Political Economy

Bucking the popular view of tabloid journalism as bad journalism, Orenbring argues this style of sensational content plays an important role in the formation of an alternative public sphere. It juxtaposes itself in relation to mainstream journalism by presenting different issues, forms and appeals to an audience not regularly served. By tracking the history of the development of tabloid journalism, Orenbring hopes to shed a new light on this form and on mainstream journalism. Often the debate around tabloid journalism is simplified into a binary argument: serious, responsible, good-quality journalism versus sensational, oversimplified, populist journalism. Yet, going back to the earliest days of the mass circulation press (and in some cases before) it is possible to see examples of titillating stories, mainly around scandal, crime and courts. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Academic, Political Economy

There is something about political economic analysis that ends up being depressing. And, if there is one criticism of this lens on communication, in particular new media, it is the negative conclusions often drawn and the lack of alternatives or even solutions provided. In the same way journalism is often criticized for its ability to identify problem, but not facilitate sufficient discourse to begin tackling key issues, I might be tempted to suggest the same holds true for political economic analysis. And, so Winseck provides a damning critique of convergent media in Canada, which instead of providing new forums for democratic discourse and the dissemination of important news and information vital to modern democracy, he sets out the corporate agenda aimed at gutting content and reaping massive profits as part of a global trend. Technology is not a liberating force, but a constraining one creating a netscape of power. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Academic, Political Economy

This excellent summary of various theories related to the role of the state in market economies is extremely useful by providing perspectives on the forms of government regulation place on economies. Under classic liberalism, theoretically the market was the sole place for all decisions regarding investment, allocation and consumption, as governments were believed to have no place. In practice, proponents argue for minimized state intervention. However, the authors identify three major problems: inevitable downturns in the economies; the organization of mass labour movements; and, the inability to deal with severe poverty. The Great Depression of the 1920s and 1930s is one of the most dysfunctional periods for classic liberalism. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Academic, Political Economy

Rosen – Q&A

Most of this article reviews the fundamental tenants of public journalism, but the most interesting aspect is Rosen’s response where he talks about the political economy of public journalism. He describes it not as a site of struggle between the capitalist corporate agenda and journalists. Rather, it is something quiet different. He says public journalism is not an insurrection or a minor revolt against the structural forces within mass media. Media corporations do not own journalism, he argues. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Academic, Political Economy

The failure of public journalism to clearly define itself is a central issue for its critics, according to Haas and Steiner. While public journalism’s primary goal is to promote civic commitment and participation in democratic processes, there are many outstanding questions surrounding how it is different from other forms of journalism. Certainly, it is easy to find a credible foundation for this form of journalism, ranging from Habermas’s theories around the public sphere, to Fraser’s response to Habermas. It is possible to trace its source back to the Lippmann-Dewey debate about journalism’s democratic role. Even the 1947 Hutchinson Commission on the Freedom of the Press and Siebert’s account of social responsibility are at the root of public journalism. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Academic, Political Economy