This essay will show that the British media institutions do not always follow those concepts and they work differently in practice. It confirms that Marxist theories which incline to the presence of ideological views in the media agenda still have influence in a democracy nowadays.
The first part of this essays deals with the role of the media as a provider of political knowledge. The mass media play an important role in the formation of public views, because of being a basic institution that provides the communication between politicians and the public. But the misrepresentation of politics through the media shapes negative views on politics and makes people doubtful towards political system. The second part of this essay is concerned with the media as an implementer of governmental directives. The media institutions often undergo the influences of the political economy and governments, and the media output is to some extent formed under their impact. The broadcasters distributing State propaganda and tricking the public serve the government. Although there are institutions aiming to protect the media content against the external impact, the governments and depositors still have access to the broadcasting and press. The third part of the essay deals with the media as an agent of majority of views. But despite of the representation of plurality of views, the media agenda is unable to develop political debate among the citizens. Although the public receive sufficient information about different sides of political life, the interest in traditional politics is declining and the political debate as well. In other words, despite of being a great provider of political knowledge, introducing a plurality of views and being controlled by a watchdog, the British media do not fulfil the major key points of the liberal media theory.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Media as a Transmitter of Political Information Shaping Public Views
3. Media as an Implementer of Governmental and Other Interest Groups Directives
3.1. Influence and Delusion of Public by the Media
3.2 Making Use of the Media for Own Purposes
4. Media and the Declining Political Debate
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to examine the role of British media institutions in contemporary politics, specifically testing whether they adhere to the normative principles of liberal media theory. The study investigates how media outlets navigate the tension between serving as an independent provider of political knowledge and acting as a tool for governmental and economic influence.
- The divergence between liberal media theory and practical media operations in Britain.
- The impact of political economy and governmental directives on media content.
- The influence of media coverage on voter perceptions and political skepticism.
- The role of media ownership and commercial pressure in shaping public debate.
- The consequences of sensationalism and trivialization for the quality of democratic discourse.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Making Use of the Media for Own Purposes
Liberal theory also suggests the presence of a watchdog that protects against the influences of governments and specific interest groups (Bennet 1982). There are arrangements and restrictions which intend to impede monopolies and excessive influence by owners, such as independent directors of newspapers or trustee arrangements. The law also controls the influence of the owners of media institutions (cf. Oakland 2006: 247). Similarly, in political communication the agenda set by the media goes through the “news values” that is non-partisan in its character and supports the status quo (cf. Garnham 1990: 100).
However, such protections do not always function in practice, because the governments still have access to the media regardless of the existing watchdog. They make use of television in order to win voters. For example, Labour and Conservative governments use the television to sell their policies. They use the funds of the government to promote particular policies in order to involve the public to know about those policies (cf. Jones & Kavanagh 2003:109). As the television has an influencing effect, the evidence shows that now more “floating voters” can be won because they became “…high consumers of political communication, especially on TV” (Garnham 1990: 95). As a result, the television is often blamed of taking right-wing or left-wing position, depending on the governing party; and the election campaigns are being accused to minister to the political parties, especially the dominant ones than to the voters.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the normative expectations of the liberal media theory and establishes the paper's thesis that British media institutions frequently deviate from these standards in practice.
2. Media as a Transmitter of Political Information Shaping Public Views: The chapter explores how the media influences public opinion and attitudes toward politics, arguing that sensationalist presentation often fosters cynicism rather than informed participation.
3. Media as an Implementer of Governmental and Other Interest Groups Directives: This section investigates the susceptibility of media institutions to political economy, state propaganda, and the influence of vested interests.
3.1. Influence and Delusion of Public by the Media: This subsection details how commercial and political pressures manipulate media output, often marginalizing the public and distracting from substantive domestic issues.
3.2 Making Use of the Media for Own Purposes: This subsection highlights how political parties and media owners leverage broadcasting and the press to gain strategic advantages, compromising the role of the watchdog.
4. Media and the Declining Political Debate: The author analyzes how the media's failure to provide substantive political coverage has contributed to lower voter engagement and a shift toward lifestyle politics.
5. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings, reiterating that British media must return to neutral and fair agenda-setting to effectively serve a democratic society.
Keywords
British media, liberal media theory, political communication, political economy, propaganda, public opinion, journalism, watchdog, voter behavior, agenda-setting, state influence, media ownership, political debate, democracy, democratic participation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the role of British media in contemporary politics and evaluates the extent to which these institutions fulfill the requirements of liberal media theory in practice.
What are the primary themes addressed?
The key themes include the influence of the state and political economy on news, the impact of media sensationalism on public perception, the decline of substantive political debate, and the role of media ownership.
What is the main argument regarding liberal media theory?
The author argues that while liberal theory requires media to be an independent watchdog that provides fair information, British media institutions often fail to do so, frequently operating under political and economic pressures.
Which scientific methodology is primarily employed?
The research is a qualitative analysis that utilizes existing academic literature and theories (such as those from Chomsky, Garnham, and Dahlgren) to examine current trends in British media and political communication.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body analyzes the media as a transmitter of information, as an implementer of governmental directives, and as a participant in the decline of traditional political debate.
How would you summarize the core findings?
The research concludes that the British media frequently prioritize sensationalism and governmental interests over neutral information, leading to increased public skepticism and disengagement from traditional political processes.
How do politicians use the media for their own gain according to the author?
The author explains that governments often use television and press access to "sell" their policies and manipulate the "floating voter," effectively using public funds to influence political communication in their favor.
What role does the internet play in political engagement?
The paper suggests that new media, including blogs and political websites, often provide poor-quality information and misleading content, which further exacerbates political disengagement and the trivialization of political issues.
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- Alina Müller (Autor:in), 2010, Role of the British Media in Contemporary Politics , München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/182422
