Australian Media - Literature review Example

Australian Media (Insert Name) (Institution Affiliation) Introduction It is universally accepted that media plays a vital and defining in the democratic development of any given country. For them to maintain their influence and authority in a democratic system, the press has to remain credible and reliable. The media and by extension the press, has been termed as the public watchdog put in place to ensure that there remain checks and balances in the democratic process. Democracy has been termed as a regression but not a linear progression and for media to remain relevant, it must mature with it Due to the current economic and socio cultural state of not only Australia but also the world at large, the press seem to have lost its core noble role in democracy development. It has gone to such an extent that it now poses as an obstacle to democracy. This paper will therefore critique and argue that in deed Australian press undermines Australian Democracy. The Role of Media in Democratization It is often argued, especially by those taking part in media development projects that freedom of expression and press are instrumental for democracy. It is argued that undemocratic and other totalitarian societies cannot become democratic without these fundamental freedoms. Free exchange and access of information is considered crucial in the notion of democracy (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 2). Open and free communication through different channels is crucial in nurturing critical practices found in democratic society. In a stable democracy, the mass media are the major institutions from which the public understand their society better. The media provides the citizens with information about their world, by promoting debates about different issues and by encouraging the public to make informed decisions on available courses of actions. The media is a site of contest where crucial opinions are heard, varied positions are advanced, input is received and interests exposed; all these contributing to a public debate. The media also provides a monitoring function i.e. serves as the public watchdog (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 2). The U.S Agency for International Development, in a technical publication argued that access to information is crucial to the democracy well-being for several reasons: First and foremost it ensures that citizen make informed and responsible decisions and choices. Secondly, the information ensures that elected leaders carry out the wishes of the electorates and uphold their oaths of office. Independent media that keeps a check on the judiciary strengthens the rule of law. Last but not least, independent media ensures a transparent election by reporting on the pertinent issues in an objective and timely manner and making the candidates accessible by the electorate (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 2). Some people argue that, communication freedoms and media freedoms are in fact the products of democratic reforms, rather than the reasons for those reforms. Some argue that media freedom should be taken as an indicator of democratic reform rather than a determinant (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 3). It is possible that, freedom of media slows down or hinders democratization as it can serve as the voice of the forces of ant democracy as easily as the voice of civilized society. Defining Media Freedom Media is viewed to be a component of democracy rather than being conceptually distinct of it. In their list of twelve criteria for evaluating the democratic status of a nation, Freedom House included an independent media. Other indicators of democracy include the measures of legal, economic and political systems as well as civil society, such as: level of corruption, rule of law, privatization, public administration and governance, economic liberalization etc. (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 5). However, “media supremist” views media freedom as a crucial step towards democracy. Most of the literature on media in fact assumes conceptual uniqueness of media freedoms. The normative model of free press is one that is free from any government control and regulation that would suggest limitation on the freedom to disseminate information or censorship. Ina addition, media should have political and economical independence, access to networks for a number of voices and provide a benefit to the audience. In their technical writing, the USAID considers a media system independent and free if it has moved from one that is overtly controlled or directed by private interest or government to one that is open and has editorial freedom that serves the public interest (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 5). In promoting democracy, media system should develop a variety of different mediums and voices that are credible and build and strengthen sectors that promote such outlets. Thus a free and independent media system should have financial viability, editorial independence, serve the public interest and plurality of voice. Rozumilowicz argues that in a free and independent media set up, there should be distribution of access and control supported by a nation’s institutional, legal, social cultural and economic systems (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 6). A free and independent media therefore exists within effective structures, demonopolized of the control of any intense forces or social groups and in which access is effectively and equally guaranteed. According to her view, media structure that is free of interference from business, government or dominant social groups is in a better position to sustain and support the participative and competitive elements that outline the concept of democracy and the related process of democratization (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 6). Democracy and Stages of Democracy The growth of democracy in any nation is evaluated through the gains of the media in achieving free and independent press. This implies that, the stages through which media pass in attaining the ultimate press freedom and independence forms the benchmarks of democracy evolution. We can use the media stages of reform as the steps in democracy growth, since democracy of any nation is measured in the freedom and independence of its press. From this conceptualization, Rozumilowicz outlines four phases of media reform (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 8). The first stage is the pre transition stage. This forms the foundation for subsequent changes. At this stage, there is an avenue of freeing formerly constrained media systems. The regime indicates more willingness tolerate expressions