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The Role of Independent Media in Transitions to Democracy

The Role of Independent Media in Transitions to Democracy. Janet Steele School of Media and Public Affairs George Washington University. Three nations in transition:.

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The Role of Independent Media in Transitions to Democracy

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  1. The Role of Independent Media in Transitions to Democracy Janet Steele School of Media and Public Affairs George Washington University

  2. Three nations in transition: 1. Indonesia: after the fall of Soeharto, passage of the 1999 Press Law creates one of the freest media systems in Southeast Asia, but challenges remain 2. Malaysia: A controlled press system; March 2008 “tsunami,” multiple suspensions of licenses 3. Timor Leste – post-conflict journalism

  3. Interconnected problems: -- Law -- Corruption -- Ownership -- Popular understanding of press freedom -- Professionalism and Ethics

  4. Soeharto’s “New Order” Journalistic professionalism was understood to mean functioning as a mouthpiece for the dissemination of government programs and plans.

  5. Restrictions under Soeharto: - “SARA” laws - Bannings - Telephone culture - Licensing - Minister of Information owned shares in leading media companies - Publishers used regulations and restricted access to act as a cartel, protected from outside competition.

  6. Post Soeharto: Kebebasanpers or perskebablasan? Today, the number of newspapers has risen from less than 260 to more than 800, television channels from 6 to 29, radio stations from 600 to 1,200, and the number of journalists from 6,000 to more than 25,000.

  7. Challenges to the press: legal 1999 Press Law, which refers disputes to the Press Council. According to Article 19, it is one of the best in the world. But is it applied? Defamation provisions remain in the Criminal Code Gangsterism and Impunity Weak legal system

  8. Problem of professionalism: Envelop journalists Lack of civic education, understanding of press freedom “New Order” mindset – (a) lack of context, (b) too few sources per story, (c) not enough conflicting views, (d) too many government sources.

  9. Malaysia: “Truly Asia”? A multi-cultural society: 60% Malay-Muslims 24% Chinese-Malaysians Indian-Malaysians 7%

  10. Malaysia: democratic or authoritarian? -- Contains some elements of both -- Politics have always revolved around issues of ethnicity and religion. -- Role of race: govt. has always been dominated by Malays, but needs the support of Chinese, Indian, and East Malaysian Partners

  11. A controlled media system: All mainstream media are either directly owned by or indirectly linked to ruling coalition

  12. Press is regulated by: Licensing Internal Security Act (now “Security Offenses Special Measures Act”) Sedition Act Official Secrets Act But….

  13. There is an unlikely loophole for online media 1997: Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad pledges a no-censorship policy for the Internet. Although on-line journalists and bloggers are subject to harsh defamation laws regulating content, they need not fear losing a license to publish, because they are not officially recognized as journalists

  14. Edge Media Group publisher and CEO: “This is nothing more than a move to shut us down in order to shut us up.” -- Ho Kay Tat

  15. Timor Leste -- December, 2012, the United Nations ended its peacekeeping, 13 years after the 1999 referendum ended Indonesian occupation and led to independence. -- Freedom of the press and expression is protected by the constitution, and a new penal code that decriminalized defamation was implemented in 2009.

  16. Media law -- A new media law was passed in 2014, but was declared unconstitutional and sent back to Parliament for revision. -- Problems with government-funded press council, which would be given power to license journalists.

  17. Media culture -- A culture of deference and respect for hierarchy. Most news reported out of Dili features verbatim accounts recorded during press conferences. -- While most public officials pay lip service to freedom of the press, not all are comfortable with its actual practice.

  18. Media development Internationally funded media-assistance organizations have had mixed effects on journalism in East Timor. Positive: They have made significant financial contributions, and decreased the reliance of media on state funding. Negative: Their presence has contributed to a “project mentality,” in which news organizations become dependent on grants from non-state actors and find it difficult to be independently sustainable.

  19. Lessons learned…. 1. There is a greater likelihood of press freedom when journalists are organized. 2. Public understanding of press freedom is important. 3. Without a sound legal environment, it is impossible to practice good journalism. 4. It is impossible to keep secrets in an age of new media 5. The values of good journalism matter.

  20. Thank you! jesteele@gwu.edu

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