In search of common ground

Andra Leurdijk (1)

1 TNO Information and Communication Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam

The article explores conceptualizations of multicultural programming by commissioning editors and programme-makers working for public broadcasters in five west European countries. It discusses current ideas concerning multicultural programming as well as resulting programme formats. The article shows how makers of multicultural programmes have developed several strategies to address both minority and mainstream audiences. These vary from creating common points of reference and concentrating on so-called universal experiences such as death, birth, love and friendship to making use of lighthearted formulas. It also shows how, especially in the Netherlands and the UK, multicultural programming has developed into a broad range of formats, labelled ‘cross-cultural'. Factual entertainment or infotainment formats, addressing urban and young audiences, are favoured at the cost of social realist styles and programmes addressing older audiences or first-generation immigrants.

Mots clés: cross-cultural; cultural diversity; ethnic minorities; European television; genre; minority programmes; multicultural television; public broadcasting; television

Andra Leurdijk. In search of common ground. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 2006, 9 (1), pp.25-46. ⟨10.1177/1367549406060806⟩. ⟨hal-00571498⟩