State, Media and Politics

1. State, Media and Politics C A Murray CMNS 130

2. Objectives of this lecture • To introduce key concepts: ideology, democracy • To introduce normative theories of the press • Introduce the laws and institutions in place to express this theory of the press C A Murray CMNS 130

3. 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 C A Murray CMNS 130

4. Democracy • An ideology • A system of ideas about political organization of a demos: ( greek: peoples) and kratos ( rule) • Literally and most simply: Rule by the People • Core assumptions: • Reflect the enlightenment: centrality of the idea of individual autonomy • Also the theoretical social good of equality C A Murray CMNS 130

5. Key features of Modern Democracies • Elections of representatives to govern by majority • By voters consisting of entire adult population • Whose votes carry equal weight • Who are allowed to vote in secret without coercion • For Limited Terms: accountable to re-election or rejection C A Murray CMNS 130

6. Democracy around the World • Now Over 180 democracies: the dominant form of political organizations among nation states • Dominance is less than 100 years old • Just over half the world’s population lives in a democratic state: yet fewer than 50 countries offer a relatively free press • Right to vote has not become universal in most Western democracies until after 2nd World War C A Murray CMNS 130

7. Myths and Reality • Myth: there is one form of democracy • Reality: 311 different definitions of democracy in the study of political communication; at least eight different historical models of democracy • Conclusion: democracy is culturally-bounded • Modern Democracies sharply vary in their protections of minorities from majorities C A Murray CMNS 130

8. 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 regimes • But, as seen above, most countries choose a different model than the Western one of a free press: why? C A Murray CMNS 130

9. 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 C A Murray CMNS 130

10. Four Theories of the Press • Libertarian • Social Responsibility • Authoritarian • Development/Communist C A Murray CMNS 130

11. 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 Arabia • Military dictatorships • One party states • Dictators C A Murray CMNS 130

12. Authoritarian Views • hold that the ruling class is more discerning: rabble must be contained • criticism and public dissent is not tolerated if it jeapardizes social cohesion, stability, economic growth or the common good • press may be licensed: censorship before publication is prevalent • criticizing government programs undermines the peace C A Murray CMNS 130

13. 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 Africa • Media 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 C A Murray CMNS 130

14. Libertarian Theory A theory that the press are an extension of the individual’s absolute right to freedom of the Press • At its most extreme: no role for the state • Makes 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 freedoms • Protects security of private ownership C A Murray CMNS 130

15. 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 C A Murray CMNS 130

16. Libertarian III • Wants to unleash the market/freedom of expression for the media • Opposes censorship in any form: no pre or post censorship • Democracy is best achieved by radical protection of individual freedoms and advancement of the market • Free people, left to their own devices, will make economically and intellectually profitable choices C A Murray CMNS 130

17. Libertarian 2 • Freedom from state intervention is the central slogan • Media are seen as a commodity like any other: privately owned, in pursuit of profit , subject only to the ‘invisible hand’ of the market • Freedom 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 C A Murray CMNS 130

18. 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” C A Murray CMNS 130

19. 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) C A Murray CMNS 130

20. 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? C A Murray CMNS 130

21. Social Responsibility • Focuses less on the individual than the welfare of society • Concerned about equality ( where overall benefit of the many may override the individual) • Sees a more extensive role for the State • Related to reform liberalism and rise of electronic era • Central belief is that the media are not a commodity like any other: central to democratic expression; therefore a public good • Democracy must protect the interests of the majority against the harm of extreme individual freedoms; but also promote diversity of views, protect rights of minorities C A Murray CMNS 130

22. Social Responsibility 2 • Freedom 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 freedoms • Freedom of the press is not absolute: it is responsible to society • Regulation may be necessary in the social interest ( and especially in case of spectrum scarcity) • Vestiges of the social responsibility model remain in broadcasting media • Generally: social responsibility model applies to radio, TV industries around the world • Internationally, Canada and Europe and some of the Asian countries ( eg Singapore) conform to this view. C A Murray CMNS 130

23. 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 journalism • Must 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 C A Murray CMNS 130

24. 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) C A Murray CMNS 130

25. 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 C A Murray CMNS 130

26. Four Types of Political Control over the Media • Legal/Regulatory Controls over Freedom of Expression • Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms • Regulation • Voluntary Controls • News Manufacture: • Indirect State Economic Influence • Election Regulation/Marketing and Persuasion C A Murray CMNS 130

27. Sources: C A Murray CMNS 130

28. BACK TO LECTURE NOTES C A Murray CMNS 130

29. BACK TO INDEX C A Murray CMNS 130