When the powerful buy into the media, can the media still scrutinise the powerful?
Economist Richard Denniss of Australian National University argues in a post that first appeared on The Conversation that the public needs to decide if it cares who owns the media.
The mining industry is used to having its voice heard in Australian public debates, so it should come as no surprise that mining billionaires such as Gina Rinehart and Clive Palmer would consider buying up a bigger slice of the Australian media.
While the estimated $20m spent by the mining industry on television advertisements opposing the introduction of a mining tax was the most visible example of the industry’s determination to influence the public it is, in fact, just the tip of the iceberg.
I could not agree more. There is something definitely wrong when the right decisions for society can’t be made.
It’s a bit of a catch 22 though because the wealthy have been able to stop the redistribution of wealth (like the mining tax) through their control of the media. It is hard to say which is most important to change because both need to change simultaneously.
I have just started studying Policy and Applied Social Research and this is article epitomises the first couple of chapters of the book ‘A political economy’ by Frank Stilwell that I am reading. Once again capitalism reigns supreme for those in power over environmenal and social concerns.
Have to agree with the whole article – it was shameful the way Gillard just crumpled up in a heap before the mining industry
Australia no longer has a “media” but a “medium” and whether one sympathised with Rudd or not it was quite alarming in 2010 how the mining industry was able to hijack large parts of the media from morning till night “white anting” Rudd (e.g. negative opinion polls suddenly produced) and “dog whistling” (claiming all sorts of consequences if a mining tax introduced), i.e. “wagging the dog”. However, the saving grace maybe digital media assuming solid state or traditional news media are going through a transition where they become lesss dominant, and more independent media gains access to the mainstream.