Funded by the BAI’s Media Research Funding
Scheme, FuJo is investigating the diversity of RTÉ’s Covid-19 coverage. The research
- conducted by Eileen Culloty, Colm Kearns and Jane
Suiter - will assess the diversity of topics and voices across a selection of
radio and television programming. In line with the commitments outlined in RTÉ’s
Diversity and Inclusion charter, the project will focus
specifically on four key aspects of diversity: gender, ethnicity, disability, and sexuality. To contextualise these
findings, the project will also examine the
role of public service media during the pandemic and the challenges Covid-19
has created for the broadcaster.
Covid-19 emerged
at a critical time for public service media. In recent years, many have
questioned whether the public service model is relevant in an age of ubiquitous
and seemingly free online content. Most notably, the UK government has
threatened to withdraw licence-fee funding for the BBC. Last December, the
Irish Government announced a new Commission on the Future of Irish
Public Service Broadcasting, which will develop proposals on how to
deliver the goals of public service media in Ireland over the next ten years.
However, the pandemic appears
to have reinforced the relevance of public service media as Europeans have turned to public
media in record numbers since the pandemic began. Moreover, the
vital role of reliable information provision has become more acute amid the online
“infodemic” of false information about the virus. The importance of credible
news media has been underscored by the European Commission and the UN with the
latter noting that the public needs “accurate information about the
nature of the threats and the means to protect oneself, one’s family, and one’s
community.”
Apart from information
provision, social distancing measures have created a new set of public needs as
social gatherings are prohibited, formal education suspended, and the
population at large are either at home or working on the frontlines. Moreover,
these needs are experienced differently across social groups and segments of
the population.
Broadcasters across
Europe are responding to the crisis with new and revised programming. For example,
some countries, including Ireland, have devised new programming to provide
educational support for home schooling and live programming formats have been
revised. However, the pandemic presents a huge challenge to the delivery of
public service media as social distancing measures disrupt staffing,
scheduling, and business continuity and place additional strain on
technological capacities and resources.
It is in this context that the project will investigate issues of diversity. Findings will be published in Spring 2021.