Media Governance: A Conceptual Framework or Merely a Buzz Word?

Most classifications of media systems are normative, reflect the liberal Western point of view regarding the roles of the media in society and in democracy, and are based on historical–geopolitical perspectives. This article suggests the concept of governance as an alternative theoretical path for classifying media systems. Frequently, media governance is used in an ambiguous way in media literature: often as an equivalent term to media policy and/or regulation and sometimes as a generic substitute for media control system. An analytical framework is suggested in order to map media governance types and through them to define different types of media systems. The framework consists of 6 components—modes, institutions, level, stakeholders, mechanisms, and products.