Public service media and public policies in the Portuguese media system context: 2003-2013

Abstract

This article aims to analyze funding, governance and accountability models of public service media in Portugal, between 2003 and the last quarter of 2013. The research findings point to the progressive reduction of public funding for RTP, in line with a broader trend of repositioning the role of the state in society. It appears that the State as RTP’s shareholder perpetuated a governmentalized’governance model, in which it is clear that there is a significant degree of connection between the political system and the public service operator. Furthermore, it recognizes that the institutional mechanisms of accountability in RTP, for the fulfillment of its public service mission, are primarily addressed to the State at the expense of practices to provide more targeted accounts for the citizen and for the other agents of the media system.