Upcoming event, 11 July: Public Service Broadcasting in the Era of Austerity

In light of the Greek government’s decision to close down the public broadcaster ERT and make its employees redundant – as part of the latest public spending cuts imposed to meet the terms of the country’s bailout deal – City University London is hosting a half-day conference on PSB in the age of austerity:

• Location: City University London (Room A130, School of Social Sciences)
• Time: Thursday 11 July, 11-5pm
• Booking: The event is free to attend and coffee/tea/lunch will be provided. A wine reception will follow the event. Please RSVP P.Iosifidis@city.ac.uk if you wish to attend for catering purposes.

The following themes, among others, will be addressed –

• What has happened to ERT and how the rise of the far right in Greece, the rise of social tension, has made it all important for Greece to have an impartial public service broadcaster;
• Wider implications for PSB in Europe; Subsequent attacks on the BBC by right wing politicians as well as commercial operators;
• Political and market/commercial pressures for a smaller PSB service in the era of austerity;
• The role of PSB in supporting democracy and freedom of speech;
• PSB, production of quality programmes, impact on children and young people

Confirmed speakers/discussants include:

• Professor Steven Barnett (U of Westminster)
• Professor Patrick Barwise (London Business School)
• Professor Jean Chalaby (City University London)
• Professor Sylvia Harvey (U of Leeds)
• Dr. Irini Katsirea (Middlesex U)
• Professor Jeanette Steemers (U of Westminster)
• Professor Lorna Woods (City University London)
• Roger Mosey (Editorial Director, BBC; Executive Board of EBU)
• Nicholas Jones (former BBC political and industrial correspondent)

TIMETABLE

10:30 – 11:00: Welcome – tea/coffee

11:00 -13:00: The closure of ERT and the implications on freedom of speech

• Chair: David Obrien (City University London)

• Petros Iosifidis (City University London) ‘the ERT story’
• Irini Katsirea (Middlesex U) ‘the high court decision about ERT’
• Nicholas Jones (former BBC political and industrial journalist) ‘PSB: A vital role at times of strife’
• Steven Barnett (U of Westminster)

• Discussant: Patrick Barwise (London Business School)

13:00 – 14:00: Lunch

14:00 – 16:00: The Role of PSB in society

• Chair: Howard Tumber (City University London)

• Lorna Woods (City University London) ‘obligations to provide PSB under EU law’
• Jeanette Steemers (U of Westminster) ‘PSB and children’
• Jean Chalaby (City University London)
• Roger Mosey (Editorial Director, BBC; Executive Board of EBU)

• Discussant: Sylvia Harvey (U of Leeds)

16:00 – 17:00: Wine Reception