CnaM sets out media-pluralism policy
Coimisiún na Meán (CnaM) has published a revised policy on pluralism in the media.
Aoife MacEvilly (CnaM broadcasting and video-on-demand commissioner) said that the revised policy reflected shifts in audience habits and a changing regulatory environment.
“A healthy and pluralistic media landscape includes a diversity of media ownership, services, content, and exposure,” she stated.
Powers
The watchdog has a number of powers, functions, and responsibilities to protect freedom of expression and ensure pluralism of the media.
Section 7 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 gives CnaM obligations to protect the public interest and ensure that the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution are upheld, while it also has powers in relation to media mergers under the Competition Act 2002.
Its legal framework also includes several pieces of EU legislation – including the Digital Services Act (DSA) and European Media Freedom Act.
Indicators
The policy sets out CnaM’s role in promoting and safeguarding media pluralism, as well as the watchdog’s vision, objectives, and desired outcomes.
Among the objectives set out is to ensure that media ownership and control structures are “diverse and transparent”.
It lists a series of indicators that form the basis for measuring media pluralism, which include:
- The viability of media services,
- Concentration in media markets, and
- Representation in media content.
It outlines the importance of public-service media, quality and independent journalism, choice and access, and innovation and inclusion.
‘Misuse and abuse of technologies’
The policy also details what it sees as the main risks and challenges to media pluralism.
In the wider market, these include the power of online intermediaries to influence access to media content, the emergence of AI, and “misuse and abuse of technologies to disrupt public opinion and discourse”.
Among the content challenges listed are challenges to the viability and independence of public-service content provision, as well as the viability of regional, local, community, and niche media services and content.