Language assessment in Catalan local television: the model adopted by the Local Television Network

Abstract

The author, who played a role in creating a language assessment service for the Xarxa de Televisions Locals (Local Television Network) in Catalonia, assesses the organisational philosophy behind public television language services, with specific reference to Catalonia, and from this standpoint proposes an assessment model which is appropriate to local television. This is the background to the formation of the Unitat de Dinamització i Assessorament Lingüístics (Unit for the Promotion and Assessment of Language) for which the author was responsible. The article reveals the line of reasoning used for assessment and the principles implemented in organising this Unit. In contrast to the language services for autonomous public television, which are structured mainly (but
not exclusively) around an assessment model which focuses on end products, the author proposes and justifies an assessment model for the local television stations which form part of the Local Television Network, focusing on the process, one which emphasises the training of media communications professionals in order for them to acquire the necessary degree of autonomy for managing language quality in their audiovisual products.