of different points of view and criticism. The second stage is the primary transition stage. There is an organised change within the formerly dictatorial regime at this stage. Statutes on ownership, defamation, access to information and the like are passed. The censorship culture is disrupted. The third stage is referred to as the secondary stage. Both journalists and politicians take part in training seminars to clarify and explain the legal and institutional order at this stage. Networks of media professionals grow. Journalists are trained on new skills of responsible and investigave journalism (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 9). The last but not least stage is the late or mature stage. Legal and institutional questions are already solved by now. Journalism educational institutions are well established. Directives to provide support for open communication are assimilated in primary and secondary education (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 10). The Current State of Australian Press With Regards to Australian Democracy Political Interests Like all over the world, the Australian media is going through trying moments. Immense external forces have been on the rise; some of which are momentarily succeeding in taking control of the press and therefore undermining the democracy gains made. Among other factors that are contributing in bringing down the media gains include: political interests, degraded journalism ethics, commercialization of the media industry and media competition (Barker, 2009, pg. 55). Political interests have contributed into the almost collapse of the media fraternity. The politicians do manipulate the media through its journalists. They do so to ensure that only that which will benefit them and their reputation is put into the media. In the crumbling estate, Geoffrey Baker says that journalists are out thought and out gunned and out paid by the army of political, corporate and bureaucratic and communication advisers, who have colonized public affairs (Barker, 2009, pg. 57). Their role is to shield their bosses from potentially humiliating inquiry and give favourable information while posing as facilitators assisting journalists in getting information. This is a regression in the democracy gain; since the public is misinformed. Degraded Journalism Ethics Degraded journalism ethics have to a large extent contributed to the turmoil faced by the media house in Australia. Journalism has been replaced by managerialism as the dominant culture in newspapers office. Executives with little regard for serious journalism as a calling concerning public trust run newspapers (Barker, 2009, pg. 55).. To them, journalism is a costly undertaking and its practitioners are and unhelpful and difficult. They spend most time on corporate planning and staff control and less on editing. They are impatient with the idea of careful inquiry, and not comfortable with the exposure of private and public swinery which can involve serious embarrassments and legal risks. This is because they want quick results: increase in circulation and revenue (Barker, 2009, pg. 55). Brighter and better journalists are replaced with young and inexperienced ones since they are uncritically enthusiastic, cheap and untroubled by demands made upon them. Young journalists see their job as an avenue to more prestigious and lucrative positions in political and corporate public relation and not as a vocation (Barker, 2009, pg. 55). These aspects dilute the seriousness of journalism and undermine the role it plays in democratization. Commercialization of the Media Industry Commercialization of the media industry has gone to such a high level that it distorts the other messages in the press. Quest for money has led to the breakdown of the separation between advertisement and editorial functions of the newspapers. In order to satisfy the demands of advertisers for some editorial quid pro quo, newspapers have gone to the extent of compromising their independence. Canbera Times publishes supplements within its editorial pages and only acknowledges it in the tinniest visible letters that they are advertising features (Barker, 2009, pg. 59). Media Watch revealed that, they published unlabelled and misleading commercial concealed as a fun holiday supplements for children. This failure by the media to clearly and distinctively separate advertisement from other messages brings about misinformation which impacts negatively on democracy (Barker, 2009, pg. 55). Media Competition Stiff and unhealthy competition is contributing to the downfall of the media. When newspapers allow people to insult the professionals of another newspaper; this does not promote the values of free press. In Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers, there is a right wing agenda that permeates the opinion as well as news pages. Big space is given to insulting ideological opponents; questioning their intelligence and motives and to attacking the professionalism and personnel of other newspapers especially Fairfax publications (Barker, 2009, pg. 58). This makes the public to have less faith and trust in the media. The Way Forward The way forward for the media is to learn from the mistakes of the predecessors and try to correct the mistakes in the industry. They should uphold their independence, the good journalism ethics, balance advertisements and news and maintain their completion within healthy limitations. In so doing, the media will save itself and democracy as a whole since the two go hand in hand. Conclusion It can therefore be concluded that the press has the in their hands to either enhance or undermine democracy. With this regards, the Australian press has an obligation to ensure that there is democratic development in Australia. As it stands, the Australian democracy progress can be said to be in a state of “Democracy on trial” facilitated the Australian Press. References: Anderson, B., 2006. Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. London: pp.1-46. Barker, G., 2009. ‘The crumbling estate - Ten steps: the long, slow death of Australian journalism’, Griffith Review, (25), pp.117-123. Dennis, E.E., & Snyder, R.W., 1995. Media and Democracy. New York: Transaction Publishers. Green, J., 2012. ‘The end of a world’, Overland, 209, pp. 4-9 Hall, S. ([1980] 2006). ‘En coding/decoding’ in Meenakshi Gigi Durham & Douglas M. Kellner (eds) Media and Cultural Studies: Key Works, Blackwell: Carlton, pp. 163-173. Keane J., 2011. The Hidden Media Powers that Undermine Democracy. The Conversation. 1 September. McConnell P.J., & Becker, L. B., 2002. The Role of the Media in Democratization, Political Communication Section of the International Association for Media and Communication Research, Barcelona. Read More

