Discover the OPEN TV experience in Europe and the ACCESS TV channels in the Netherlands.
Ruud DE BRUIN (NL) Member Board of Directors -- OLON-Organization of (Public) Local Broadcast Stations in the Netherlands (Nijmegen)
After the Second World War, new media institutions arose from the remains of war torn Europe. In each country in Western Europe media democracy developed according to its local democratic traditions. Germany tried to make up for its past, Sweden had a long democratic tradition. The Netherlands had its history of private/public access based on political and religious beliefs and in Eastern Europe, Spain, Portugal, the dictatorships had a firm grip on their media. France, although democratic, but strongly centralised, did not have a history of public access and still does not.
At the same time, the US had its first amendment of its Constitution (freedom of speech) translated into the electronic media.
Italy, chaotic as ever, had a strong government grip on the media.