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Public Spheres and Mediated Social Networks in the Western Context and Beyond pp 65–92Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Western Media Policy Frameworks and Values

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Part of the book series: Palgrave Global Media Policy and Business ((GMPB))

Abstract

The questions of citizenship and pluralism in the media field are often compared and contrasted with the imperatives of consumption, production, and economic scope and scale. The purpose of this chapter is to analyse matters of political interest, neo-liberalism and the ideological values of the free market that have shaped the contemporary communications environments in the Western world. We examine the challenges resulting from the development of social media as well as convergence in policymaking. We assess the reforms adopted in reaction to these advances, and highlight the prominent role of competition policy and the economic imperative that has dominated the regulatory tradition at the UK, USA and EU levels.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Liberalism is a political ideology associated with the work of Adam Smith and his 1776 book The Wealth of Nations, referring to policies promoting entrepreneurship by removing government control and intervention. Neo-liberalism is a term that was coined some three decades ago to refer to a process of global economic liberalisation to increase international trade and commerce.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, City University, London, UK

    Petros Iosifidis

  2. Politics and International Relations, London Metropolitan University, London, UK

    Mark Wheeler

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  1. Petros Iosifidis
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  2. Mark Wheeler
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Iosifidis, P., Wheeler, M. (2016). Western Media Policy Frameworks and Values. In: Public Spheres and Mediated Social Networks in the Western Context and Beyond. Palgrave Global Media Policy and Business. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-41030-6_4

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