Citizenry & the Media
The Citizenry
Membership of a societal institution includes everyone using or benefiting from the institution, and this goes beyond the citizenry to include permanent residents. There might even be temporary membership for temporary residents.
Nevertheless the right to vote typically rests with citizens only. That is relevant given the influence that the government exerts on institutional functioning.
In a democratic society, the citizenry is responsible for its government. Not only does it provide the manpower, but it can remove a government for unsatisfactory performance. In discharging this responsibility, the media plays a crucial role in several ways:
- 1) It enables members of the public to share or argue values and beliefs.
2) It represents and reflects issues in institutions to the public.
3) It maintains a positive spin on institutions as the way to meet needs.
4) It brings pressure for change to bear on government and institutions.
Uncovering Values
The principal mechanism for members of the public to share their values and argue for their beliefs is through the media. Whether it is or , the public look to the media to provide a channel of communication. The media recognizes it is a platform for dialogue and debate as part of democratic discourse and creates fora and events.
The media also see the need tp publicize values and beliefs in a more informal fashion. For example, television reporting on events regularly interviews members of the public directly involved and on the scene; and newspapers and periodicals publish views and opinions in "letters to the editor".
Talkback Radio
In Australia, talkback radio was illegal until as recently as 1967. The supposed concerns were worries about libel, defamation, or the broadcasting of inappropriate content. Such matters can be easily dealt with. The real value of talk back includes:
- democratization of the airwaves with everyone having the right to express values and beliefs
- public participation regardless of social, economic, political or religious background
- sense of community through sharing of common concerns despite a diversity of opinions what they mean or how to handle them.
- provision of information or balance in response to questions and arguments that are extreme or in serious error.
Informing the Public
Institutions are so complicated and specialized that members of the public cannot possibly know what is happening and where action is required. The media exists as an institution that mirrors society to its members. It is the primary means through which members of society hear about local and world events and the condition of their institutions in response to these.
Ideally, this representation of institutions is the foundation for public confidence in pressing for progress.
Sections of major newspapers or websites usually align roughly with institutions: Government, Business, Education, Housing, The Arts, Fashion, Sports etc. Each division has specialist editors and writers with long experience and in-depth practical knowledge.
Writers and photographers provide simplified accounts in . They embed events in customary narratives that give a sense of history and anticipate future developments.
Interpretation and analysis is further assisted by inviting opinion pieces from experts and public intellectuals.
Generating Bias
Bias is not a problem for the media, it is a feature. The media operates using the language of values. Everything is reported in the context of those values and hence biassed by those values. For those who share the values, the bias is often invisible and views that the media manipulates public opinion are given little attention.
The ruling class in society seeks control of the media. In authoritarian societies, that means total control. In a modern democratic society, there is room for a diversity of media outlets and media ownership. However, in peaceful times the ruling classes are supported by the masses and the most powerful organs of the media see their roles as supporting the status quo and the current government.
Maintaining Confidence
An atmosphere of optimism and confidence in the future is essential to tolerate the frustrations inherent in institutions. There are always losers as well as winners with any development or innovation and the media must provide an outlet for people to express frustration and opposition, as well as support and approval.
While the media is a purveyor of both social failures and inspiring stories, sensationalism means that failures are usually more prominent. Still, there needs to be an undercurrent anticipation of a better life for all, which leads to the promotion of relevant beliefs:
- a belief that problems will get resolved
- a belief in learning as the route to success
- a belief in economic development to benefit all
- a belief that scientific understanding is essential
- a belief in long-term thinking and investing
This optimism is likely due to institutions having a principal psychosocial pressure of Well-Being. Pessimists who fight the system are viewed as crackpots or dangerous.
Exerting Pressure
The mainstream media generally feel an obligation to support the government on major socio-cultural matters where unification of the populace is deemed crucial. Going to war is an extreme example. In these cases, the media brings pressure on the citizenry.
However, the media has a "watchdog role". It can and should normally bring pressure to bear on the government through its , exposition of current or alternative , provision of and . The media commonly takes the lead in
Factional camps in society recognize the media as an instrument to promote their interests. So financial control over media outlets is often sought. As a result, the media becomes diverse with each outlet pushing reporting in a particular direction, not necessarily with the public good in mind. Insofar as any publication is dependent on advertisements for funding, bias to avoid offending advertisers is almost unavoidable.
"Public service broadcasting" was therefore set up to serve the public interest in an impartial and unbiased way. In such a set up, pressure will normally be brought to bear on the government leading to clashes, as has occurred with the BBC (UK) and ABC (Australia). Regardless of the party in power, the broadcaster will be judged as being inappropriately critical and biased against it. Threats to cut funding or bring in regulations that crimp editorial independence are common.
Now that the nature of institutions and work within institutions has been briefly explored, we can focus on how pressure can be developed to improve them.
- Examine how to drive the evolution of institutions.
Originally posted: 18-Nov-2022. Last updated 30-Apr-2023.