oa Publieke televisie en identificatie

Public Television and Identification: Flemish citizens with Moroccan and Turkish backgrounds. Evidence from family research

This article outlines how the Flemish public broadcaster VRT is perceived by 25 in-depth interviewed families with Moroccan and Turkish backgrounds. Our analysis shows that, compared to other channels, VRT is perceived of great value when it comes to current affairs, children’s programs and news, but not fiction. Indispensable elements of identification within the de facto diversified Flemish social context are lacking, according to our informants. Criticisms voiced by our informants do not always result from ‘ethnic’ or ‘religious’ identifications. Especially subaltern groups (non-believers, young people, women) do not feel represented. Criticisms bear on the definition of functional quality as provided in the public-service contract: language use, perceived quality, the extent to which the program supply is (not or hardly) meeting their needs. Consequently, a wider approach, applying both the diversity charter and the public-service contract to minority audiences, is being advocated.