GRAVE NEW WORLD: democratic journalism enters the global 21 st century 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  4 th 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?)

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 jogb: testing jogb: testing

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 5 th 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.