Public service media (PSM) are undergoing a period of change – politically, technologically, and in terms of their audience. But what do we really know about them?

This report provides a broad international overview of research on public service media between 1998 and 2024. Analyzing 275 scientific articles, it maps how research has evolved, which topics have dominated in research – and which knowledge gaps remain.

The report is aimed at researchers, students, journalists, decision-makers, and anyone who wants to understand the role of public service media in a changing media landscape. With clear conclusions and recommendations, it also points the way forward: what issues must future research address in order to meet the needfor knowledge in an era of political polarisation and global media transformation?

Amanda Ramsälv (PhD) is a researcher at JMG at the University of Gothenburg. Her research focuses on journalism and digital news production.