James, I find your analysis very intriguing. I really hope media development actors especially from the Western world would heed this message. Just recently here in Timor-Leste, a trainer from one of the more known media development institutions from the US was training media practitioners from community radio stations. She was emphasising the need for the community radio stations to be sustainable in the long run. The usual template regarding advertising etc. She gave the example to getting restaurants to advertise. One participant asked that how would they ask the only restaurant in that town to advertise? It is a case of using the old jargon without even looking at context. Another case was a recent argument I had again with a Western media development actor here in Timor-Leste. I am pushing for the Government to provide funding support to community radio stations. And Government is willing to set aside a budget. But my good friend is saying this will interfere with freedom of the press bla bla!! I think we have some individuals who have confined themselves into old templates and find it difficult to change in time and environment. We need more discussions like what James presents in this article.
Another example, some people do not think that Government supported newspapers like Daily News in Zambia, Kenya Times, and the Uganda New Vision have a place in journalism!! Yet some of us believe they do. What one needs is a multiplicity, but certainly Government support should not be abhored.

Let the debate continue.

I will like to seek further clarifications on this aspect of your article.
QUOTE:
Channel 4 was set up 20 years ago as a public service broadcaster designed as a complement to the BBC. It would get some public subsidy but it was designed to become increasingly sustainable from the income it derived from advertising. Two decades on it faces unprecedented financial crisis and is lobbying strongly for a share of the BBC licence fee to keep it going. The BBC itself has depended on year-on-year subsidy for more than three quarters of a century!
UNQUOTE
Is the real problem with Channel 4 not with the top management and their take-home? Do you think if the management model of Channel 4 is re-engineered it will not survive?

Kole

very thought srtimilating