Trends in Media Pluralism

In regions where internet penetration and the reliance on online sources for news is the highest, algorithms are used to sort through increasingly abundant  information, ranking search results and social media newsfeeds. These have contributed to the creation of what have been called ‘echo chambers’ and ‘filter bubbles’ that are seen to reinforce individuals’ existing views and produce increasingly siloed debates—although this development may not be necessarily as strong as it is sometimes presented. However, in electoral contests, the rapid proliferation of so-called ‘fake news’, fuelled in part by the tendency of social media platforms to privilege ‘click-worthy’ information, has become a powerful illustration for many of the disruptive effects this phenomenon can have on public debates. In other regions, such as in the Arab States and Africa, broadcasting has represented a more central element of this trend towards polarization in and through media. Similarly, mobile internet uptake and the practice of ‘zero-rating’—in which internet or mobile service providers allow users to access specific content or applications without counting towards the user’s data ‘cap’ – have significantly expanded pluralism in terms of access to the internet, especially among the poorest. However, the type of access is often limited to specific mobile apps, introducing concerns that these services may possibly create private ‘walled gardens’ at odds with the principles of openness and net neutrality.

 

Pluralism continues to be limited by the ongoing fact that women remain heavily underrepresented in the media workforce, in decision-making roles, and in media content, both as sources and subjects. In response to the continuing marginalization of women, a range of civil society organizations, media outlets and individuals have developed initiatives to change the picture, including through the UNESCO-initiated Global Alliance for Media and Gender and by applying the Gender-Sensitive Indicators for Media.* 

 

Traditional business models for the news media have continued to be disrupted, leading to increased vertical and horizontal concentration and the introduction of new types of cross-ownership. Cuts in staffing have affected content diversity, especially in international coverage. Newspaper circulation has fallen in all regions, except in Asia and the Pacific, where there have been large increases in some emerging economies. Independent public service broadcasting is still absent or is under renewed political or financial threat in several regions. The rapid growth of digital advertising, in which revenues nearly doubled between 2012 and 2016, has primarily benefitted large internet platforms rather than traditional media. Faced with these disruptions, traditional news media have experimented with new economic models, including introducing pay-walls, requesting reader donations and seeking crowdfunding. Journalists have also used new technologies, such as virtual

reality, to create immersive experiences of distant events