Module 4 - Media And Politics Flashcards
Fourth estate…
Media plays a formal and significant role in responsible government as a watchdog
Inside lobbying
Controversial - seeks to influence policy through private interaction with key stakeholders and is therefore less transparent
Outside lobbying
Usually transparent - organised campaign to influence government policy or opinion
NGOs
Use both inside and outside lobbying but have varied influence based on resources and access
Receiving government funding creates tension between advocacy and service roles
Majoritarianism…
Where one party or coalition receives clear majority in house of reps (also called two-party system) - stable and efficient, voter confidence and familiarity
Balance of power
Deciding votes in Senate (usually held by minor parties and independents)
Structural power
A group of people/ organisations who work together to effect change e.g. business, large NGOs
Consensus systems
Multiple parties/independents share power in loose coalitions - less adversarial, more representative
Freedom of political speech
High Court recognised free political speech as an implied constitutional right - key element of a democracy
Why is business important?
Liberal democracies are committed to developing a strong private sector (capitalist value)
Business taxes = revenue
Business support important to gov
Pros of media as fourth estate
Can be powerful in ensuring ministerial responsibility
Cons of media as fourth estate
Media bias
Unequal access to MPs
No real watchdogs (only voluntary codes)
Not a lot of diversity (high concentration of media ownership)
