New Media and Democracy - Essay Example

New Media and Democracy Name Course Professor Date Essay Plan Media has been transformed in many ways. New media and advent of internet and new technologies has led to transformations in how information are acquired and relayed. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have speeded up the acquisition of information on different topical issues such as politics and political processes. Curran (2011, p.63) asserts that 18th and early 19th centuries was characterised by highly politicised journals and newspapers. The traditional media have since undergone transformations with much of the contemporary media systems having no substance in matters of public affairs. The emergence of Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, bloggers as well as online discussion forums such as social media platforms used for propagating political ideologies has been increasingly used in the recent times. In the last elections in both United States and Australia, new media was widely used in sending political messages. It can be argued that the use of new media in these elections expanded the democratic space. Curry (2012, p. 2) argues that democracy in the purest form is a government where all people performs all the ruling. This kind of democracy has not been achieved by Australia or any other country in the world. Democracy continues to expand and shifts and most of the modern societies attempt to achieve this target. The development of new media continues to expand meaning that their implications to the democracy whether positive or negative will also expand. Tambini (cited in Okoro 2009, p. 212) explains that new media seems to have tremendous influence on democratic communication processes. On the other hand, radio, newspapers and television which is part of traditional media distorts and trivializes information that diminishes democratic communication. The outreach of new media have been tremendous and increase of public access to political information is also increased (Okoro 2009). New media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter enable interactivity. It involves the users hence enabling one on one discussion. This characteristic is what sets apart the new and old media. Democracy survives where there is political tolerance and self-discipline (Eid 2007, p.248). Although new media can be important tool for strengthening democracy, it has also been used for other purposes. Kelly and Cook (2011) observed that social media is increasingly being used by big private sector corporations and governments as a way of maintaining increased control over citizens and for surveillance. Furthermore, Unwin (2009) explains that there is historical support that media technologies have been used and shaped by individuals in power. Emergence of new media heralded a new era of possibilities in terms of political discourses. Castells (2000) pointed out that new media technologies have produced new information. New media increased access to information. Macnamara (2010, p.336) explains how new media have provided fresh prospect for political engagement. Democratic space has been expanded consequently leading to timely information (Taras & Waddel 2012, p. 65). The space that is created by new media encourages mass participation to take place in the conversations. It therefore allows individuals to critically challenge dominant political rhetoric and develop various new democratic discourses which concerns individual, social, cultural and political representations. References Castells, M 2000, The Rise of the Network Society. The Information Age: Economy, Society and Culture Volume I, 2nd edn, Blackwell: Oxford. Coleman, S 1999, ‘Can the New Media Invigorate Democracy?’, The Political Quarterly, vol. 70: pp. 16–22. Curran, J 2011, Media and democracy, Taylor & Francis, New York. Curry K 2012, ‘YouTube's Potential as a Model for Democracy Exploring Citizentube for "Thick" Democratic Content’, Journal of Curriculum Theorizing, vol. 28, pp. 141-157. Dobson, A 2014, Listening for democracy: recognition, representation, reconciliation, Oxford University Press: Oxford. Eid M 2007, ‘Engendering the Arabic Internet: Modern Challenges in the Information Society’, In Duhe SC (ed.), New Media and Public Relations, Peter Lang, New York, pp. 247-268. Isakhan B & Stockwell S 2012, The Edinburgh companion to the history of democracy, Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh. Kelly, S & Cook, S 2011, Freedom on the Net 2011: a Global Assessment of Internet and Digital Media (eds), Freedom House: London. Macnamara, J 2010, The 21st century media (r)evolution: Emergent communication practices, New York: Peter Lang. Marichal, J 2012, Facebook democracy: the architecture of disclosure and the threat to public life, Ashgate Publishers, Burlinghton. Morone J 2013, New Media, New Organizations, New Politics, In Avril E & Zumello C (eds.), New Technology, Organizational Change and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, New York. Okoro, E. A. 2009, Communication, civil society, and democratization in Africa: Perspectives on political development, In Nwokeafor CU & Langmia K 2010, Media and technology in emerging African democracies, Lanham, MD: University Press of America, PP 198-225. Taras, D & Waddell CR 2012, Media and politics, AU Press: Edmonton. Unwin, T 2009, Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ed), Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. Introduction The role of media in enhancing democracy can be traced back to 18th and early 19th centuries. In these periods, the primary form of press was highly politicised journals and newspapers (Curran 2011, p.63). The media have undergone transformation since that time. Much of the contemporary media systems contents do not have any substance on public affairs. This includes television drama, popular novels, social networking websites, music videos