Terror and Conflict – Democracy v Security ‘The Age of McMedia’ Helen Shaw AIB conference...

Terror and Conflict – Terror and Conflict – Democracy v SecurityDemocracy v Security

‘‘The Age of McMedia’The Age of McMedia’

Helen ShawHelen Shaw

AIB conference Prague 2004AIB conference Prague 2004

The media and conflictThe media and conflictLost of public trust

Disinformation

Censorship

Ownership pressureState action

Self censorship

Conflict and terrorism

Missing the news……Missing the news……

► US media market dominated by a US media market dominated by a handful of conglomerates handful of conglomerates

►Public broadcasting weak, poorly Public broadcasting weak, poorly fundedfunded

►The post 9/11 impact – patriotism as The post 9/11 impact – patriotism as form of self-censorship form of self-censorship

►The unasked questions The unasked questions ►The ‘T’ word The ‘T’ word

Manufacturing silence………..Manufacturing silence………..►New York TimesNew York Times correspondent Elisabeth correspondent Elisabeth

Bumiller: Bumiller: ►"I think we were very deferential, because "I think we were very deferential, because

it's frightening to stand up there. Think about it's frightening to stand up there. Think about it, you're standing up on prime-time live TV it, you're standing up on prime-time live TV asking the President of the United States a asking the President of the United States a question when the country's about to go to question when the country's about to go to war. There was a very serious, somber tone war. There was a very serious, somber tone that evening, and no one wanted to get into that evening, and no one wanted to get into an argument with the President”.an argument with the President”.

► The Nation – March 2004The Nation – March 2004

Hutton and BBCHutton and BBC

►First state battle in conflict or war is First state battle in conflict or war is with media closest to the state with media closest to the state

►Dyke describes ‘siege mentality’Dyke describes ‘siege mentality’►Defensive under attackDefensive under attack►Missing checks and balancesMissing checks and balances►A damaged BBC – loss of leadershipA damaged BBC – loss of leadership►But…public trust with BBC over stateBut…public trust with BBC over state

Irish state, RTE and terrorismIrish state, RTE and terrorism

►1970s violence – state media censorship1970s violence – state media censorship► Section 31 runs for over two decadesSection 31 runs for over two decades►Self-censorship – the slur of ‘fellow-Self-censorship – the slur of ‘fellow-

traveller’traveller’►Loss of public information Loss of public information ►Marginalisation and demonisationMarginalisation and demonisation►The oxygen of publicity or the public’s The oxygen of publicity or the public’s

right to know?right to know?

The end of trustThe end of trust

►Madrid – post bombing – reaction of a Madrid – post bombing – reaction of a breach of trust in both government breach of trust in both government and mediaand media

►The growth of internet – alternative The growth of internet – alternative sourcessources

►The whistle-blowers – Sgt Joe Darby – The whistle-blowers – Sgt Joe Darby – the US-Iraq torture imagethe US-Iraq torture image

►The truth is out there somewhereThe truth is out there somewhere

If in doubt blame the If in doubt blame the media!media!

““this ethical deficit at the core of the information this ethical deficit at the core of the information society is compounded because all society is compounded because all

communication now competes for time and communication now competes for time and attention with ..commercial communication. attention with ..commercial communication.

Commercial communication, like political Commercial communication, like political communication indirectly promotes the idea that communication indirectly promotes the idea that there are no truths – only strategies and claims”.there are no truths – only strategies and claims”.

Geoff Mulgan – former No 10 Downing St Geoff Mulgan – former No 10 Downing St Director ofDirector of Strategy.Strategy.

Saving independent Saving independent journalismjournalism

►Ownership is not neutralOwnership is not neutral►Public broadcasting needs financial and Public broadcasting needs financial and

regulatory independenceregulatory independence►Marketplace needs both commercial and Marketplace needs both commercial and

not for profit news media sourcesnot for profit news media sources► regulation needs ‘fairness and balance’ regulation needs ‘fairness and balance’

doctrine – Sky versus Fox News.doctrine – Sky versus Fox News.► Italy – how not to do it……Italy – how not to do it……

Hopes and challengesHopes and challenges

►Post Iraq debate – in US and EuropePost Iraq debate – in US and Europe► Internet as news mediumInternet as news medium►Media plurality building democracy – Media plurality building democracy –

BBC World Service TrustBBC World Service Trust► But…news is a commodityBut…news is a commodity► the tyranny of ‘live’ and on-demandthe tyranny of ‘live’ and on-demand►And infotainment reigns – Beckham!And infotainment reigns – Beckham!

Solutions?Solutions?

►Europe needs to protect media Europe needs to protect media independence – regulation and public independence – regulation and public spacespace

► Investment needs in media training and Investment needs in media training and literacy literacy

►Support for pluralist media model in Support for pluralist media model in emerging democraciesemerging democracies

►Re-invention of the public broadcasting Re-invention of the public broadcasting modelmodel

Terror and Conflict – Terror and Conflict – Democracy v StateDemocracy v State

‘‘The Age of McMedia’The Age of McMedia’

Helen ShawHelen Shaw

AIB conference Prague 2004AIB conference Prague 2004

Terror and Conflict – Democracy v Security ‘The Age of McMedia’ Helen Shaw AIB conference...

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