Child Audiences and Media Convergence: the unbounded child in a post-broadcast world

Abstract

This paper addresses current debate in Australia on the management of child audiences in a post-broadcast world. It contextualises the debate historically by providing a brief overview of how childhood has been defined, and broadcasting policy developed in Australia, and argues that existing policy strategies require ongoing review and recalibration to ensure that quality children’s content is equitably accessible to all Australian children. Any recalibration however should be mindful of how dominant ‘bounded’ constructions of childhood limit the shaping of media policy in Australia.