Political (networked) Journalism

Prof Charlie Beckett

MC417 2014

Media for democracy

• “…the information revolution makes possible for the first time in history something we have only dreamt about: A global society where people anywhere and everywhere can discover their shared values, communicate with each other and do not need to meet or live next door to each other to join together with people in other countries in a single moral universe to bring about change….”

• Gordon Brown 2008

Media against democracy

• “It used to be thought – and I include myself in this – that help was on the horizon. New forms of communication would provide new outlets to by-pass the increasingly shrill tenor of traditional media. In fact, the new forms can be even more pernicious, less balanced, more intent on the latest conspiracy theory multiplied by five”

• Tony Blair Reuters ‘feral beasts’ speech 2007

What does journalism do for politics?

• Information

[facts, records, statistics, events, policies]

• Deliberation

[debate, analysis, comment, opinion]

• Accountability

[investigation, audit, voice for citizen, campaigns]

The (politician’s) problem with political journalism is..?

• Unaccountable power

• Bias

• Obsession with process

• Cynicism

• Lack of information

• Lack of expertise

• Loss of local press

The (journalist’s) problem with political journalism is..?

• Lack of resources for (political) journalism

• Government secrecy

• Government and party spin and manipulation

• Disintermediation: increased role of social networks & public relations

The (public’s) problem with political journalism is..?

• Too complicated

• Too cynical

• Too belligerent, biased

• Too much process

• Boring

• Irrelevant – ‘Westminster bubble’

• Too simplistic

• Not critical enough

• Too complicit – not critical or radical enough

• Sensationalist

• Not informed enough about realities of policy-making

Press power?

PR power?

LoL

Leveson’s verdict

• Politicians “developed too close a relationship with the Press in a way which has not been in the public interest’

• Regular political journalism was "in robust good health and performing the vital public interest functions in a vigorous democracy,"

Politicians

News Media

Public

Political reporting is now networked

Media

Politicians

Citizens

Democratisation?

The song

47%: Citizen + journalist = transparency

More democratic?

“Journalism will continue to become more plural in its forms, its functions, and its practitioners. It will become more difficult to distinguish it from advocacy political communications, public relations alternative and participatory civic information, personal commentary, poplar culture and so on”

Dahlgren 2009

The real problem for mainstream politics and journalism is engagement, attention & authenticity

Media and Democracy

Prof Charlie Beckett

MC417 2014