Press concentration, convergence and innovation: Europe in search of a new communications policy
Press concentration, convergence and innovation: Europe in search of a new communications policy

Summary/Abstract: Printed press all over Europe have to face many similar problems; there are general indications that print has to deal with structural stagnations. Circulation is declining; advertisers seem to be less interested in printed products. Print has also to deal with raising costs and with more competition. Due to those developments publishing companies preferred more a policy of saving costs particularly through economies of scale. That stimulated press concentration, declining ties with readers and advertisers, and decreasing interest in innovation. For the benefi t of media diversity governments are separately and collectively in the European Community in search for a new communications policy to deal with those problems in a more structured way. Next to a distant, passive role of the government, gradually in several European countries it is recognised that for a real freedom of speech it would be necessary that the government also fulfi ls a care duty, to commit to a policy aimed at upholding and enhancing the diversity of the media.

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