Interactive public broadcasting: reflecting and improving practice

This research study has been carried out for the purpose of thoroughly examining and evaluating "liNE 1088 ", an interactive live cultural / informational TV programme, on the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CYBC, the State Channel of Cyprus), of which I am the researcher and presenter. The CYBC, as a public service institution, is the only TV channel in Cyprus to offer programmes of this kind on a regular basis. At this point in time, especially now that Cyprus has joined the ED, the people of Cyprus need to be educated and informed on many matters that concern them, especially those which are relevant to the multicultural dimensions of Europe, and the many ways in which they affect their life. The aim of the project is to examine ways and forms of improving the TV programme "LINE 1088" in order to maximise the viewers' participation in the programme in accordance with the EU's directives on public broadcasting. The objectives of the study have been, mainly through an extensive audience research, to ascertain the strong points and the shortcomings of the programme as a whole, to what extent it meets the expectations of its audience, as well as how its overall quality may be improved. For this research a "mixed method" approach was adopted in order to collect data., using quantitative and qualitative research techniques. For the purpose of achieving validity, I used multiple data collection techniques and a range of sources of information namely four different kinds of surveys: literature review, existing viewing pools and the review of five transcripts with findings from one research technique checked against the findings from the research of another type. The results of the project led to a set of recommendations for the overall improvement of my programme as well as to a working model (pro to-type), for the CYBC which could fit into a more global picture of broadcasting and thus motivate society to become more actively concerned with cultural socialisation A working model which should not be static, but embody the time dimension and gradually become polymorphic. This vision should have as broad a range as possible. This working model could become a manual for public television and contribute to cultural development and to a society of active citizens. The project is the product of lifelong research, learning and experience in the media and in culture. Being the fIrst of its kind in Cyprus it will, I hope, contribute to a new body of knowledge in this field and will also become a valuable tool in a wider context.