Professor Petros Iosifidis

Course Director, Media & Communications MAs; Professor in Media & Communication Policy

Department of Sociology

Email: P.Iosifidis@city.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7040 8538

Overview

Professor Iosifidis obtained his first degree in Sociology from Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences of Athens.

He then completed his MA in Communication Policy Studies and PhD at City University London and University of Westminster respectively. He previously taught at the University of North London.

Professor Iosifidis serves on the Peer Review College of the Economic and Social Research Council.

He is a media policy academic, working on the social, political and economic aspects of the media industry. He is Books Editor of the International Journal of Digital Television.

Professor Iosifidis currently heads the Centre for International Communications & Society in the Department of Sociology. As part of this group he has developed extensive expertise in the areas of broadcasting, telecommunications and digital media policies, global media market structures, regulatory frameworks and the public interest.

He was recently involved in an EU study called "The Citizens' Right to Information: Law and Policy in the EU and its Member States" as a national expert (consultant) with responsibility for submitting the Greek report.

Research interests

Professor Iosifidis is an active member of the Department of Sociology in the School of Social Sciences. He is a member of the Steering Committee of the interdisciplinary Centre for Law Justice & Journalism.

Specialisms: Broadcasting policy and regulation in Europe and beyond; Media concentration policy and media pluralism; The impact of technological convergence on regulatory frameworks; The information society, digital television and digital exclusion; The prospects of public service broadcasting in the digital era; Media governance and social networks; Sports and television.

Teaching

• Developments in Communication Policy
• Media and Communication Theories
• Issues in Media and Communication Research (5 lectures)
• Sport and Television
• Approaches to Social Research (20 classes)
• Media History and Politics (10 classes)
• Contemporary Issues in Media Studies (10 classes) 

Professor Iosifidis is organiser of the Sociology 'Guest Speaker Series'.

PhD supervision

Professor Iosifidis has supervised a wide range of PhD students in various areas of media policy and in other areas of sociology and is open to receiving informal enquiries from research students interested in undertaking doctoral studies. He is currently supervising three doctoral students whose topics are public service broadcasting, digital television and social networks.

Publications (since 2005)

Books

• Iosifidis, P. (with P. Smith and T. Evens) (2013) Playing to Win: The Political Economy of Television Sports Rights, London: Palgrave Macmillan.
  
  
• Iosifidis, P. (2012) Public Television in Europe: Technological Challenges and New Strategies, London: Palgrave Macmillan (softback edition).
  
  
• Iosifidis, P. (2011) Global Media and Communication Policy, London: Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN:9780230218796
  
  Brief description: The book addresses the theoretical dimension in terms of media policy and regulatory aspects and considers the range of national and supranational responses to the regulatory challenges posed by social and market changes.
  
  The book received very positive reviews in the following peer-review journals:
  
  • Global Media and Communication, August 2012 vol. 8, no. 2 (Reviewer; Prof. Terry Flew) (see http://gmc.sagepub.com/content/current).
  • International Journal of Digital Television, issue 2, 2012 (Reviewer: Prof. Mark Wheeler).
  
  The book was also reviewed in the LSE Media Policy Blog. Extracts of the book have been translated into Greek and Korean.
  

• Iosifidis, P. (ed.) (2010) Reinventing Public Service Communication: European Broadcasters and Beyond, London: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN: 978-0-230-22967-9, ISBN10: 0-230-22967-0.
  
  Brief description: This edited collection addresses one of the most challenging debates in contemporary media studies: the transition of the traditional Public Service Broadcasters into Public Service Media - that is, widening their remit to be available in more delivery platforms for producing and distributing public service content. There are 23 contributors from European countries and beyond.
  
  The book appeared in the Times Higher Education in April 2010. An opinion piece based on the book appeared 4 May 2010 in 'Open Democracy'.
  
  The book received very positive reviews in the following peer-review journals:
  
  • Media Culture & Society, April 2012 vol. 34 no. 3 385-387 (Reviewer: Prof. Peter Dahlgren) (see http://mcs.sagepub.com/content/34/3/385.extract).
  • International Journal of Digital Television, issue 3, 2011 (Reviewer: Dr Michael Starks)
    
  
  

• Iosifidis, P. (2007) Public Television in Europe: Technological Challenges and New Strategies, London: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-4039-8961-1 (hbk).
  
