In this episode of the Decentered Media Podcast, Rob Watson engages in discussion with Josh Shepperd, Associate Professor of Media Studies at the University of Colorado and author of Shadow of the New Deal: The Victory of Public Broadcasting. Josh’s work explores the historical development of public service media in the United States, tracing its origins, challenges, and evolution into systems like NPR and PBS.

The conversation explores the distinctions between the UK’s centralised, BBC-led model and the USA’s decentralised, fragmented approach to public service media. They explore questions that are critical to the future of media’s democratic purpose:

• What can we learn from the different origins of public service broadcasting in the UK and the USA?


• How have cultural and political contexts shaped the priorities and frameworks of public service media in both countries?


• Why is public service media essential for democratic engagement, and how do we define its purpose in an era of algorithms and globalised platforms?


• What role should universities and educational institutions play in sustaining and innovating public service media?

Josh shares his insights into how early US public broadcasting was driven by a vision of education and equal access to information for rural and underserved communities. Rob complements this by reflecting on the BBC’s Reithian ethos of “educate, inform, and entertain” and how that has evolved (and, in some ways, faltered) in a digital-first media landscape.

This episode invites listeners to reflect on the broader role of public service media and its relevance in an increasingly fragmented and commercialised media landscape. Key themes include the balance between populism and educational engagement, the risks of centralisation, and the opportunities for decentralised, community-driven media models to thrive.

Join the Conversation

Whether you’re a media professional, an academic, or simply someone passionate about the future of democratic communication, this episode is an invitation to explore the possibilities of a renewed, inclusive approach to public service media. Listen now and join the discussion: How do we redefine media’s role in serving communities in a digital-first, algorithm-driven world?

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