and films. Today, the output of the media consumption in most of the time does not have any relation to understanding of politics in a conventional way. The role of the media in harnessing democracy should therefore be thought in the way it has been transformed and its implications on democratic processes. New media forms have since been developed and have played a role in this transformation. Facebook, Twitter. YouTube and blogs are some of the new media that have had some considerable implications and influence on democracy and political processes. New media have strengthened democracy and created more space where citizens can air their views and engaged their leaders on different governance, policies, development and political issues. Traditional media did not provide this opportunity. This essay will discuss the ways in which new media has strengthened democracy in Australia and other countries around the world. Arguments will be supported by various academic sources. The transformation of media has been achieved through numerous efforts by many stakeholders. Today, the forms of new media include YouTube, Twitter, blogs and Facebook. They are accessed through a number of diverse ways including fixed, ubiquitous and mobile forms of hardware that range from desktop computers, Laptops, iPads and Smart phones. Facebook and Twitter are social networking sites that enable embedding of personal messages in both wide and direct manner. Facebook was launched in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg that became accessible to the public over the ages of 13 in September 2006 (Marichal 2012). It has since been expanded with range of numerous applications becoming the current leader in the social networking. Facebook enables communication both at personal and mass levels. The use of Facebook for political purposes literature is limited because the technology is still a relatively recent phenomenon. On the other hand, Twitter represents a platform where on-site personal profiles are reduced. The core of personal identity in Twitter is what an individual has posted in recent times, people that ‘follow’ that tweet and who the user ‘follows’. New media and the old conventional media differ in a number of ways. Digital technologies that are in used by the new media are the initial characteristic that distinguishes old and new media. Conventional media uses analogue technologies (Morone 2013, p.143). New media is capable of being duplicated infinitely without any degradation. It can be altered and manipulated in a manner that is less detectable as compared to conventional media. Furthermore, new media contents can be retrieved, calculated, and computed easily since the information are inherent as machine readable. New media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter enable interactivity. It involves the users through the evolved feedback system that is used. This characteristic is what sets apart the new and old media. In addition, its interactivity is what has led it to be used for political reasons. Politicians are finding social networking sites ideal avenues for popularising their ideas and agenda to the electorate. The last election in Australia saw many politicians use new media forms in engaging with the electorate. According to the mainstream media reports in the country, many politicians are increasingly using Facebook and Twitter in putting their political messages across to their supporters. Due to this trend, the next election will see many politicians in the country use new media in their campaigns. Facebook and twitter are gaining popularity among politicians in Australia and all over the world because messages are sent and received in an instant manner to many people at the same time. It is achieved through networks that are used in new media technologies consequently enabling messages flow in an easy way from one person to another or others and one place to another(s). The use of new media as a tool for political processes is hugely debated as it elicits mixed reactions as to whether it strengthens democracy or it weakens it. Enhancement of democratic processes by the new media may depend on the viewpoint at which one considers it: whether it promotes citizenry participation in governance or it helps political juggernauts in their course. In this period of globalization, democracy needs healthier environments and new media and information society is increasingly being relied upon. In essence, democracy survival is not possible without group of presuppositions achievements. Democracy in many parts of the world seems not to find appropriate environments of flourishing. Third world and Arab countries democracy appropriateness is hugely debated which in turn tends to have an effect on internet usage and other new media forms. In assessing the functioning of new media, it is imperative to highlight the way democracy survives. Democracy cannot survive without political tolerance and self-discipline as it presupposes on them (Eid 2007, p.248). Democratic framework has many parts with popular participation being an indispensable part. Furthermore, Eid (2007) pointed out that democracy needs public deliberation in ensuring public policy preferences which are based on authentic, informed and enlightened democratic decisions. Construction of a civil society that is pluralistic, vibrant and vigorous is what is required by democracy. Democracy is not possible to be secured and developed where there is absence of a civil society of this kind. Independent and free citizenry expressive and cultural resources should be understood well by democratic theory as well as recovering the notions of social spaces that are free from interference from the state. Revolution of democratic space is as a result of citizens’ cumulative achievement that is involved actively in matters of independent media and civic movements. Widening of the government information access