  A new softback edition of the book with a brand new preface and updates was published in February 2012 (see http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?pid=544571). 
  
  Brief description: a theoretical discussion of public television across Europe and a comparative analysis of challenges and strategies public broadcasters are facing in the digital age in different national contexts.
  
  The book received reviews in the following journals:
  • Cultural Trends (2009, 18(3): 263 - 272)
  • Intermedia (2007, 35(3): 30-4)
  • DiMEE (Greek Journal of Media Law)
  • Greek newspapers TA NEA & TO VIMA
  • An opinion based on the book was featured in Broadcast on 2.11.07.

• Iosifidis, P. (2005) European Television Industries (with J. Steemers and M. Wheeler) London: British Film Institute. ISBN 1-84457-059-2 (pbk) - 1-84457-060-2 (hbk).
  
  Brief description: an analysis of European television market, new digital media, media ownership and broadcast regulation. I contributed the chapters 'Legal and Regulatory Context: National Approaches' and 'Digital Television Policy in Europe'.
  
  The book received a review in the International Journal of Media Management, 7(3&4): 160-1.
  
  

Refereed journal articles

(2012) 'Mapping Digital Media: Digital Television, the Public Interest and European Regulation', online article available from opensocietyfoundations.org.

(2011) 'The Public Sphere, Social Networks and Public Service Media' Information, Communication & Society 14(5): 619-37.

(2011) 'Growing Pains? The Transition to Digital Television in Europe' European Journal of Communication 26(1): 3-17.

(2010) 'Plurality of Public Service Provision in the UK and Beyond' Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture 1(2): 253-67 (published by Intellect, ISSN: 1757-2681 (special issue).

(2010) 'Pluralism and Concentration of Media Ownership: Measurement Issues' Javnost/The Public 17(3): 5-20.

(2008) 'Public Television in Europe: The French and Greek Cases' International Journal of Media and Cultural Politics 4(3): 349-67.

(2007) 'Digital TV, Digital Switchover and Public Service Broadcasting in Europe' Javnost/The Public 14(1): 5-21.

(2007) 'Public Television in Small European Countries: Challenges and Strategies' International Journal of Media and Cultural Politics, 3(1): 65-87 (Published by Intellect Ltd, Bristol, UK; ISSN: 1760-8296).

(2006) 'Digital Switchover in Europe' Gazette - The International Journal for Communication Studies 68(3): 249-67 (Published by Sage; ISSN: 0016-5492).

(2005) 'The Application of EC Competition Policy to the Media Industry' International Journal of Media Management 7(3&4): 103-111 (published by the Media & Communications Management, University of St. Gallen, Swittzerland; ISSN: 1424-1277).

(2005) 'Digital Switchover and the Role of BBC Services in Digital TV Take-up' Convergence - The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies 11(3): 57-74 (published by Sage; ISSN: 1354-88565).

(2003) (with N. Leandros) 'Information Society Strategies in the European Context: The Case of Greece' Journal of Southeast European and Black Sea Studies 3(2): 67-96 (published by Frank Cass, London; ISSN: 1468-3857).

(2002) 'Digital Convergence: Challenges for European Regulation' Javnost/The Public 9(3): 27-47 (ISSN: 1318 - 3222).

(2000) (with I. Kiki) 'Legal Issues concerning Cable TV: The Greek Case' Communications and the Law 22(2): 5-22 (published by Fred B. Rothman, a division of William S. HEIN & Co. Inc; ISSN: 0162 - 9093).

(1999) 'Diversity Versus Concentration in the Deregulated Mass Media Domain' Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly 76(1): 152-62 (published by the Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication; ISSN: 1077 - 6990).

(1997) 'Pluralism and Media Concentration Policy in the European Union' Javnost/The Public 4(1): 85-104 (published by the European Institute for Communication and Culture; ISSN: 1318 - 3222).

(1997) 'Methods of Measuring Media Concentration' Media, Culture & Society 19(3): 643-63 (published by Sage, London; ISSN: 0163 - 4437).

