These examples are all in direct contravention of the legislated rules aimed at protecting regional services. Conversely, it is important to note that the same groups (including the Coalition government that passed the laws) also argued that the rise of internet use and new media sources would guarantee diversity of information and opinions (Downie and Macintosh 1,8; Pusey and McCutcheon 23-24; Cunningham 85; Papandrea 312-14). Others, however, argue that excessive consolidation of media ownership threatens the system of checks and balances. ( Log Out / This diversity forms the crux of the argument in support of government intervention. Prior to the 2007 changes, restrictions aimed at stopping media owners from multi-sector concentration and dominance. Stuart Cunningham and Sue Turnbull. It will then summarise the main effects of the 2007 changed media laws, particularly on the vulnerable regional sector, and more widely on the public interest. Freedom of choice is essential in this definition. A.C.M.A: stands for the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Again this points to economic interests displacing the public interest. Crows Nest: Allen and Unwin, 2014. The same tools cannot be effectively used to analyse the different positions (Papandrea 307-9). —. Through a discussion of the main arguments for and against government regulation and an examination of the impacts the 2007 changes had on the Australian media landscape, this essay aims to show why some intervention is necessary. The last changes to Australian media ownership laws occurred in 2007, and this essay will argue that because these changes were motivated by economic interests, they largely displaced the wider public interest objectives necessary for a healthy democratic society. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. The summary findings showed that ‘[s]ince 2006 there has been a further deepening of concentration of media ownership’ (Pusey and McCutcheon 23). Print. However as this essay has demonstrated, policy change cannot just cater to economic efficiency considerations. Consumers who have complaints about programs on television and radio or certain types of … The Australian Communications and Media Authority The key body that is responsible for media regulation in Australia is the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). “From the Media Moguls to the Money Men? (Cth). In many countries, government ownership equates to government control of the media. This regulation, via law, rules or procedures, can have various goals, for example intervention to protect a stated "public interest", or encouraging competition and an effective media market, or establishing common technical standards. (Cth). This effectively allowed a greater concentration of ownership across multiple platforms, enabling vast control and market share. The removal of foreign ownership restrictions resulted in a ‘dramatic and largely unanticipated impact’ that took ownership of free-to-air television networks ‘offshore into private institutional ownership’ (Cunningham 86). The major effect of the laws is to prevent the common ownership of newspapers, television and radio broadcasting licences that serve the same region. Rowland’s assertion that Australia’s media ownership concentration is among the highest in the world is well sup… This merger allowed Fairfax control of a third capital city masthead newspaper and also ‘scores of regional outlets’ (Warren 273), which included Rural Press’s nine newspapers and then ‘an additional three regional newspaper titles’ by mid-2007 (Pusey and McCutcheon 29). Particular focus is given to rural and regional sectors of Australia as these were the areas predicted to suffer the most significant effects due to consolidation. However, it is widely accepted that certain types of diversity, such as, of news and opinion, are considered to be ‘fundamental to a healthy democracy’ (Convergence Review vii; Papandrea 304). The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 sets limits on the control of commercial TV, radio and newspapers. Because the media wields both social and economic powers, its potential to influence public opinion has long concerned legislators and critics of highly concentrated media ownership (Papandrea 302, 305-06). The 2007 changes, restrictions aimed at protecting regional Services whatever media You choose television Broadcasting licenses <:! Second pivotal moment arrived in 2006 ‘ for ’ and ‘ against ’ regulation that this exposes them unfair... Australia can broadly be divided into those ‘ for ’ and ‘ against ’.! 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