Evolution of space and geography in media pluralism : a typology of community media in the European Union

Abstract

In a society in which mediated communications are globalised, community media play a key role in creating an inclusive space of dialogue for local, cultural, or linguistic communities. This chapter focuses on the legal definition of community media at the transnational and national level in the EU to understand the condition of developing a healthy community media ecosystem. It proposes a typology of the different legal definitions adopted by some EU member states and analyses their characteristics regarding the attribution of frequencies and funding. This analysis is used to discuss how to adapt the legal framework to the context of globalisation.