The World Bank's publication Broadcasting, Voice, and Accountability presents a framework for the purpose of analysis of existing policies and for supporting the development of a vigorous media sector, with a particular emphasis on broadcasting. It focuses on broadcasting because of its potential to reach and involve society at large, including the disadvantaged and illiterate segments of society in developing countries. This book is written to provide development practitioners with an overview of the key policy and regulatory issues involved in supporting freedom of information and expression and enabling development of a pluralistic, independent, and robust broadcasting sector. Policy, regulation, capacity, and institutional development are discussed as development levers that shape the ownership, content, and social impacts of broadcasting systems. The guide focuses on enabling a mix of ownership and uses, commonly classified in terms of commercial, public service, and community broadcasting, that serves the public interest.

The book offers advice on how to design policies, laws, and regulations that guarantee freedom of expression, enable access to information, define the use and misuse of defamation law, define content rules, and ensure the freedom of journalists to practice. It presents practices from around the world in media and broadcasting policy and regulation and complements existing World Bank work in governance, public sector reform, and access to information. It is intended as a tool for policymakers, reform managers, development practitioners, and students.

It includes good-practice checklists on how to create an independent regulatory body, regulate content and distribution, and ensure public service broadcasting is editorially independent of government, community nonprofit broadcasting is guaranteed access to radio spectrum, and fair competition exists in private commercial broadcasting.

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Email from Bruce Girard to The Communication initiative on May 23 2008.