Democracy and the news Essay

This paper volition look at the disparate ship dismissal the media reflects and affects society by examining the various relationships that exists between the media, the bring up and the citizens. It give foremost define key circumstances, allowing for contr oversial words to confound a particular and continuing definition throughout the paper. Three key ideas, centering near the relationships between the media and the state, volition make up the major part of this paper namely how the media affects the state, how the state affects the media and failed attempts by the media to affect the state. Examples of each concept universe discussed will be include, showing the nonion in pr compriseice. Relationships between the media and citizens will in any case be examined and discussed, again using examples to show each in achievement. The relationship between the media and citizens will be discussed, examining the ability of the media to influence the world, the publics ab ility to influence the media and failed attempts of the media to influence the public. The conclusion of this paper will detail the role of the media indoors society, how it operates and different functions it both performs, and attempts to perform.The media is a incessantly changing medium. It includes television, newspapers, magazines, journals, radio, cinema, advertisements, and interactive multi-media. It wad also include the Internet, video games, roving phones and computers ( OShaughnessy & Stadler, 2002 ). No undisputable definition of the term media exists, however, for the purpose of this paper the following definition given by OShaughnessy and Stadler ( 2002 ), will be understood as conclusive.The media ar technologically developed and economically utileforms of human communication, held every in public or private consumeership,which crowd out transmit nurture and entertainment across time and space to queen-size root words of people ( OShaughnessy & Stadler, 200 2 Pg 4 ).A democracy is the notion that business office and authority is vested in the people, ( Singleton et al, 2000 Pg 4 ). In Australia, citizens vote for representatives that make up the parliament, and the party holding the majority form Government. Government operates at threesome levels Commonwealth, state and local. Parliamentary members are held responsible and responsible for their actions, and numerous institutions intentional to check and balance power exists to ensure this occurs.Citizen is defined in The Macquarie dictionary ( 1994 ) as be a member, native or naturalized, of a state or nation, ( Pg 187 ) and will adopt this definition throughout this paper.The print and electronic medias ability to broadcast specifyation both quickly and wide across society allows the media to successfully enact the role of public watchdog ( Wheeler, 1997 Pg 238 ). The media feeds citizens information. The public is informed of what occurs around them and abroad, who th eir politicians are, how they look and sound and important issues being suggested, debated and implemented deep down organization. Politician journalist relationships are inherently collusive. to each one needs the other to achieve their objectives ( Franklin 1998 ). Politicians require the services of journalists for their messages to reach the global public and journalists need politicians in order to cover politics ( guard 2002 ). The relationship between the state and the mass media can quickly effect vulnerable. The media holds a particular power, which can fool it become an agenda setter for society.Not only politicians sincereise the importance of the media as a weapons platform from which to speak. press groups seek out the media in order to publicize their objectives. Those that successfully practice the media acquire a community status, which has the potential to morph into a semipolitical status, from which opposition to political ideals, occurrences or sim ilar can be passed on to citizens. Examples of such groups include Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Amnesty. These groups can become oppositional spokesmen to government policy, sources of information and social commentators on legislation or policy ( Negrine, 1989 Pg 163 ). The media delectations these groups as an authorizedauthority, as they are recognized and respected organisations within the greater community, a status gained through implement of the media itself.Examples exist where journalists can be seen as propaganda agents for politicians. The term manufacturing consent is described by Robinson ( 2002 ) as the power of the government to set the news media agendas, ( Robinson, 2002 Pg 12 ). Entman ( 1991 ), examines an example of this with 2 incidents from the 1980s. The medias irrelevant handling of two waycraft shoot-downs, the Korean Airline and Iran Air, despite case similarities, prove the presence of political persuasiveness.Both resulted in a large passing play of civilian life, and both were the result of military mistakes. The Iran Air shoot-down for which the US was answerable, was described in terms of a technical failure, ( Robinson, 2002 Pg 13 ). The Korean Airline shoot-down, effected by the USSR, was framed as a moral outrage, ( Robinson, 2002 Pg 13 ). The US media covered these two incidents as instructed to by US administrations and, says Entman ( 1991 ), chose to neither challenge nor criticize the facts presented to them by the state ( Robinson, 2002 ).The combination of occidental governments intervening during humanistic crises, and the considerable media attention given to dire part abroad, saw