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GRAVE NEW WORLD: democratic journalism enters the global 21 st century http://journ.ru.ac.za/staff/guy/ research/democracy/graveworld.htm. PART A: INTRO. Later course: Globalisation impact on audience Focus on consumption Wide view of media & culture This lecture:
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GRAVE NEW WORLD: democratic journalism enters the global 21st centuryhttp://journ.ru.ac.za/staff/guy/research/democracy/graveworld.htm
PART A: INTRO • Later course: • Globalisation impact on audience • Focus on consumption • Wide view of media & culture • This lecture: • Globalisation of journalism practice • Focus on production • Spotlight narrowly upon journalism
Coming up • A. Journalism – what is it? • Four normative roles for democracy • B. First world challenges • C. Fourth world challenges • D. Conclusion
PART B: JOURNALISM • Now a universal definition – • Romantic notion: Superman • Informative format • Democratic role • Reality?: • Paparazzi, celebs, “patriotism”, fluff & puff. • Rwanda radio, Moyo-moying the media. • Ans: see Journ as “normative ideal” • Don’t conflate with real media
Normative roles – have effects • Liberal • Social democratic • Neoliberal • Participatory - Analytically distinct - Practically blurred, compromised
1. Liberal role • 4th estate • Or: status quo? • Watchdog (for the people)? • Or: guarddog (for the rich)? • ANS: both roles can happen. • ANS: journalism as an ideal–driven practice (despite cynicism) • ANS: don’t conflate jism with media institutions
2. Social democratic role • Face citizen, rather than state • Educate, uplift, guide • Again: can happen, may not happen
3. Neoliberal role • Promote pluralism & represent diversity of political views (cf public sphere perspective) • Be a fair referee – ethics of fairness • Sector as a whole: = forum • Explains some democratic journalism.
4. Participatory role • Reflect grassroots (cf civil society perspective) • Address audience as political actors, not spectators • Everyone is a journalist. • eg. community radio (ghetto-ized?)
jogb: testing 4 “ideal” roles • Give insight into complex & complementary contribution of journalism -> to media … -> to democracy. • On the ground = big differences between First and Fourth Worlds • Globalisation is not homogenised journalism … in practice, or ideals
PART C: FIRST WORLD • Density • Info-society • Corps & commercialisation • Personal material world
1. Density • Journalism dwarfed and colonized by other content. • Audiences fragmented. • PR industry. • Lesser role and reduced significance for democracy?
2. Info-society • Info access & equity are now the key democratic issue. • Neoliberalism getting overdone: info overload. • Calls out for more Soc Dem – to guide the citizens
3. Corps & commerce • Mega-corporations • Need 5th estate (web?) • Need participatory journ • Decline of PBS • Need Soc-Dem to counter.
4. Personal material world • Me-culture • Global uneven ecology – centre is parochial, insular. • Need to expand: • Range of neoliberalism (incl 3W) • Conscientising soc-dem journalism
Diagnosis • The four roles remain relevant, although also challenged and changed.
PART D: FOURTH WORLD • Much oppression by govts • No Info-overload • Marginal global market • Little commerce • Many collective struggles
Democratic challenge: • Liberal role alive ‘n kickin • Devt role being neglected • Baby ditched with bathwater • Calls for genuine soc-democratic journalism • Pluralism needs neoliberal role
Qualifying the roles • Neoliberal role can be questionable where: • Enables cultural imperialism (although this is not always anti-democratic) • Without soc-dem role, journalism does not reach the poor.
Other roles (& qualifications): • Soc-dem – but it has often been co-opted and abused. • Participatory – by definition, democratic journalists need grassroots allies. • But their reach is still limited, so journalists have interest in deepening media density
Diagnosis • Four roles have relevance in Fourth World democracy • Somewhat different to First World challenges.
PART E: CONCLUSION • Normative ideals retain relevance, but different in First and Fourth Worlds. • Dodge the dollar and the despot’s diktat. • Keep global vision. • Do democratic service • Note tension between journalism-media.