A public service is a service which is provided by government or public sector to citizens. Main definition of public service is that it is a service in the public interest. It means that everyone who provides a public service must act in public interest and no in self-interest. Nevertheless the term “public interest” is necessary for the definition of “public service”, it doesn’t have exact meaning, which is important not only in law and politics but in ethics too. In this study ethical relevance of term “public interest” in connection with ethics in public service is showed. This study analyses conversions of “public interest” in history of social-political thought which can help its understanding in contemporary philosophy and public policy. The analysis shows that the term “public interest” is very complicated, dependent on social-political conditions of state and therefore it needs ethical expertise in every situation which is connected with providing of public service.
This article explores the concept of public service and public interest. Drawing on the philosophies of Martha Nussbaum, Virginia Held, and Nancy Fraser, the presented text contests traditional political-economic and cultivation theories that emphasize efficiency, performance, and perfection. Instead, it posits an approach that integrates human vulnerability as a valuable aspect of the “good life,” thereby fostering a richer understanding of public interest. It criticises the exclusive and perfection-focused narratives, proposing inclusive “counter publics” that recognize and value diverse community interests. The 2018 performance of Frljić’s “Our Violence, Your Violence” in Brno, CZ provides a tangible illustration of these concepts, showcasing how theatre can function as a democratic platform for dialogue or fail in this mission due to paternalism. The article concludes with a call to reimagine public service in theatre to encourage democratic decision-making, appreciate human vulnerabilities, and foster dialogue and inclusion.
The concept of “public-service”, particularly as an attribute epitomizing the essence of transformation of the former state radio and television in new social and political conditions after November 1989 still arouses controversial interpretations and discussions in expert public. The above concept has been adopted from German legal terminology and denotes particularly an organizational and legal form rather than the content of public-service broadcasting, which is best described by this English term meaning “service to public”. Thus, such broadcasting is non-state, or state-independent, focused on the needs and interests of the general public and is accountable both to the institutional structures of a civic society and to individual viewers and listeners. The development of public-service broadcasting has been significantly influenced by the emergence of the dual system of radio and television broadcasting, i.e., by the coexistence of public-service and private radio and television. The development of the dual system of broadcasting has been closely connected with the decrease in the market share of public-service radio and television stations both in the old and the new EU member states. Due to the rapid advancement of commercial broadcasting, public-service media have been forced to vigorously defend their legitimacy and search for a new identity in the qualitatively different conditions of economic competition. The issue of financing of public-service media in the context of development of dual broadcasting system is being discussed both abroad and at home. Despite that, to date, Slovakia has been unable to implement a systematic solution capable of granting a stable, long-term financial framework that would provide for the functions of public service. Coexistence of public and commercial sectors cannot result in a type of broadcasting where everything is subordinated to the laws of market and dictate of advertising. Europe has the right to expect from radio and television their active contribution to its further development and building of its identity while relying on the essential principles of tolerance, pluralism of opinions, freedom of expression, critical spirit and humanism. This is also why it can be stated with some degree of confidence that the values of public-service broadcasting have been gaining ever greater support of the civic society in Slovakia.
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