Author:

Abstract:

Media pluralism is considered a core value of democratic societies. Obtaining it is finding a balance between fundamental rights that enables healthy democratic debate between empowered and well-informed individuals and groups. Achieving this balance makes media pluralism an inherently complex value, as beneficial measures may conflict. The impact of new online services, such as search engines, social media platforms or platforms for media content on media pluralism in the online environment is extensive and opaque. Without clarity on the inner workings of such services, holding informed democratic debates on a balanced regulatory approach to media pluralism online becomes nearly impossible. Regulators and policymakers alike have come to recognize the necessity of transparency on these services. This recognition fits into a broader European trend towards more evidence-based regulation to ensure regulation is applied only where needed. Such a regulatory approach is all the more important in a fast-changing media environment, as the Internet and related innovative technologies are radically changing consumption habits and business practices. Specifically, with the relationship between media and regulators being as complex and sensitive as it is, having more evidence of these changes is key to developing coherent, enabling, and empowering regulation for media and citizens alike. Regulators across the world approach this complexity by inter alia implementing monitoring mechanisms. However, except for a few pilot implementations across Europe, monitoring mechanisms generally lack attention for measuring topics more closely associated with the risks and challenges brought about by the online environment, such as the collection, processing and use of personal data, the design, implementation and accountability of algorithms and similar automated processes, or the reach, impact and use of information circulating in the online environment. The problem statement of this thesis is, therefore, that current regulatory monitoring frameworks aimed at safeguarding media pluralism may not sufficiently account for the impact caused by new online media services or - more generally - by the Internet's technical capacity to connect, communicate and inform, and that these monitoring mechanisms and their respective regulatory frameworks are therefore in need of a reconceptualization. To provide regulators across Europe with practical recommendations on reviewing their monitoring efforts this thesis first revisits some central concepts and normative objectives in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 assesses the Media Pluralism Monitor's online adaptations as one of the most comprehensive European monitoring efforts. Aside from a monitor's material scope, Chapter 3 assesses whether regulatory implementation frameworks for national monitoring efforts may also require a review in light of online developments. Furthermore, this thesis argues that media stakeholders have an important role when adapting monitoring efforts to the online environment. Therefore, Chapter 4 undertakes a comprehensive, local case study which combines substantial questions (what needs to be monitored) with legal and practical questions (how it needs to be monitored) and stakeholder feedback to best ensure the legitimacy and effectiveness of any novel monitoring endeavour. The closing Chapter 5 finally compares all the previous results on the criteria applied across the analysis before finally coming to conclusions and policy recommendations.