and freedom of debating political issues both at a personal level and also through independent media is what democracy is all about (Eid 2007, p. 248). In summing up, the aims of democratisation process is to bring the making of decisions to be so close to the people that are affected by such decisions and the diffusion of power in society. Moreover, it includes equal opportunity, social relations equity, fairness, and access and accessibility notions. Direct democracy is almost non-existent in the current period as people are represented through their chosen representatives. In general, voters give their power to representatives of their choice in regular elections to govern them on their behalf. Referendum is one way in which direct democracy is practiced by the citizens. Some critics have argued that the answer to overcoming challenges of representatives’ democracies lies in internet emergence. They believe that new media can bring new changes to democracy in the future and as such major policy decisions will be initiated, formulated and decided all by direct democracy (Isakhan & Stockwell 2012, p.102). Representative democracy supporters also believe that new information and communication technologies open up positive impacts for the political system. Early 21st century saw the creation of new types of digital social media which has led to transformation of how people conduct their communication and information sharing. The emergence of Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, bloggers as well as online discussion forums as social media platforms used for propagating political ideologies remains a controversial subject. Furthermore, the use and effects of these social media platforms on political processes is not well understood. There are reasons to support the assertions that the new media are making political processes in Australia and other parts of the world to be more democratic. In exploring the ways that the new media is strengthening democracy, the complex conceptions that democracy brings should be first well understood. Clear definition of democracy is a necessity in this case for purposes of determining in a systematic manner whether new media discussions offer opportunities for strengthening democracy. Curry (2012, p. 2) argues that democracy in the purest form is a government where all people performs all the ruling. This kind of democracy has not been achieved by Australia and any other country for that matter. Democracy continues to expand and shifts and most of the modern societies attempt to achieve this target. When democracy becomes a goal to be achieved, the pertinent question shifts from the meaning of democracy to how society’s members can act in forming a community which is more democratic. New media provides avenue for formation of this more democratic community through various ways. Advent of new media technologies in the 21st century provided strong speculation that it will be used for sustaining public interests in political domain and current affairs. Moreover, this communication invention was thought to increase citizens’ participation in political commitment and strategies. Tambini (cited in Okoro 2009, p. 212) explains that new media seems to have tremendous influence on democratic communication processes which is within the contexts of appropriate regulation and economy with specific focus on communications technologies access. The traditional media that is radio, newspapers and television is viewed as mediums where it distorts, embellish and trivialize information that diminishes democratic communication. On the other hand, new media technologies such as multimedia, Internet and computer-mediated communications can be utilized in encouraging active political citizenship as well as promotion of effective dialogue, debate, and political process critical analysis (Okoro 2009, p. 212). Furthermore, Bhuiyan (cited in Okoro 2009, p. 212) identifies that new media enhances the explosion of innovation and creativity especially in developing countries. This is because people have the ability of emerging into an age of abundant choices and cultural richness that were not anticipated. He also explains that the growth of new media in a rapid manner including multimedia information services and Internet will increase the potential for citizens’ interactivity with its leaders. In addition, the potential of access to information and news in an instant manner is also increased and exploited. It is hence expected that new media trends will certainly facilitates dissemination of news in different democracies of the world, and in turn strengthens its democratic institutions viability. In addition, the process of the new media in its outreach is a powerful one as it increases public access to political and national issues in a constant way especially in Africa where there is believe that its capacity in performance of their functions is limited (Okoro 2009, p. 212). The development of new media continues to expand meaning that their implications to the democracy whether positive or negative will also expand. The transformative ability of the new media can be said as being outdated almost immediately. Example is the continuing events of 2011 in North Africa and Middle East that saw propagation of major political changes conducted through social media (Facebook and Twitter). Huffington Post (2011) described these events as veritable “Facebook Revolution” which can be considered as a direct outcome of social media use. In contrast, Kelly and Cook (2011) observed that in some quarters Internet and social media is increasingly being used by big private sector corporations and governments as a way of maintaining increased control over citizens and for surveillance. It is at this point important to note that technology cannot be an autonomous power that can be used inherently as a tool for doing ‘good’ or ‘bad’. In history, there exists a