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Public Service Media Governance

The Good Governance Standard for Public Services Ewan King, Director of Research, OPM

Focus of the presentation

• Overview of the Standard• Example of governance of new Public Service

Media – Young Muslim Advisory Group • Implications of Standard on PSM

Good Governance Standard for Public Services

• Independent Commission established in 2004, Chaired by Sir Alan Langlands

• Produced by OPM and CIPFA, supported by Joseph Rowntree Foundation

• Designed to be used by all organisations and partnerships that work for the public, using public money

• Adopted by Audit Commission, NHS, Government Departments and Third Sector organisations

Purpose of Standard

• To help the public to challenge poor governance

• To facilitate partnership working• To develop a common understanding with

government and regulators• To help governors do a difficult job better

6 Principles of Good Governance

Principles of Good Governance

1. Good governance means focusing on the organisation’s purpose and on outcomes for citizens and users

Application: • Governing body should make sure there is a clear statement of the

organisation’s purpose• Governing body should decide how value for money is measured

2. Good governance means performing effectively in clearly defined functions and roles

Application:

• Governing body should set out clearly its approach to performing each of the functions of governance

• Governing body should clarify that all its members have collective responsibility for decisions and have equal status in decisions

Principles of Good Governance

3. Good governance means promoting values for the whole organisation and demonstrating the values of good governance through behaviour

Application:

• Governing body should take the lead in establishing and promoting values for the organisation and its staff

• Governors should live up to approved codes or guides to ethical conduct for their organisation

4. Good governance means taking informed, transparent decisions and managing risk

 Application:

• Governing body should draw up formal statement that specifies the types of decisions that are delegated to executive and which are reserved for governing body

Principles of Good Governance

5. Good governance means developing the capacity and capability of the governing body to be effective

Application: • Governing body should assess the skills of governors need to fulfil their

functions• New governors should receive a thorough induction and ongoing training

6. Good governance means engaging stakeholders and making accountability real

Application:• Governing Body should make clear, to itself and staff, to whom it is

accountable and what• Governing body should make it clear that the organisation as a whole

seeks feedback and enters dialogue with stakeholders

Governance example – Young Muslim Advisory Group supported by OPM

• Established by Department for Communities and Local Government and Department for Children, Schools and Families

• 23 Young Muslim Leaderso facilitate an ongoing and meaningful dialogue between government and young

people on the experience of being a young Muslim in England o provide young people with the opportunity to influence government strategy and

policy on issues that affect them o support and encourage young people to play an active part in their communities to

tackle disaffection, increase civic engagement, encourage intergenerational communication

• Major PSM roleo To produce community magazine, moderate website, produce articles and

write blogs

YMAG website and magazine Y-MAG: www.ymag.opm.co.uk

YMAG website and Y-magazine

How YMAG governance works

• Government “soft touch” regulation – independent website, self regulation of content, community editors

• Conflicts of interest managed through:o Chair and majority vote on contento Signed terms of reference and process for

“escalation” between YMAG and Departmentso Some policy specific content reviewed by

Government Advisory Group prior to release

Good model for governance of new community led media?

• Group maintains credibility• Reaches young Muslims and other young people• Range of platforms used – video blogs, journals, polls,

on-line and published magazine, events, information sharing

• Light touch moderation – YMAG edits its own work

• Supported by good training – visits to BBC, newspapers, media, journalistic and filming training, training on media ethics

Implications of Standard on PSM

1. Good governance means focusing on the organisation’s purpose and on outcomes for citizens and users

• How do we maintain core purpose in fragmented delivery context? Can we live with conflicted purposes and values?

2. Good governance means performing effectively in clearly defined functions and roles

• This principle should hold whatever the model of governance used. Important that roles are transparent, published and reviewed

3. Good governance means promoting values for the whole organisation and demonstrating the values of good governance through behaviour

• How can public values withstand mixed markets, commercial interests or highly politicised models

Implications of standard on PSM

4. Good governance means taking informed, transparent decisions and managing risk

• How do you manage risk when content generation is more widespread (e.g. internet), open and community driven

 5. Good governance means developing the capacity and capability of the

governing body to be effective• Essential as number of media platforms multiply

6. Good governance means engaging stakeholders and making accountability real

• Involving diverse groups and young people requires politicians to let go and build trust – more “buffer zones”, agreements built on trust

• Wide community engagement – deliberative, ongoing and empowering is critical, user councils, panels, forums