Balanced Co-Existence of ‘de Jure and de Facto Independence’ in the Public Service Broadcasting Sector

Abstract

With directives to deliver impartial news, current affairs and programmes, the social responsibility of media, mainly public service broadcasters (PSBs), is viewed as providing resources for serving democracy and full citizenship. Through these resources, public service broadcasting (PSB) builds the trust of the public in its public service values. However, the continuance of this public trust requires evidence of independence and adherence to institutional norms beyond the reach of vested interests — corporate and party political. This paper1 aims to investigate critical challenges facing the independence of PSBs to uncover the significance of balanced co-existence of two aspects of independence — de jure and de facto — in the PSB sector. The main argument of the paper is that the disparity between the two elements of independence is widening due to vested interests. And narrowing of such gaps is vital for PSBs to serve the public interest.