” countries
3. Concluding remarks 
 
UK broadcasting policy: the “long wave” shift in conceptions of
accountability
Richard Collins and Zoe Sujon

Introduction
1. Accountability: exit, voice and loyalty
2. Accountability: proposals for change at the BBC
3. UK broadcasting policy: the “long wave” shift in the dominant framework
4. Conceptions of the citizen and the consumer in broadcasting policy
4.1. Citizens’ “legitimate expectations”
4.2. Social capital and new thoughts on citizenship
4.3. Potter, consumer theory and evaluation of the accountability of UK broadcasters
5. The 2003 Communication Act: a new consumer and citizen consciousness 46
6.Conclusion
 
The protection of viewer rights in Europe
Bernd Holznagel and Christiane Jungfleisch

Introduction

1. Basic general principles
1.1. Media law
1.2. Media authorities
2. Main instruments and obligations
2.1. Legal instruments for the viewers
2.2. Legal obligations for the broadcasters
3. Three types of countries
3.1. Homogeneous countries
3.2. Inhomogeneous countries
3.3. Countries in progress
4. Conclusion 
 
Media users’ participation in Europe from a civil society perspective
Uwe Hasebrink, Anja Herzog & Christiane Eilders

Introduction
1. Viewers – not just consumers
2. Viewers – civil society actors?
3. Options provided for viewer participation in Europe

3.1. Representation in controlling bodies
3.2. Communication platforms
3.3. Complaints procedures
3.4. Audience research
4. Viewer associations
4.1. Main objectives
4.2. Types of activities
5. Conclusions
5.1. Viewer participation across Europe
5.2. Viewer participation as civil society activity
5.3. Viewer participation on the European level 
 
Viewers’ rights in the European Union: policies and instruments
Paolo Celot and Fausto Gualtieri

Introduction
1. Access to the institutions: instruments and procedures
1.1. European Parliament, Committee on Petitions
1.2. European Commission: complaints concerning failure to comply with community law
1.3. Actions brought to the Court of Justice of the European Communities (ECJ)
1.4. The European Ombudsman
1.5. European Court of Human Rights
1.6. Internal Market law problem-solving network (Solvit)
1.7. The European Consumer Centres and request for intervention to the European Extra-Judicial Network (EEJ-Net) 
 
2. General principles on consumer protection
2.1. European Union
2.2. Council of Europe
3. Relevant EU policies and advisory bodies
3.1. EU Consumer Affairs policy
3.2. Audio-visual policy
4. Conclusions 
 
 
Abbreviations and Acronyms 
 
References 
 
About the authors