Is media censorship necessary?

1. Is media censorship necessary? Done by: Cheng Tong Wen (4P203) OngKian Han (4P220) Sim Zhao Xiang (4P226) Zac Lee (4P231)

2. Coverage • Key definitions • Forms • Who censors and what is censored? • Reasons • Importance • Consequences • Limitations • Media censorship in Singapore against media censorship in America

3. Key Definitions: • Media: means of communication ( such as radio, television newspaper, magazines) that reach or influence people widely • Censorship: The practice of officially examining books, movies, etc., and suppressing unacceptable parts. • Necessary: required to be done, achieved, or present; essential

4. Forms • Political censorship • State secrets and prevention of attention • Educational sources

5. Political censorship • Government attempts to conceal, fake, distort, or falsify information • By suppressing or crowding out political news • suppression of viewscontrary to those of the government in power. • Done through power of the army and the secret police • Through methods such as bribery, ruin of careers, imprisonment, and even assassination.

6. State secrets and prevention of attention • preventing the release of information that might be useful to an enemy •  involves keeping times or locations secret, or delaying the release of information until it is of no possible use to enemy forces. • Done to aid authorities or to protect an individual

7. Educational sources • Due to inappropriate quality of such material for the young • Textbooks are "whitewashing" the individuals • Religion: block the teaching of evolution • Or blocking information that contradicts their religious beliefs

8. Who censors and what is censored? • Self-censorship • Censorship by higher authority

9. Self censorship • Act of censoring or classifying one’s own work out of fear or deference or sensibilities, without overt pressure from any specific parties or institution of authority • Mainly done by: • Film directors/producers (scenes) • Publishers/journalists (stories, articles, parties involved) • Musicians (words)

10. Censorship by higher authority • Act of censoring that is forced by higher authority such as the government • Example: 911 • Government wanted to keep low-profiled • To prevent panic and more chaos • Censor news through publishers, radio, etc.

11. Reasons • Ensure that the interests of childrenand familyareprotectedandreligious beliefs are respected • An example is pornography censorship • Continuation of culture and customs • Securityof the nationanddefence • An example is military censorship • historical events andconsiderations • For example in Germany: No glorification of Nazis

12. Reasons • Companies use it to control or restrict information pertaining to their business activities • Practiced by companies which have problems in its business operations

13. Importance • Prevents the minds of children from becoming corrupt (pornography) • Prevention of religious conflict • Preservation of national secrets • Reduction of negative influences (scenes of alcohol and smoking) • Prevent politically motivated propaganda • Prevents public display of disrespect to certain people or groups of people (races)

14. Importance • Prevents the spread of racism • Children are prevented from learning things that could harm others and themselves. (violence and vulgarities) • Control panic and rumors (911, India 2008) • Main idea: censorship is imposed to protect people, not to restrain the expression of them.

15. Consequences • Difficult to educate children on sensitive topics (sex, STI, HIV, AIDS) • Dictators use it to promote a flattering image of themselves and can remove information against them • Encroaches upon the freedom of press • Ignorance in society • Incorrect perceived image • Associated with dictatorship

16. Consequences • Compromised entertainment value (books, plays, movies) • Different standards of morals among different societies • Block legitimate criticism (which could be beneficial) • Political parties use it for their own benefit • Stifles opposition • Broadcasting a narrow point of view/only one particular point of view

17. Consequences • Main idea: censorship denies access to vital information, differing points of view and criticism that could be beneficial

18. Limitations • Political agendas • Loss of freedom • Resources needed • Violation of human rights

19. Political agendas • Political parties determine who can say what and when • Places power and control to the high powers • Limits the power of the press to communicate issues, problems and agendas of those holding political power

20. Loss of freedom • Restrict other people • Limits the room for creativity and passion (journalist, writers, movie directors) • Huge disincentive

21. Resources needed • whether it’s small scale or large scale, censorship takes huge amounts of time and resources that can be devoted into other sectors • Due to the following areas: • System needs to be maintained, upgraded and repaired • Labor pool needed • Cost of equipment

22. Violation of human rights • People are denied in doing what they want • Article 19 of the UDHR: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”

23. Singapore versus America • Local censorship: motion picture association of americavs media development authority

24. Singapore versus America • Internet censorship:

25. Singapore versus America • Local, television, press

26. Are there any questions?