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State, Media and Politics

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Objectives of this lecture

To introduce key concepts: ideology, democracyTo introduce normative theories of the pressIntroduce the laws and institutions in place to express this theory of the press

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Ideology

A system of ideas or way of thinking about how to relate politics and society

May be consensual, or conflictual

Unitary: where one culture is dominant, or Plural: minority

Ideologies define what we take as commonsense, as moral ‘telos’ or goal

They rationalize why we choose to live together in a society, and how we choose to organize the power in that society

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Democracy

An ideologyA system of ideas about political organization of a demos: ( greek: peoples) and kratos ( rule)Literally and most simply: Rule by the PeopleCore assumptions:Reflect the enlightenment: centrality of the

idea of individual autonomyAlso the theoretical social good of equality

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Key features of Modern Democracies

Elections of representatives to govern by majorityBy voters consisting of entire adult populationWhose votes carry equal weightWho are allowed to vote in secret without coercionFor Limited Terms: accountable to re-election or rejection

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Democracy around the World

Now Over 180 democracies: the dominant form of political organizations among nation statesDominance is less than 100 years oldJust over half the world’s population lives in a democratic state: yet fewer than 50 countries offer a relatively free pressRight to vote has not become universal in most Western democracies until after 2nd World War

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Myths and Reality

Myth: there is one form of democracyReality: 311 different definitions of democracy in the study of political communication; at least eight different historical models of democracyConclusion: democracy is culturally-boundedModern Democracies sharply vary in their protections of minorities from majorities

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Press and Democracy around the World

media played role in rise of modern nation state, emergence of democracies, Fall of Berlin Wall, fall of communism, fall of Milosevic in Serbia– are media playing a roll in beating back fundamentalist Islamic militantism? Or its spread ( Al Jazeera)creating an independent media is an important communication goal in Eastern Europe, South Africa and other regimesBut, as seen above, most countries choose a different model than the Western one of a free press: why?

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Normative Theories of the Media

A type of theory, or strain of ideology, which describes the ideal way for media systems to be structured and operated

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Four Theories of the Press

Libertarian

Social Responsibility

Authoritarian

Development/Communist

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Authoritarian Theory

Watch for this on your handouts in the Video Today

The media are a tool of the authority

A range of Authoritarian Regimes: ‘benign’ kings/rulers: Sauds in Saudi ArabiaMilitary dictatorshipsOne party statesDictators

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Authoritarian Views

hold that the ruling class is more discerning: rabble must be containedcriticism and public dissent is not tolerated if it jeapardizes social cohesion, stability, economic growth or the common goodpress may be licensed: censorship before publication is prevalentcriticizing government programs undermines the peace

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Sanctions of Authoritarian Regimes

reporters and citizens may be jailed: all dissent is illegitimate ( range of dissent tolerated may vary)still present in some developing countries in Asia, Middle East and Latin America and AfricaMedia become a part of the apparatus of the State\dominant military , economic or political class.associated with totalitarianism: forms of military, royal dictatorship * see L & G p. 74

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Libertarian Theory

A theory that the press are an extension of the individual’s absolute right to freedom of the PressAt its most extreme: no role for the stateMakes no distinction between individual’s right to freedom of expression or a private media corporation’s right to freedom of expression: irony: corporations have most often spoken up on individual freedomsProtects security of private ownership

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Libertarian II

Related to classical liberalism theory

Classical Liberalism has a romantic view of the individual as good, rational and completely able to distinguish good from bad

Like one of its theorists: Milton: believes that debate is always fair and that good and truthful arguments win out over lies and deceit

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Libertarian III

Wants to unleash the market/freedom of expression for the mediaOpposes censorship in any form: no pre or post censorshipDemocracy is best achieved by radical protection of individual freedoms and advancement of the marketFree people, left to their own devices, will make economically and intellectually profitable choices

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Libertarian 2

Freedom from state intervention is the central sloganMedia are seen as a commodity like any other: privately owned, in pursuit of profit , subject only to the ‘invisible hand’ of the marketFreedom of press is absolute: that is, press may promote ideas of their own choosing– citizens are able to make enlightened choices of media tailored to their own beliefs Many vestiges of 19th century libertarian ideology remain in the newspaper industry; modern platforms of Alliance and Libertarian parties, Fraser Institute in review of media

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Libertarian Model

Closest analogy to print media ( books, newspapers)

Closest country analogy is US

Only time these views are suspended is in time of war/extraordinary upheaval

In times of WAR, state may license, censor or otherwise suppress news “ in the interests of national security”

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Problems with the Libertarian Model

historically, costs of entry to publishing rose

competition was not free: oligopoly and monopolies arose

shocks of Great Depression challenged this consensus

model of economic rationality underpinning behavior began to unravel (Freud, Resistance etc)

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Problems/ Libertarian View

central analytic question: does a system of private ownership promote diversity of expression and high standards of journalism? Are citizens “ enlightened” enough to make choices? How well does an exclusively market dominated media system media serve the public?

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Social Responsibility

Focuses less on the individual than the welfare of societyConcerned about equality ( where overall benefit of the many may override the individual)Sees a more extensive role for the StateRelated to reform liberalism and rise of electronic eraCentral belief is that the media are not a commodity like any other: central to democratic expression; therefore a public goodDemocracy must protect the interests of the majority against the harm of extreme individual freedoms; but also promote diversity of views, protect rights of minorities

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Social Responsibility 2Freedom For the pursuit of the democratic social good is the central slogan ( not freedom from)Associated with the rise and sunset of the welfare state: protection of basic economic and cultural freedomsFreedom of the press is not absolute: it is responsible to societyRegulation may be necessary in the social interest ( and especially in case of spectrum scarcity)Vestiges of the social responsibility model remain in broadcasting mediaGenerally: social responsibility model applies to radio, TV industries around the worldInternationally, Canada and Europe and some of the Asian countries ( eg Singapore) conform to this view.

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Key Assumptions of Social Responsibility Models

Must regulate competition to ensure sufficient diversity in market place ( perhaps order sale)Must create codes of fair treatment by media, and promote ethics and training in journalismMust protect against flagrant abuses ( false advertising, libel, hate crimes)Promote public subsidy or public not for profit ownership of media where underrepresented minorities frozen out

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Problems with the Social Responsibility Model

despite efforts to impose it on the newspaper industry in Canada and US, this model has not become prevalent across all media

trend to global free trade and deregulation is undercutting models of social responsibility

now often narrowly interpreted as the industry’s right to develop and regulate their own codes of conduct (self-regulation by professionals)

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Problems Cont’d

private sector in broadcasting, which has represented a so-called ideal type of social responsibility regulation of the media in Canada has not achieved certain democratic or national goals

analytic question: when social responsibility conflicts with the profit motive, what then?

Classic argument: leave it to the educated elites

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Four Types of Political Control over the Media

Legal/Regulatory Controls over Freedom of Expression

Canadian Charter of Rights and FreedomsRegulationVoluntary Controls

News Manufacture: Indirect State Economic InfluenceElection Regulation/Marketing and

Persuasion

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Sources:

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