Public Service Media (PSM) Chairperson Aminath Namza has emphasised that broadcasting must go beyond reaching audiences through television, radio and digital platforms, stressing that true inclusion means ensuring every individual can access, understand and participate in the content being delivered.
Speaking at the 15th Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Broadcasting for All Forum in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Namza delivered a presentation titled “Beyond Connectivity: Making Every Audience Count,” highlighting the responsibility of public service broadcasters to ensure that no
audience is left behind.
Addressing the forum’s session on “Accessible Media for Every Audience: No Audience Left Behind,” she identified three essential dimensions of inclusive broadcasting: access to content, access to technology and access to representation.
Namza stressed that providing broadcasting services alone does not guarantee accessibility, particularly for persons with disabilities, older audiences and those who face difficulties navigating digital technologies.
“Technology should make public service media more accessible, not create new barriers for the very people we are meant to serve,” she stated.
Highlighting the Maldives’ experience, Namza noted that PSM provides sign language interpretation for major national events and certain news broadcasts, while acknowledging the need to expand accessibility measures, including subtitling and audio description.
She also highlighted PSM’s efforts to provide a platform for underrepresented voices through its programming, stressing the importance of portraying individuals with dignity and giving communities opportunities to share their own experiences. She emphasised that meaningful
representation should not be limited to occasional programmes or one-time appearances, but must be a consistent part of everyday broadcasting.
Underscoring that accessibility and representation must become integral to everyday broadcasting decisions, Namza called on public service broadcasters to measure their success not merely by the number of people they reach, but by how meaningfully they serve them.
"“The measure of public service broadcasting is not simply how far our signal travels, but how meaningfully we serve the people it reaches,”Public Service Media (PSM) Chairperson Aminath Namza
The 15th ABU Broadcasting for All Forum, held as part of the 63rd ABU General Assembly and Associated Meetings, brought together media leaders and industry representatives to explore how inclusive, representative and accessible broadcasting can strengthen public trust and ensure
that diverse communities are meaningfully served.