What is the media? A brief history of the media Is the media free? Media in today’s world The BBC and other UK media Can it be argued that the media have

too much freedom/power? Media Democracy

Some definitions: Media: An instrument for storing or

communication of informationOr: An intervening substance through

which signals can travel as a means for communication

The media is a form of communication that comprises of three ways in which information or data can be delivered:› The broadcast media which is the

television and radio› The printed media which the newspapers,

magazines and publishing generally› The so-called “new media” which is cable,

satellite, the internet and so on

In 1215 the Magna Carta signed also known as the Charter of Freedoms

In 1516 the book “The Education of a Christian Prince” was published

In 1644 John Milton’s “Areopagitica” published

1770, a letter written by Voltaire writes, “I detest what you write but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write”

In 1859, John Stuart Mill’s, “On Liberty” published as is Darwin’s controversial “On the Origin of Species”

1918-1945 saw two world wars and a rapid rise in the use of media

In 1960, Penguin wins the right to publish “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”

In 1963 the Profumo affair scandal In 1997 the death of Princess Diana In 2002 a Nigerian journalist writes about the

prophet Mohammed leading to riots and 200 people dead

In 2004 a Dutch film maker is killed for releasing a film about the violence against women in Islamic societies

“I fear the newspapers more than a hundred thousand bayonets” (Napoleon Bonaparte)

“When communication systems are subject to formal political control as in states socialist, fascist or authoritarian regimes – the media becomes little more than a propaganda machine” (Heywood, A, Key Concepts in Politics p211)

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers” The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

1 Denmark 0,00- Finland 0,00- Ireland 0,00- Norway 0,00- Sweden 0,006 Estonia 0,507 Netherlands 1,00- Switzerland 1,009 Iceland 2,0010 Lithuania 2,2511 Belgium 2,50- Malta 2,5013 Austria 3,00- Latvia 3,00- New Zealand 3,0016 Australia 3,1317 Japan 3,2518 Germany 3,5019 Canada 3,7020 Luxembourg 4,00

-United Kingdom

4,00

-United States of America

4,00

23 Jamaica 4,75

24Czech Republic

5,00

25 Cyprus 5,50

Reporters without borders: http://www.rsf.org/en-classement1003-2009.html

The BBC is the only broadcasting company in the UK publicly owned

The BBC is controlled by a committee which is appointed by the home secretary

This board of governors also appoints a Director General who has day to day control of the BBC

In 2003, the Iraq Dossier and David Kelly brought fresh allegations of government control of the BBC

The Question Time appearance of Nick Griffin

It can be argued that the media exerts too much control over the direction of the political agenda to suit the interest of the unelected bodies that control them i.e. Murdoch

They drive agendas i.e. climate change has become trendy, the chief of Social Services in Haringey was sacked by the home secretary over Baby P, and the growing popularity in the media of David Cameron and his “fashionable” wife

It could be argued it is the press that the public look onto as their representative holding the government to account not the members of Parliament

“The concept of “democratising the media” has no real meaning within the terms of the political discourse in the United States. In fact, the phrase has a paradoxical or even vaguely subversive ring to it. Citizen participation would be considered an infringement on freedom of the press, a blow struck against the independence of the media that would distort the mission they have undertaken to inform the public without fear or favour…this is because the general public must be reduced to its traditional apathy and obedience, and driven from the arena of political debate and action, if democracy is to survive” (Noam Chomsky)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K2pLo8JV5Y&feature=related

“Let it be impressed upon your minds, let it be instilled into your children, that the liberty of the press is the palladium of all the civil, political, and religious rights.” (Junius)