Independent media that keeps a check on the judiciary strengthens the rule of law. Last but not least, independent media ensures a transparent election by reporting on the pertinent issues in an objective and timely manner and making the candidates accessible by the electorate (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 2). Some people argue that, communication freedoms and media freedoms are in fact the products of democratic reforms, rather than the reasons for those reforms. Some argue that media freedom should be taken as an indicator of democratic reform rather than a determinant (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 3). It is possible that, freedom of media slows down or hinders democratization as it can serve as the voice of the forces of ant democracy as easily as the voice of civilized society.

Defining Media Freedom Media is viewed to be a component of democracy rather than being conceptually distinct of it. In their list of twelve criteria for evaluating the democratic status of a nation, Freedom House included an independent media. Other indicators of democracy include the measures of legal, economic and political systems as well as civil society, such as: level of corruption, rule of law, privatization, public administration and governance, economic liberalization etc. (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 5). However, “media supremist” views media freedom as a crucial step towards democracy.

Most of the literature on media in fact assumes conceptual uniqueness of media freedoms. The normative model of free press is one that is free from any government control and regulation that would suggest limitation on the freedom to disseminate information or censorship. Ina addition, media should have political and economical independence, access to networks for a number of voices and provide a benefit to the audience. In their technical writing, the USAID considers a media system independent and free if it has moved from one that is overtly controlled or directed by private interest or government to one that is open and has editorial freedom that serves the public interest (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 5). In promoting democracy, media system should develop a variety of different mediums and voices that are credible and build and strengthen sectors that promote such outlets.

Thus a free and independent media system should have financial viability, editorial independence, serve the public interest and plurality of voice. Rozumilowicz argues that in a free and independent media set up, there should be distribution of access and control supported by a nation’s institutional, legal, social cultural and economic systems (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 6). A free and independent media therefore exists within effective structures, demonopolized of the control of any intense forces or social groups and in which access is effectively and equally guaranteed.

According to her view, media structure that is free of interference from business, government or dominant social groups is in a better position to sustain and support the participative and competitive elements that outline the concept of democracy and the related process of democratization (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 6). Democracy and Stages of Democracy The growth of democracy in any nation is evaluated through the gains of the media in achieving free and independent press. This implies that, the stages through which media pass in attaining the ultimate press freedom and independence forms the benchmarks of democracy evolution.

We can use the media stages of reform as the steps in democracy growth, since democracy of any nation is measured in the freedom and independence of its press. From this conceptualization, Rozumilowicz outlines four phases of media reform (McCkonnel, 2002, pg. 8). The first stage is the pre transition stage. This forms the foundation for subsequent changes. At this stage, there is an avenue of freeing formerly constrained media systems. The regime indicates more willingness tolerate expressions of different points of view and criticism.

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