Public Service Broadcasting In Australia

Over the centuries, the media has played a significant role in the shaping of societies across the globe. This is especially true of developed nations where media access is readily available to the average citizen. The media has contributed to the creation of ideologies and ideals within a society. The media has such an effect on social life, that a simple as a news story has the power to shake a nation. Because of this, governments around the world have made it their duty to be active in the regulation and control of media access in their countries. The media however, has quickly become dominated by major mega companies who own numerous television, radio and movie companies both nationally and

The television industry is one of the most rapidly changing media industries to date. Its evolution from black and white, to colour, to digital and now three-dimensional viewing, there is nothing slow about its development. Focusing particularly on commercial free-to-air (FTA) television, the FTA television industry plays a critical role in the Australian ecosystem. Due to its free delivery, it generates $3.2 billion per annum in economic and advertising surplus (Venture Consulting, 2015). This is why the value of commercial FTA television to the Australian public remains high whereby FTA television is watched by more than 14 million Australians daily (Free TV Australia, 2014). However, television nowadays is much more than a medium of entertainment and information. It is also used as a method for engaging in social interaction (Morely, 1986, p. 22), and this digital divide of interaction is what harms the television industry. The launch of streaming services not only confronts the traditional ‘linear’ TV format by allowing users to select what they want to watch and when they want it, it also broadens the offering to almost any device (Spooner, 2015). The research methods in the television industry despite its strength as a medium, must however, walk hand in hand with the fast progression of new technology and challenge the rise of digital omnivores.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the pros and cons of the proposal to eliminate federal funding to The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). In doing so, first we will explore several facets of this issue including first the cost of funding from both a governmental and taxpayer perspective. Secondly, understanding the services provided and the audience served is integral in this discussion. Lastly, we will consider government’s role in media and education. The conversation, however, must start with the history, values, and goals of this organization.

Fairfax media, originally John Fairfax and Sons, was founded by John Fairfax in 1941 and for over 170 years has grown to become one of Australia’s largest media companies. The company’s operations include the distribution of newspapers, magazines, radio as well as operating digital media throughout Australia and New Zealand. Some notable figures from Fairfax Media’s current Board of Directors include company chairman Roger Corbett, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Greg Hywood and Chief Financial Officer, David Housego. This report provides a situational analysis regarding the current stage the business’s lifecycle and the internal and external influences on the business. This is followed by an

The powerful media barons have always altered broadcasts to achieve their personal or corporate agenda. What purpose does the media serve now? Measuring Bias on Television by Barrie Gunter has elaborated on the idea that news was originally set up to act as a national tool to stir thoughts. But is it? No! Is the media even enlightening the public now? After careful speculation of mass media and the communication world, I am under the impression that broadcasts have been used to entertain, frighten and cause controversy as a means to keep people watching.

It is important to note the following when evaluating China’s media industry: Public service television is an essential service to the community and cohesion of democratic societies aimed at the production, publication and distribution of a set of radio and television channels airing the diverse and balanced for all audiences, covering all genres and designed to meet information needs, culture, education and entertainment of Chinese society, spread their identify and cultural diversity, promote the information society, promoting pluralism, participation and other constitutional values, ensuring access for significant social and political groups.

The media holds great power when it comes to influencing the attitudes of the nation as it is the primary source if information for many Australians. The many forms of media, such as radio, television, and newspapers can also represent Australian values and the state of our society at the present time.

The source comments on why the market in Australia is so concentrated which include, favourable monopolistic laws and few safeguard regulations, decreases in funding for public broadcasting, restrictions preventing new companies from starting in media due to onerous licencing and regulations preventing new entrants and short term outlook biased toward profits rather than national interest. (McCutcheon and Pusey 2011). Media concentration also causes only certain views and information to enter the public sphere, and may be biased instead of impartially examining both sides, as large corporations follow their own views or agenda. This is why the role of a public broadcasting service is crucial, which will be discussed later.

On average Canadians spend more time watching television, listening to the radio and browsing the Web than they do anything else (Rowland, 2015). What is seen, heard and read has an influence on culture, providing information and resources for information gathering, deliberation and analysis that enables democracy to function (Fenton, 2012). The public radio station was created to support that idea – flush out the subjective, at times propagandist, profit-driven private media and replace it with educational and objective information that would serve the interests of the public. After examining the historical context of public broadcasting in Canada, this case study will analyze the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), looking at its early

In our society today, various forms of media such as television, radio, newspapers and magazines are apart of the public sphere and serve as communication to the interests of citizens. The public sphere can be defined as “ a realm of our social life in which something approaching public opinion can be formed. Access is guaranteed to all citizens” (Habermas, 2001, p. 73). Although many believe that the media provides the public sphere with all forms of information in regards to issues and news coverage happening within the world this is not necessarily the case. Instead of having a demand for all information to be accessible as Habermas (2001) mentions, the fundamental rights of all individuals are not always regarded. For instance, while focusing

On May 9, 1961 Newton Minow gave a speech known as “Television and the Public Interest” to the convention of the National Association of Broadcasters. He gave this speech after being appointed chairman of the Federal Communications Commision to inform broadcasters that television is in need of higher quality programming for the public interest.

It being the leading source of news since the printing press. We put our faith in the media to report accurate facts unbiasedly. Between 1983 and now the media industry has consolidated from 50 individual companies to 6. That means that though the impression given is that there are a multitude of sources to attain information, the messages being communicated are all one in the same. The limitation of media sources cause a ripple effect of limited information, allowing these companies to control the public’s perception on

The first television that introduced to Australia was in 1956, and it was the primary source of entertainment. The television had a major impact on the lifestyles of Australians. After using the television, all Australians spent more time staying at home and entertain themselves rather than going out to the cinema or other venues. Television's effects were not only of activity associated with interests, but in terms also of the intensity or strength of the viewer's feeling of interest in different things. The television was one of the most popular products that helped make professional and college sports big businesses. However, it provided comedy and dramatic shows to a vast audience that might not otherwise have had access to them. Television

The belief that journalism is in decline has triggered major alarms, because society needs an informational environment that is easily available to all citizens such as newspapers. There is a large body of journalist that suggests that if television has taken over from the press as our main source of news this may limit our capacity to learn about public affairs; newspapers are believed to be far more effective than television at conveying detailed information necessary to understand complex and detailed issues. There is also widespread concern that if journalism fails as a profession it will not be able to reach large sections of the community, particularly younger or less educated readers. This may reinforce a growing gap among citizens between the information that they receive.

Watchdog journalism ideally involves independent scrutiny of the government and preventing abuses of power, with the goal of bringing issues such as abuses of power and corruption to the public eye. However, with the large turnkey costs involved with opening a media company (whether is be radio, tv or print) and the relatively low profit margin it is not the most realistic idea for news outlets. Due to the many large media outlets reducing the numbers of journalists dramatically, and an increased monopolization of the media market (particularly in Australia), it is likely that watchdog journalism will continue to decrease. While watchdog journalism is an important aspect of journalism, the idea that for profit news agencies will continue to do it in this economic climate is idealistic at best, due to the cost of this form of journalism and the time consuming nature of it. The complexity of the Australian media market is an issue, with a few major players making it extremely difficult for new companies to become established. It seems that the solution is for companies to run websites that will promote the idea of watchdog Journalism and can possibly influence major media companies to do the same. The essay will touch on these topics in relation to watchdog journalism: a background to watchdog journalism; issues with cost and time; monopolization of Australian media; and if an expectation of watchdog journalism is realistic and the evolution of watchdog journalism on the