Governance of european public service media: Centralized and politicized power

Abstract

The different governance models of the European public service broadcasters reflect the centralized structural political power of the country centralized in each of their States or regions, lacking normative changes to ensure and reinforce their independence, trust and legitimacy. The recent controversies around RTVE and RAI are two examples of how the governance of these organizations reflect the power structures of the society. None of the three models that characterize the European configuration presents young and communication-related profiles. Most of their board members are still men aged over 50, and even over 65, professionally linked to legal or economic backgrounds. The study is completed with an analysis of the professionalism of governance bodies, an essential requirement to eliminate systems based on partisan quotas.