british politics: the role of the media...british politics: the role of the media gv 311: british...
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British politics: the role of the media
Gv 311: British Politics course, Lecture 15 Lent Term 2014
Prof Charlie Beckett
Dept Media & Comms, LSE
@CharlieBeckett
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/polis/
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Today’s lecture
• The function of media in a liberal democracy
• the historical context of UK political journalism
• The problems facing UK political media
Next week:
• How political journalism is changing
• The impact of media change on politics
• The end of the public sphere?
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What does journalism do for politics?
• Information
[facts, records, statistics, events, policies]
• Deliberation
[debate, analysis, comment, opinion]
• Accountability
[investigation, audit, voice for citizen, campaigns]
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History of news: a battle between press & power
• Inns of court
• Holborn printers
• Covent Garden
coffee houses
• Fleet Street national newsrooms
• Broadcasting – public and commercial
• Old Street – Tech City
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• General Election TV Debate
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The problem with political journalism is..?
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The (politician’s) problem with political journalism is..?
• Unaccountable power
• Bias
• Obsession with process
• Cynicism
• Lack of information
• Lack of expertise
• Loss of local press
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The (journalist’s) problem with political journalism is..?
• Lack of resources for (political) journalism
• Government secrecy
• Government and party spin and manipulation
• Disintermediation: increased role of social networks & public relations
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The (public’s) problem with political journalism is..?
• Too complicated
• Too cynical
• Too belligerent, biased
• Too much process
• Boring
• Irrelevant – ‘Westminster bubble’
• Too simplistic
• Not critical enough
• Too complicit – not critical or radical enough
• Sensationalist
• Not informed enough about realities of policy-making
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Press power?
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PR power?
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Triumph of spin?
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LoL
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Leveson’s verdict
• Politicians “developed too close a relationship with the Press in a way which has not been in the public interest’
• Regular political journalism was "in robust good health and performing the vital public interest functions in a vigorous democracy,"
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The paradox of political journalism
“The unshackled and irresponsible press sometimes gets it wrong, but I still prefer it, warts and all, to a shackled and responsible one”
Simon Jenkins
The Guardian, May 2007
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Real problem is engagement, attention & authenticity
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British politics: the role of the media
Gv 311: British Politics course, Lecture 15 Lent Term 2014
Prof Charlie Beckett
Dept Media & Comms, LSE
@CharlieBeckett
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/polis/