(1996) 'Merger Control and Media Pluralism in the EU' Tolley's Communication Law 1(6): 247-50 (published by Tolley Publishing, Reed Elsevier; ISSN: 1361 - 9918).

Book chapters

(2013) 'Visual Citizenship and Public Service Media' in H. Thornham and S. Popple (eds.) Content Cultures: Transformations of User Generated Content in Public Service Broadcasting (IB Tauris).

(2012) 'Media Concentration in the UK' in E. Noam International Media Concentration (Oxford University Press).

(2012) 'Emerging Governance Pattern in Media & Communications' in E. Psychogiopoulou (ed.) Media Freedom and Independence (Palgrave Macmillan).

(2010) 'Pluralism and Funding of Public Service Broadcasting Across Europe' in P. Iosifidis (ed.) Reinventing Public Service Communication: European Broadcasters and Beyond, London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 23-35.

(2010) 'Measuring Media Concentration' in P.Y. Badillo and J.B. Lesourd (eds.) The Media Industries and Their Markets: Quantitative Analyses, London: Palgrave Macmillan, chapter 7.     

(2009) 'TV Sports Rights in Greece' in I. Blackshaw, S. Kornelius and R. Siekmann (eds.) TV Rights and Sport: Legal Aspects, T.M.C. Asser Press, The Netherlands, pp. 359-72.

(2008) 'Free-to-air TV, Digital Switchover and Public Service Broadcasting' in M. Meimaris (ed.) International Communication and Information, pp. 75-82.

(2008) 'Plurality in Public Service provision: A European Dimension' in D. Levy and T. Gardam (eds.) The Price of Plurality, Choice, Diversity and Broadcasting Institutions in the Digital Age, pp. 185-90, Reuterns Institute/Ofcom. At http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/psb_review/psbplurality.pdf.

(2007) 'Digital Television, Digital Exclusion and the Internet' in N. Leandros (ed.) The Internet and the Mass Media in Europe, Abramis Publishing, pp. 77-89 (ISBN 1-84549-145-9).

(2006) 'Co-regulatory Measures in the Media Sector in Greece' in EMR - Institute of European Media Law, Hamburg, June 2006, pp. 60-2, 122, 135 & Annex IV. At http://ec.europa.eu/avpolicy/docs/library/studies/coregul/final_rep_en.pdf.

(2004) 'The Digital Revolution and the European Information Society' in R.  Panagiotopoulou (ed.) The Digital Challenge: Mass Media and Democracy, Tipothito, Athens 461-76 (ISBN: 960 - 402 - 115 - X).

(2003) 'Media Concentration and the Communications White Paper', in S. Ralph, H. Manchester & C. Lees (eds.) Diversity or Anarchy, Current Debates in Broadcasting 10, University of Luton Press 207-16 (ISBN: I 86020 591 7).

(1998) 'Concentration of Media Ownership in Western Europe' in R. Panagiotopoulou et al (eds.) The "Construction of Reality" and the Mass Media, Goutenberg, Athens 234-43 (ISBN: 960 - 221 - 141 - 5).

Guest editor

(2011) with M. Meimaris) 'Social Networks and Public Service Media', International Journal of Electronic Governance.

(2007) 'Public Service Broadcasting', Javnost/The Public 14(1). At: http://www.javnost-thepublic.org/issue/2007/1.

Book reviews

(2012) P. Lunt and S. Livingstone Media Policy Media Regulation: Governance and the Interests of Citizens and Consumers, for the LSE Media Policy blog.

(2010) M. Debrett, Reinventing Public Service Television, in International Journal of Digital Television.

(2007) K. Sarikakis (ed.) Media and Cultural Policy in the EU, in European Journal of Communication 22(4): 517-21.

(2001) B. Owen The Internet Challenge to Television, in New Media and Society 3(3): 389-92 (ISSN: 1461 - 4448).

(2000) R.W. McChesney, E.M. Wood & J.B. Foster (eds.) Capitalism and the Information Age: The Political Economy of the Global Communication Revolution. Monthly Review Press, New York, 1998 in J. Michie (ed.) Reader's Guide on Social Sciences (ISBN: 1 - 57958 - 091 - 2).