compelling support that technologies have been used and shaped by individuals in power as a way of maintaining their power positions (Unwin, 2009). The pertinent questions that arises from this observation is whether emergence of new media are different from this; or whether or not new media technologies have produced a new information age as pointed out by Castells (2000) where existence of political processes and structures can be fundamentally altered. The answer to this is no simple one but I contend that it has transformed political processes and expand democracy. New media and in particular Facebook and Twitter offer improved chance for mediated communication. This is because they are interactive which offers participative engagement between leaders and citizens hence enabling increased participation of citizens in matters of governance. Citizens can ask questions about any particular issue of interest and relevant to them and almost get instant answers as social media provides two-way interactivity. Participation and discussion between government officials or those in power or seeking elective positions and citizens to take place through new media which is part of what a democratic process is all about. This is the not case in traditional mass media that involve transmission of information in a one-way route from top to down, that is, from government, institutions or businesses to the citizens or those being governed. There are various models of democracy that exist globally. In Australia, which is one of the democratic countries in the world has variations in terms of democratic models. Of interest in this discussion of new media and democracy is the liberal democracy. In liberal democracy, individual freedom is privileged, adoption of voluntary voting is often, and the private citizens’ views are aggravated through centre of power and groups achieved through informal public opinion (Curran 2011, p.80). However, what is relevant in this discussion is that new media offer users opportunity to interact mostly in a manner which is direct, agonistic and participatory and less in representative and deliberative ways. Macnamara (2010, p.336) explains that new media provide fresh prospect for political engagement. Isolated communities are offered an opportunity to be reached by institutions and politicians through the new media. Additionally, isolated communities have the capabilities of reaching politicians and institutions by use of new media. Democracy is therefore strengthened as a more effective way of ‘public sphere’ debate is in existence in form of discussions conducted in the new media. Moreover, the internet has provided well established platform which makes these discussions on Twitter and Facebook to be undertaken, bloggers to blog and streaming of political videos on YouTube possible. United States President Barack Obama popularise and ‘revolutionised’ the use of new media by politicians for political agenda after he actively use it in his 2008 presidential campaigns. The use of Facebook, twitter and blogs have not been actively used by politicians in Australia for campaigns like in United States but many current politicians in the country have active Facebook and Twitter accounts. The revolution that happened in Middle East, Egypt and Tunisia that made potential for self-generation and localised democratic culture to be initiated was only possible through use of new media technologies. In this regard, citizens participated, discussed and shared their opinion on matters of governance and how they can exercise their democratic right in a better manner. The new media has impacted positively on the politics of Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America, and other countries in the world where it has been widely used for political discourses. It is now a common thing to find politicians, senior government officials and government departments having social media pages. Facebook, Twitter, and blogs are some of the social media platforms used by these people. Australian politics have been shaped positively by these new technologies. It has expanded democratic space hence promoting right to timely information (Taras & Waddell 2012, p. 65). In reality, there are many ways and forms in which the new media has impacted positively on Australian politics and democracy. The use of new media in Australia is affecting the democratic process in many ways. It influences voters to participate in political processes, voting population is better informed and the use of communication networks and internet is directly impacting voters’ decisions (Coleman 1999, p. 18). Former Prime minister Kevin Rudd is one of the politicians that used social media in engaging with the public about different national issues and policies. During his short spell as prime minister in 2013, Kevin Rudd had the most ‘followers’ on twitter and he uses it in promoting his government agenda and policies. A better informed voter is achieved because of technological advancements. Australians are able to regularly follow political campaigns from the internet through Facebook posts, Twitter updates, and blogs from various political bloggers. Facebook messages and twitter tweets are used by those seeking votes to send their political messages across. In response, voters are able to ask them questions and get instant answers on different policy issues. This one on one engagement is made possible by use of the new media in Australian politics. Tony Abbot, the current Australian Prime minister has active Facebook and Twitter accounts. He welcomes the public to raise their views on any policy or governance issues pertaining to his government and feedback about any policies and development agenda that affects the citizens on his new media platforms (Facebook and Twitter). The internet has also impacted political activity positively. It has increased the political activity of those groups already