Local public television, a reference model for citizen information in Europe

FORTA, the Television Academy, the Office of the European Parliament in Spain and the Representation of the European Commission in Spain analyze in one day the models, resources and financing of local television in Europe.

Within the initiative I see it. Being different makes us unique, an initiative that aims to highlight the important role played by regional public audiovisual services, the Federation of Regional Radio and Television Organizations (FORCE), the Academy of Television Sciences and Arts of Spain, the Office of the European Parliament in Spain and the Representation of the European Commission in Spain, held a conference last Friday in Madrid on Proximity TV models in Spain and Europe. How to improve European information.

The event, which took place at the headquarters of the European Institutions in Madrid, was inaugurated by Jaume Duch, Director General of Communication and spokesperson of the European Parliament, Lucas Gonzalez, Head of Press of the Representation of the European Commission in Spain, Manuel Campo Vidal, president of the Television Academy, and Antonio Virgili, president of FORTA.

In the words of Duch, "the support of the media is very necessary to encourage voting in the next European elections. Also so that it is an informed vote, a reflected vote. Local TV plays a key role here due to its connection with the citizen because it helps to inform them of specific topics that interest them and distances them from generalities. The next elections, in addition, will be important because the European audiovisual model is being defined."

González has pointed out that "European information has to be a shared effort between various actors, including the regional public audiovisual media. European issues are increasingly closer to the citizen, they affect them in their daily lives. People need tangible things that they can transfer to their real lives. We are working on multiple initiatives to bring European information to the regional level, something that needs the support of the institutions."

For his part, Antonio Virgili has highlighted "the importance of local audiovisual media when it comes to keeping citizens informed about what matters to them and affects them, not only at a local level but also from a European perspective. We have a special connection with people, due to our proximity and knowledge of the identity of each of our territories. And the responsibility of transmitting information to them in a plural, diverse and truthful way."

Campo Vidal has pointed out that "local TV is more necessary than ever and maintains its influence. There is a lot of news that, if it were not for its dissemination through the regional public audiovisual media, would not exist. Its role is fundamental and must be preserved. Therefore, at the TV Academy we are proud to support this type of conference to highlight its activity."

Financing models

After the presentation, the first round table took place, focused on the different financing models of public TV in Europe, with the participation of Teresa Azcona, general director of CARTV, Fernando R. Ojea, secretary general of CIRCOM; and Francisco Campos, professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela.

The debate, moderated by Manuel Campo Vidal, was based on the recent study “Current panorama and trends of public radio and television in Europe”, prepared by the University of Santiago de Compostela in collaboration with other universities. According to the study, with respect to all public audiovisual media in our country, state and regional, the cost has dropped from 60 euros per inhabitant, close to the European average in 2010, to less than 44 euros in 2016, a third less than the European average, and far from countries like Denmark, with 160 euros per inhabitant, or the United Kingdom, with 113 euros per inhabitant.

Campos, the academic who led this research, has emphasized "that public radio and television faces complex challenges in Europe at a time of proliferation of new competitors, new forms of consumption and new legislative proposals. And one of the most relevant challenges is that of financing, key to providing continuity, independence and guarantees to the public service, at a time when its functions are multiplying and they must undertake more tasks than ever."

The study also concludes that the budgets of the regional public radio and television stations in Spain were reduced by 47% between 2011 and 2018 (a cut of 509 million euros), while those of the regional corporations in Germany increased by 6% between 2011 and 2016 - just over 400 million - and those of Belgium rose by 8% in the last mentioned period.

In this sense, Ojea has pointed out that "the public audiovisual services of Germany and Belgium are the two models in Europe most easily comparable with the regional public audiovisual services of Spain, such as proximity radio and television and differentiated identity. The social value of the uniqueness of that identity and proximity is the symbolic monetization that can support their public financing models. However, both countries double and triple our regional ones."

From his perspective, Azcona has highlighted that "the regional governments have adapted to the restrictive economic environment while maintaining quality. We are efficient but, above all, we must be effective and meet our objectives of offering a public service with social, cultural and territorial plurality. The regional governments are not an expense; they are an investment in knowledge, development, culture and self-esteem of the citizens of our territories."

The EU on regional television

This was followed by the second discussion table, in this case focused on the information regarding Europe that is included in the programming of regional public audiovisual services, with special attention to the upcoming elections to the European Parliament that will be held on May 26, 2019. There was also a debate on the impact of the new audiovisual directive, recently approved, and on ways to combat the proliferation of fake news through the credibility and verification journalism of public audiovisual services.

In this case, the debate was moderated by the journalist and academic Ana Rodríguez Martí, and included the interventions of Mikel Landabaso, Director of DG COMM of the European Commission, and Jon Ariztimuño, head of Telemadrid News, and MEP Jonás Fernández.

Landabaso has indicated that from the European Commission "we have the largest press conference in the world on a daily basis and it is key that the regional public audiovisual media have sufficient budget to be able to access these conferences, and that they know how to translate that information to be able to make it more attractive for citizens. Proximity is credibility and trust."

Ariztimuño has shown his vision as responsible for the information of a regional public media, among whose functions is that of "offering a complete and close vision of the information landscape, with global and local reach, from its own territorial perspective. Proximity complemented with truthfulness. In this sense, the regional public media are working to combat the growing fake news through verification, literacy and education work to provide citizens with sufficient tools so that they can detect when they are faced with false news."

To conclude, Fernández has pointed out that "there is extensive work within the EU that deserves to be told. The regional news programs must lead this task due to their proximity to the people. We have to be able to transmit how decisions are made in Europe and we also have to combat the "fake news" that the EU is not democratic. The new Audiovisual Services Directive affects this, in addition to guaranteeing consumer protection."