the relationship between the media and the state linked as bestow factors, namely with the media encouraging the state to intervene ( Robinson, 2002 ). This trend became known as the CNN effect ( Robinson, 2002 Pg 1 ). Media coverage was proclaimed to influence policy-makers, resulting as either a necessary o r sufficient factor in producing a particular outcome, ( Robinson, 2002 Pg 37 ). The CNN effect ( Robinson, 2002 ) adheres to the fact that definitive policy decisions lie down with the policy makers, but media coverage can encourage policy makers to see that a decision is attained ( Robinson, 2002 ).An example of media coverage contributing to humanitarian intervention is that which became known as Operation Deliberate Force , an action led progressively by the US into Bosnia between 1992 and 1995. The war in Bosnia was the biggest conflict resulting from the dissolution of the FederalRepublic of Yugoslavia ( FRY ). Bosnia broke foreign from the undermined FRY and fighting began in 1991 between Bosnian government forces on one hand, and Bosnian Serb nationalists and Yugoslav army on the other. The latter two intent on creating ethnically pure regions in Bosnia ( Robinson, 2002 Pg 73 ). Pressure mounted in the US for intervention and as the war continued, US involvement incr eased, culminating in 1995 when the US became directly involved with the Bosnia war. This occurred after the 1994 Sarajevo food market place bombing.The media expelled a do something ( Robinson, 2002 Pg 82 ) attitude and it came at a time when US policy-makers were unsure of just how much force they should exude. Holbrooke ( 1999 ) believes a CNN effect ultimately persuaded the US to act. The eventual response that came from the US was a threatened use of massive force, should the Serb nationalists fail to cease actions against civilians. The reason the westside finally, belatedly intervened was heavily related to news media coverage, ( Holbrooke, 1999 Pg 20 ). Media influence, however, cannot entirely be held responsible for the US intervention. Avoidance of a humiliating UN withdrawal, along with the credibleness and competence of the US can also be considered contributing factors. ( Robinson, 2002 Pg 85 )The media can also attempt to set an agenda and fail. When politician s are trusted of their policy, media coverage can have virtually no influence in encouraging a policy change ( Robinson, 2002 ). The war in Kosovo, also a result of the FRY dissolution, proved an area of much line between US administrations and the media. Albanian Kosovars, disheartened with a lack of international support, supported a Kosovo Liberation Army ( KLA ). KLA attacks on Serb forces were answered with considerable force, which included civilian targets ( Robinson, 2002 Pg 94 ). Two contingency plans were decided upon the deployment of ground troops, and the use of air strikes, and were to go ahead should Serb forces continue attacks against Albanian civilians. US air strikes prevailed, but appeared to have little affect on the Serbian military.The US media became critical of the actions undertaken, and it became clear that the general community consensus lent toward a group campaign into Kosovo. It was concluded by Robinson, ( 2002 ) that although a large section of med ia coverage in the US encouraged the deployment of ground troops, it added little pressure on the government todo so ( Robinson, 2002 ). Not all media outlets chose to criticize the policy-makers however, and a minority were seen supporting air attacks, ( Robinson, 2002 Pg 109 ). This example shows that although a CNN effect was intelligibly present, it failed in its attempt to influence policy change.Two theories suggest ship canal of intellectual the relationship between the media and society. Firstly, it is suggested the media reflect the realities, values, and norms of a society. The media act as a mirror of society ( OShaughnessy & Stadler, 2002 Pg 28 ). Secondly, it can be said that the media affect how people think, believe, and behave. The media construct our values for us and have a direct effect on our actions ( OShaughnessy & Stadler, 2002 ). Both theories will be discussed.The media role includes both identifying issues of public concern, as well as acting as check on the abuse of power, this generally being political power.Journalists describe society to itself. They seek truth. They conveyinformation, ideas and opinions They search, disclose, record,question, entertain, suggest and remember. They inform citizens andanimate democracy ( White, 1996 Pg 288 ).It is important to note that journalists, similarly to politicians, are held accountable for what they report. Accountability engenders trust, ( White, 1996 Pg 288 ). Journalists in Australia are answerable to a self-regulatory and industry funded panel known as the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance.The media frequently influences and reflects the priorities of communities or societies.The media is reliant on advertisements for revenue. In order to perpetrate businesses to advertise, the outlet must attract consumers. This sees mediaoutlets selling the news, opinions and human-interest pieces that appeal to the values, opinions and sense of the greater market, namely, the readers and viewers.Increasingly, it is impossible to discuss the media without broaching the rout of public relations. Public relations professionals are most apt at using the media to suit their needs. They create the stories and feed the media with them, highlighting those facts they wish known, and charge the undesirable ones hidden. If a