active in Australia. A better informed voter is developed by the rapid use of internet and new media in most countries. Individuals are capable of sending and receiving information on different topical issues over the internet. It has accelerated greater flow of information and reliance of public opinion is increased in legislative decision making (Taras and Waddell 2012, p. 66). Online political participation is bolstering democratic space in Australia and Canada in the following ways: there is more citizen engagement concerning political issues at the national, state and local level; increase access to a lot and better information on policy positions, government decisions affecting citizens, and information on candidates; and pressure on different organizations to provide quality information to the citizens. Several people in Australia today are now turning to social networks to discuss various political issues affecting their lives. In turn, majority of Federal politicians have opened social media accounts for engaging with their electorate about issues that affect them. In this case, democratic space has been expanded by new media as Australian political leaders and citizens actively engaged each other about various aspects affecting them. New media strengthens democracy and democratic processes in ways which would not have been achieved through traditional media. New media offers inclusivity and open space needed for conversations about different discourses which are outside the government and established institutions hegemony or from the traditional media (Dobson 2014, p. 96). The space that is created by new media encourages mass participation to take place in the conversations. It therefore allows individuals to critically challenge dominant political rhetoric and develop various new democratic discourses which concerns individual, social, cultural and political representations. Citizens are enabled to engage with each other based on inclusive values. Furthermore, new media allows oppositional positions to be expressed and achieved due to its inclusive and open discussion space (Morone 2013, p.136). Users of new media are able to engage democratically through discussion of ideas in an open manner without coercion. This may become crucial in preventing escalation of oppositional views as well as polarisation of society. From these points, it is clear that new media offer crucial components necessary for development of democracy. Therefore, new media strengthens democracy in various countries around the world. In summing up, the aims of democratisation process is to bring the making of decisions to be so close to the people that are affected by such decisions and the diffusion of power in society. Moreover, it includes equal opportunity, social relations equity, fairness, and access and accessibility notions. New media has been vital as one of the tools used in achievement of these objectives. Today, there is a lot of information available on the internet about politics, democracy and government in Australia and other countries around the world. The way Australians communicate about policy issues has been dramatically changed through the use of new media. Politics and political ideologies have been positively impacted by the use of new media in politics. Many politicians and government officials have open up social media pages where they used them for disseminating information about governance and other political agendas that affects the citizens. The growth of new media in a rapid manner including multimedia information services and the Internet has increased the potential of citizens’ interactivity with their political leaders. In addition, the potential of access to information and news in an instant manner is also increased and exploited. Therefore, new media have facilitated the dissemination of political and governance information in different democracies of the world, and in turn strengthen its democratic institutions viability. References Castells, M 2000, The Rise of the Network Society. The Information Age: Economy, Society and Culture Volume I, 2nd edn, Blackwell: Oxford. Coleman, S 1999, ‘Can the New Media Invigorate Democracy?’, The Political Quarterly, vol. 70: pp. 16–22. Curran, J 2011, Media and democracy, Taylor & Francis, New York. Curry K 2012, ‘YouTube's Potential as a Model for Democracy Exploring Citizentube for "Thick" Democratic Content’, Journal of Curriculum Theorizing, vol. 28, pp. 141-157. Dobson, A 2014, Listening for democracy: recognition, representation, reconciliation, Oxford University Press: Oxford. Eid M 2007, ‘Engendering the Arabic Internet: Modern Challenges in the Information Society’, In Duhe SC (ed.), New Media and Public Relations, Peter Lang, New York, pp. 247-268. Isakhan B & Stockwell S 2012, The Edinburgh companion to the history of democracy, Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh. Kelly, S & Cook, S 2011, Freedom on the Net 2011: a Global Assessment of Internet and Digital Media (eds), Freedom House: London. Macnamara, J 2010, The 21st century media (r)evolution: Emergent communication practices, New York: Peter Lang. Marichal, J 2012, Facebook democracy: the architecture of disclosure and the threat to public life, Ashgate Publishers, Burlinghton. Morone J 2013, New Media, New Organizations, New Politics, In Avril E & Zumello C (eds.), New Technology, Organizational Change and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, New York. Okoro, E. A. 2009, Communication, civil society, and democratization in Africa: Perspectives on political development, In Nwokeafor CU & Langmia K 2010, Media and technology in emerging African democracies, Lanham, MD: University Press of America, PP 198-225. Taras, D & Waddell CR 2012, Media and politics, AU Press: Edmonton. Unwin, T 2009, Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ed), Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. Read More