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