cause requires the attention of the general public, it is possible to invite the media to cover it by creating newsworthy conditions. Politicians employ public relations professionals, who are often professional journalists, to liaise with the media.Obligations of the media to the citizen are to represent, interpret and evaluate ( OShaughnessy & Stadler, 2002 ). The majority of citizens receive their knowledge of global issues through media outlets. The media explains these occurrences to the general public, loose them an understanding of what they may not otherwise know. The media can be seen as an educational tool, giving understanding of the no rms, values and realities of society to citizens ( OShaughnessy & Stadler, 2002 ). The real power of the media lies in its ability to agenda set ( Ward, 2002 Pg 404 ). The media may not be able to tell people what to think but .. they are remarkably successful in telling audiences what issues to think about, ( Cohen, 1963 Pg 13 ). The media can act as societys definer, giving meaning and understanding to situations and occurrences.Although the definitions and explanations may not necessarily reflect the attitudes of the subject experts , the power of the media can quickly see misinformation become the general consensus. Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, the term terrorism has been misinterpreted within the media, and used to describe what academics in the field would not label as terrorism. Debate is strong regarding the issues of media censorship, with allegations, arising more than and more frequently, regarding violent, sexually explicit and disturbing films, comi cs, song lyrics, Internet sites and books. Misdemeanor behaviour is often said to have been motivated and inspired by such mediums.In Australias republic referendum held in 1999, 18 of Australias 20 day by day newspapers supported a Yes vote, ( Ward, 2002 Pg 404 ). Despite this, the majority of Australians voted against Australia decorous a republic. Media scholars are aware that media campaigns will not alter political views of those with existing political opinion and loyalties. An increasing minority however, are influenced by media propaganda and media content may prove valuable during elections in the more marginal seats ( Ward, 2002 Pg 404 ). The example of the republic referendum could be seen as an attempted, and ultimately failed, use of the CNN effect on society._________________________________________________The above discussion is in reference to situations within western democracies. Other political systems, including dictatorships and less democratic regimes, eg. Zwimbabe, USSR, and China use the media differently, tending to control opinion and political views, and thereby dictating public view establishs. foregoing to the recent elections in Russia, many of the non-government television stations were taken over or shut down, and had to change their influence and affiliations before being allowed to broadcast again. This saw the public denied access to media that presents a point of view different to that which the government wants citizens to have. Hitler shut down all newspapers during his leadership and produced his own, preaching his messages to the masses, this doubtlessly contributing to the large number of Germans that became Nazis.Media ownership is an essential element in this debate, and it is vital to recognize the regulations regarding media ownership in Australia. The federal government of 1986 seek to ensure that media ownership remained as diverse as possible. A someone owning a television license cannot at the same time own more than 15 per cent of a newspaper published in the same city ( Singleton et al, 2000 Pg 308 ). 1992, however, saw legislation altered to allow more than 15 per ownership, provided the owner is deemed not to be in control ( Singleton et al, 2000 Pg 308 ). In a democratic society it is always possible for the alternative point of view to be presented, and for the most part, all sides of debates are considered.The media affects and reflects. It can act as an agent of propaganda and it can set the agenda. It can influence, or be influenced. The media, the state and the citizens are interdependent, each needing and using the other to inform and be informed. Western democracies will continue to see a balance within the media and the information it contains, as media ownership laws ensure the media remains democratic.BIBLIOGRAPHYCohen, B. 1963. The Press and unlike Policy. New Jersey Princeton University Press.Entman, R. 1991. Framing US Coverage of International discussion Co ntrasts in Narratives of the KAL and Iran Air Incidents . Journal of Communication 41(4)6 27.Holbrooke, R. 1999. No Media No War. Index on Censorship, 28(3) 20-1.Negrine, Ralph. 1989. regime and the Mass Media in Britain. capital of the United Kingdom Routledge.OShaughnessy, Michael & Stadler, Jane. 2002. Media and Society, An Introduction. 2nd Edition. Victoria Oxford University Press.Robinson, Piers. 2002. The CNN Effect The myth of news, foreign policy and intervention. London Routledge.Singleton, Aitkin, Jinks & Warhurst. 2000. Australian Political Institutions. 6th Edition. Malaysia Pearson Education Australia Pty Limited / Longman.Ward, Ian. 2002. Media power. Government, Politics, Power and Policy in Australia. Summers, John ( Ed ). NSW Pearson Education Australia Pty Limited / Longman.Wheeler, Mark. 1997. Politics and the Mass Media. Oxford BlackwellPublishers Ltd.White, Sally. 1996. Reporting in Australia. 2nd Edition. South Yarra MacMillan Publishers Australia Pty Limi ted.