(2000) J. Steemers (ed.) Changing Channels: The Prospects for Television in a Digital World. University of Luton Press, Luton, UK, 1998 in J. Michie (ed.) Reader's Guide on Social Sciences.

(2000) A. Sreberny-Mohammadi, D. Winseck, J. McKenna & O. Boyd-Barrett (eds.) Media in Global Context: A Reader. Arnold, London, 1997 in J. Michie (ed.) Reader's Guide on Social Sciences.

(2000) D. Hutchison Media Policy: An Introduction. Blackwell Publishers Ltd, Oxford, 1999 in J. Michie (ed.) Reader's Guide on Social Sciences.

Publications in non-English language journals

(2010) Servicio público de televisión en Europa (Public Service TV in Europe) (in Spanish), Infoamerican Communication Review, issues 3-4 (ISSN: 1696-2257)  (at: http://www.infoamerica.org/icr/icr_03_04.htm).

(2007) 'PSB in Europe' in ANALEKTA, Hellenic Audiovisual Institute, Athens.

(2006) 'Digital Switchover in Europe', DiMEE (in Greek), 3: 360-1 (ISSN: 1790-0662).

(2005) 'The Incompatibility of the Greek Law with European Law on 'Main Shareholder', Imerisia 13/3/05: 51 (daily financial newspaper) (in Greek).

(2004) 'The British Communications Act 2003: Towards More Competition?' DiMEE (Law Journal on Media & Communications) (in Greek) (ISSN: 1790-0662).

(2002) 'The Telecommunications Market in Europe' The Naftemporiki (daily financial newspaper) (in Greek).

(2001) 'Telecommunications Deregulation in Europe' Media View, 4: 56-62.

(2001) 'Ownership Patterns in European Television' To Vima tis Kiriakis.

(2000) 'Television and the Market for Sports Rights' To Vima tis Kiriakis.

(1999) 'The Map of Digital Television in the European Union' To Vima tis Kiriakis.

(1999) 'The Economics of Television' Oikonomikos Tachidromos (in Greek).

(1998) 'Media Mergers in Europe' To Kerdos (daily newspaper) (in Greek).

(1998) 'The Development of Pay-TV in the European Union' To Vima tis Kiriakis (Sunday newspaper) (in Greek).

(1997) 'Assessing Media Ownership' Guadernos de Informacion 12: 94-112 (in Spanish).

(1997) 'Sports and Television: A Love Affair' Media View 4: 42-7 (in Greek).

(1996) 'Media Mergers and Acquisitions in Britain' Media View 6: 68-75 (in Greek) (ISSN: 1109 - 0162).

Online and non-refereed English language journals

(2008) 'Top Slicing and Plurality in Public service Broadcasting: A European Review' Intermedia 36(1): 30-3.

(2006) 'TV versus the PC: iDTV and the Need to Change Consumer Habits' Intermedia 34(3): 6-9.

(2006) Co-regulatory measures taken in the European media sector, Hans-Bredow Institute for Media Research, Greek report, pp.135-6 (at: http://ec.europa.eu/avpolicy/docs/library/studies/coregul/final_rep_en.pdf).

(2003) 'The Downfall of Televised Sports Rights: First Britain, Now Greece' Intermedia 30(5): 21-4.

(2002) 'The Limits of Competition Policy: Does the EC Competition Framework Ensure Media Diversity and Plurality?' Intermedia 30(2): 22-6.

(2002) 'Digital Television in Europe' Television Business International World Markets Research Centre (ISBN: 1 - 903150 - 48 - 5).

(2000) 'Digital Television in Greece' Intermedia 28(5): 12-6.

(1999) 'Regulation of Digital TV: A Case Study' Intermedia 27(1): 34-7 (ISSN: 0309-118X).

(1998) 'Regulating Digital TV: The Greek Case' International Journal of Communications Law and Policy 2 (ISSN: 1439 - 6262).

Organisation of conferences

• (September 2011) Symposium on 'Global Media Policy' followed by the launch of P. Iosifidis' book 'Global Media and Communication Policy'
  

Speakers:
- Professor Petros Iosifidis, City University London
- Professor Mark Wheeler, London Metropolitan University
- Michael Starks, Editor International Journal of Digital Television
Link to symposium video at: http://podcast.ulcc.ac.uk/accounts/CityUniversityLondon/sociology.xml

• (April 2010) Symposium on the Public Sphere and Public Service Media.
  

