Australia's media climate: Time to renegotiate control
Abstract
In 2007, Australia was rated by two international media bodies as well down the chain in media freedom. Within its own borders, internal media groups-in particular the Australian Press Council and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, as well as a consortium of major employer groups-have recently released reports investigating the position of media freedoms. This article examines a select few of these shrinking freedoms which range from the passive restrictions on access to documents to the overt threat of imprisonment for publishing sensitive material. In particular, it considers laws relating to freedom of information, ...
View more >In 2007, Australia was rated by two international media bodies as well down the chain in media freedom. Within its own borders, internal media groups-in particular the Australian Press Council and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, as well as a consortium of major employer groups-have recently released reports investigating the position of media freedoms. This article examines a select few of these shrinking freedoms which range from the passive restrictions on access to documents to the overt threat of imprisonment for publishing sensitive material. In particular, it considers laws relating to freedom of information, camera access to courts, shield laws and whistleblower protection and finally, revamped anti-terrorism laws. The article maps the landscape of Australia's downgraded press freedom and suggests that laws controlling media reportage need to be renegotiated.
View less >
View more >In 2007, Australia was rated by two international media bodies as well down the chain in media freedom. Within its own borders, internal media groups-in particular the Australian Press Council and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, as well as a consortium of major employer groups-have recently released reports investigating the position of media freedoms. This article examines a select few of these shrinking freedoms which range from the passive restrictions on access to documents to the overt threat of imprisonment for publishing sensitive material. In particular, it considers laws relating to freedom of information, camera access to courts, shield laws and whistleblower protection and finally, revamped anti-terrorism laws. The article maps the landscape of Australia's downgraded press freedom and suggests that laws controlling media reportage need to be renegotiated.
View less >
Journal Title
Pacific Journalism Review
Volume
14
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2008 Pacific Journalism Review. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
Subject
Media Studies
Film, Television and Digital Media
Journalism and Professional Writing
Communication and Media Studies