Australian Politics Forum - Freedom FROM the press?

brumbie

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Freedom FROM the press?
Sep 24^th, 2014 at 7:28pm

I read an article today from a journalist proclaiming that it is the Press that keeps Western Society free.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/journalism-matters-you-cant-have-a...

But isn't it Fair Dinkum that we should be protected from a Biased Press as well?..Isn't it a fact that the press influences society more?

We are in a society that has "Freedom of the Press"

But shouldn't we also have "Freedom from the Press" also?

Isn't it so that the Press influences society more so than politics?..but we aren't allowed to vote for our press?..Why is that?

These things occurred to me today because I saw some of the answers on a thread that concerned those poor coppers that were very nearly killed and were simply doing what we ask of of them in Melbourne and our Young Generation seem so wrapped up in the fact that they are allowed to say what ever they like about it to the extent that they were very nearly treasonable instead of supporting there Country. This came about simply because that the side of the fence that that paper traditionally sits on immediately suggested to them if the story was true or not?

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freediver

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Re: Freedom FROM the press?
Reply #1 - Sep 24^th, 2014 at 8:44pm

You vote for the press with your wallet, remote control, mouse etc.

A free press is crucial to a functioning democracy. They balance the power held by the government, judiciary and police. What you are suggesting is a naive benign dictatorship. Who is going to free us from the press? The government? They will free themselves from the press' criticism first.

Whatever flaws you see in our press, government interference will make it ten times worse.

That journalist is right. Press freedom is a pre-requisite for all our other freedoms.

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People who can't distinguish between etymology and entomology bug me in ways I cannot put into words.

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polite_gandalf

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Re: Freedom FROM the press?
Reply #2 - Sep 24^th, 2014 at 8:48pm

While I generally detest libertarian-free market ideas, I think in this case they are mostly right about the 4th estate: they should by and large be free and unregulated - the profit incentive should provide an effective mechanism for holding our government institutions to account - though I hasten to add there is huge potential for this to go wrong. The obvious illustration of this is the Murdoch monopoly - but unlike most free market monopolies, this one is essentially a result of government regulation (or to be more precise, regulation that is horribly flawed).

In answer to your question, in free market terms, biased press will be countered by consumer voting with their feet - if there are enough people who feel the same way as you and simply stop purchasing biased media, the market will adjust accordingly. It will either create a new market for a new, non-biased media, or force the existing biased press to stop being biased. Or more realistically, a new media will enter the market that is just as biased the other way - thus creating a market full of different, opposing biased medias - creating a "balanced" press overall.

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A resident Islam critic who claims to represent western values said:
Quote:

Outlawing the enemy's uniform - hijab, islamic beard - is not depriving one's own people of their freedoms.

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polite_gandalf Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 20027 Canberra Gender:	Re: Freedom FROM the press? Reply #3 - Sep 24^th, 2014 at 8:51pm freediver wrote on Sep 24^th, 2014 at 8:44pm: Whatever flaws you see in our press, government interference will make it ten times worse. If it wasn't for government interference, Murdoch, or someone like him, would own 100% of our papers - not just 70%.
Back to top	A resident Islam critic who claims to represent western values said: Quote: Outlawing the enemy's uniform - hijab, islamic beard - is not depriving one's own people of their freedoms. IP Logged

Freedumb

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WA
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Re: Freedom FROM the press?
Reply #4 - Sep 24^th, 2014 at 8:51pm

brumbie wrote on Sep 24^th, 2014 at 7:28pm:

I read an article today from a journalist proclaiming that it is the Press that keeps Western Society free.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/journalism-matters-you-cant-have-a...

But isn't it Fair Dinkum that we should be protected from a Biased Press as well?..Isn't it a fact that the press influences society more?

We are in a society that has "Freedom of the Press"

But shouldn't we also have "Freedom from the Press" also?

Isn't it so that the Press influences society more so than politics?..but we aren't allowed to vote for our press?..Why is that?

These things occurred to me today because I saw some of the answers on a thread that concerned those poor coppers that were very nearly killed and were simply doing what we ask of of them in Melbourne and our Young Generation seem so wrapped up in the fact that they are allowed to say what ever they like about it to the extent that they were very nearly treasonable instead of supporting there Country. This came about simply because that the side of the fence that that paper traditionally sits on immediately suggested to them if the story was true or not?

What a farce!!!!

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Nothing would be what it is,
Because everything would be what it isn't.
And contrary-wise - what it is, it wouldn't be.
And what it wouldn't be, it would.
You see?

- Lewis Carroll

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freediver Gold Member Offline www.ozpolitic.com Posts: 49963 At my desk.	Re: Freedom FROM the press? Reply #5 - Sep 24^th, 2014 at 8:56pm Quote: or to be more precise, regulation that is horribly flawed How so? I partly agree about monopolies, but think it is becoming less relevant now.
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