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The Legitimation Rhetoric of Public Service Broadcasters

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Performing Legitimacy

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Abstract

This chapter examines how the Norwegian and Swedish public service broadcasters NRK and SVT reflect on their mandate in an age of convergence, digitalization, and globalization, and how they legitimate their role in relation to the classical PSB aspects of democracy and enlightenment. Empirically, the study is based on interviews with people holding important positions within the broadcasting institutions, together with a close reading of the broadcasters’ strategy documents and annual reports. The study shows that SVT leans on the traditional PSB rhetoric, focusing on its democratic role and dedication to enlightening and serving the public in arguing for its continued importance, while NRK focuses more upon its adaptation to the processes of digitalization and convergence, presenting itself as a digital media house.

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  1. Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Håkon Larsen

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Larsen, H. (2016). The Legitimation Rhetoric of Public Service Broadcasters. In: Performing Legitimacy. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31047-3_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31047-3_5

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