Media and Politics in Canada

Pol Sci 220

St Francis Xavier University

2013

Media and Politics in Canada : Topics Covered

Roles of the Media in politics Structure of Canadian media industry Economic factors Legal and regulatory issues The exploding impact of technology Practical considerations about

newsgathering The ideological impact of the media

Media’s role in politics

Direct rolesReportage, news gathering and editingInvestigative journalismPolitical and policy commentary

Media’s role in politics

Indirect effects A self-appointed defender of democracyframing the public agenda a conservative institution reflecting

dominant social valuesShaping the message through the

medium (technology) – major impact on the nature of political communication

The Structure of the Canadian Industry

Concentrated ownership of TV and radio, with competition from cable and internet

Major access for US based TV and radio, cable and internet news providers

Concentrated ownership of newspapers through chains

Dominance of “national” newspapers – Globe and Mail, National Post

Important role of CBC / Radio Canada

Economic factors affecting the media industry

Most media outlets need to turn a profit: and most are very profitable.

A very rapid pace of technological change Global convergence strategies: news and

entertainment Role of public broadcasters: essential coverage

and competition in underserved markets Advertising as driver of profitability -- influences

content?

Legal and Regulatory Issues

Federal government regulates bandwidth, television signals

The print media and broadcasting are largely self-regulated.

The special mandate of the CBC is provided by federal legislation

Media as a protected cultural product (e.g. Canadian magazines)

Protecting culture through the media (e.g. Canadian music content rules)

Effects of technology

Postman: TV as “instant therapy”, rise of the 30-second attention span

Dependence of news and public affairs commentary on: Action shots Confrontation Stereotypes

New technologies: cell-phones etc.– increasing access or dumbing down content ?

The pragmatics of news production

Limited resources mean selective coverage

News covers the predictable The “Lazy journalism” phenomenon News management as part of the art of

politics

Ideological Impact

Journalists are more cosmopolitan, and more progressive (left-wing) than the average Canadian

But journalists work for orthodox businesses (except the CBC)

Media and Democracy Noam Chomsky – “manufacturing of

consent” Frank L Wright – “chewing gum of the

mind” – media as distraction Oversimplification of complex issues –

“dumbing down” effect of technology Inaccessible to those without money or

“savvy” Yet, continuing impact as a check on the

abuse of executive power