The symposium was funded by the Centre for Law Justice & Journalism and chaired by Howard Tumber. Speakers included Anthony Smith (CBE), Steven Barnett and Carol Tongue (former MEP). The event was followed by the launch of the book Reinventing Public Service Communication: European Broadcasters and Beyond, edited by Petros Iosifidis. The audio-visual recording of this event and the handout of the speakers biographies are available to view online.

• (March 2009)An EPSRC funded two-day conference on Digital Economy, City University London.
  

The conference had high-profile speakers such as Minister Wayne David MP and received extensive press coverage. A related opinion-based article appeared in The Guardian.

• (May 2006) Digital Switchover: Policies and Implementation, City University London.
  

Contributions by high-profile speakers from the academia, the media industry, media regulatory agencies and consumer groups. The conference was very well attended and received press coverage in The Guardian. The journals Policy Tracker, Intermedia and DiMEE wrote a story on the event.

Conference presentations

(2012) 'Digital television and the Public Interest', Invited Lecture, Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), City University London.

(2012) 'UK Media Concentration' Invited Lecture, International Media Concentration project, Yokohama, Japan.

(2012) 'Digital Media Policy' Invited Lecture, The Digital Media and New Media Platforms: Policy and Marketing Strategies, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan.

(2012) 'Public Service Broadcasting in the UK', Invited Lecture, Iraqis International Network, Organised by the Dept of Journalism, City University London.

(2012) 'Television and Sport: Between Culture and Commerce' (together with Tsourvakas), 10th World Media Economics and Management conference, Thessaloniki, Greece.

(2012) 'Social Networks and Public Service Media', Canterbury Christ Church University. 

(2011) Public Service Media in Small Countries: Challenges and Strategies', Invited Lecture, Symposium on Public Service Communication, University of Glamorgan, Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries.

(2011) 'European Experience of Digitalization Process', Mediacenter Sarajevo in conjunction with the Communication Regulatory Agency.

(2011) Regional conference, 'Digitalization and New Media' Moderator of conference's session: 'Television without Frontiers and Beyond', Brussels.

(2011) 'Television Sports Rights', Conference 'Media Concentration in the UK', International Media Concentration network, Paris.

(2010) 'The Public Sphere and Public Service Media', Invited Lecture, Central European University of Budapest.

(2010) 'The Application of EC Competition Policy to the Media Industry: The Sports Rights Market as a Case Study', Annual Int. Conference organised by MeCCSA, LSE, London.

(2010) 'Free-to-air Television and Digital Exclusion', Annual Int. Conference organised by British Sociological Association (BSA), Glasgow (paper accepted but not physically presented due to author ill health).

(2010) 'Public Media and Public Service Communications', Symposium, Limassol, Technological University of Cyprus.

(2010) 'Plurality in European Public Service Broadcasting', Symposium, University of Westminster, London.

(2009) 'Measuring Media Concentration for the Purposes of Ensuring Pluralism and Diversity', European Sociological Association (ESA) Conference, Lisbon.

(2009) 'Measuring Media Pluralism' Workshop on Media Ownership and Regulation, University of Exeter.

(2009) 'The Public Sphere and the Web Online Forums' in the Symposium on Public Sphere in the Digital Era, organised by the Technological University of Cyprus, 21 November.

(2008) 'Plurality of Public Service Provision' International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Conference, Stockholm.

(2008) 'The Survival of Public Broadcasting in Europe' European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA) Conference, Barcelona.

(2007) 'Public Broadcasting and Free-to-air TV' Int. Colloquium EUTIC, Athens.

(2006) 'Digital Television, Digital Exclusion and the Internet' Int. Conference The Impact of the Internet on Mass Media, Delphi, Greece.

(2006) 'Public Television in Europe: The Case of the Greek ERT' Int. Conference Public Broadcasting: Challenges and Prospects in the New European Television Ecology, Alampra, Cyprus.

(2006) 'The Role of Public TV in Driving Digital Take-up' Int. Conference RIPE (Re-Visionary Interpretations of the Public Enterprise), The Netherlands