6.
The public service ambit of public broadcasters shall be clearly
defined and include an obligation to ensure that the public
receive adequate and politically balanced information,
particularly during election periods.
Principle 14. Private media
1.
States shall promote a diverse private media as vehicles for the
development and dissemination of a variety of content in the
public interest.
2.
States shall encourage broadcast, print and online media to
publicly disclose all forms of media ownership and any
subsequent acquisitions or change in ownership.
3.
States shall establish an independent regulatory body to issue
broadcasting licenses and to oversee the observance of license
conditions.
4.
States shall ensure that licensing processes for private media are
fair and transparent, and promote diversity in broadcasting by:
a.
b.
c.
mandating full public disclosure of all forms of media ownership
and any subsequent acquisitions or change of ownership; and
taking preventive measures against the undue concentration of
private broadcasting ownership, including through non-award of
licenses and non-approval of subsequent acquisitions or change
of ownership.
States shall ensure that the process of frequency allocation for
private broadcasting use is fair and transparent.
5.
States shall ensure that the process for the acquisition of
broadcasting rights imposes such conditions as are necessary for
ensuring diversity in the private broadcasting sector.
6.
States shall encourage private broadcasting services to promote
interoperability of platforms and facilities.
Principle 15. Community media
1.
States shall facilitate the establishment of community media as
independent non-profit entities, with the objective of developing
and disseminating content that is relevant to the interests of
geographic communities or communities sharing common
interests such as language and culture.
2.
The regulation of community broadcasting shall be governed in
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