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Slater & Tonkiss – States and Markets

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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

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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

Haas and Steiner – Public Journalism: a reply to critics

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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

Adding from the researcher's fieldbook

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Back in 2006, I created a private blog where I started to work out some ideas around e-journalism. Then, for a few years, I used the blog as a place for assignments when I was studying under Prof. Fred Fletcher at York University, working on my Master’s degree. The server that holds these entries is being shut down and replaced, so I have decided to come out from under my shell and share these. Some of it is pretty rough and the ideas are not fully developed; however, I think it is good to show how my concepts, notions, ideas, and brainstorms helped me develop my current thinking around e-journalism

Cheers! Continue Reading →

Filed under: Academic, E-journalism

Micro-audiences and ambient journalism as new approaches

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UBC Professor Alfred Hermida’s recent posting on Twitter as a system of ambient journalism is quiet insightful in understanding the level of change taking place within the industry. He suggests technology like Twitter enables citizens to maintain a heightened sense of news awareness called ambient journalism. The tool is being quickly embraced by journalists to present multi-faceted, fragmented news experiences. Rather than leaving professionals as gatekeepers in this case, Hermida argues for leveraging the collective intelligence of the audience with the efforts of journalists and, in doing so, create a new “awareness system: to help people be more aware of others ideas and activities. In my thesis, The Future of Journalism Online: a case for e-journalism, part of the discussion proposes a new approach to journalism where micro-audiences replace mass audiences. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Academic, Thinking Out Loud

Political cultural studies should be fascinating, not frustrating

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First published: September 27, 2004

The examination of political culture is appealing because it looks behind the human activity related to politics. As Brenda O’Neill says in her chapter, Sugar and Spice? Political Culture and Political Behaviour of Canadian Women, political culture is a determinant of political opinions and behaviour. And what is most fascinating about this aspect of political study is its ability to begin to probe behind political institutions and behaviour to gain insight into some of the deeper inner mysteries related to what we see on the political landscape. Ian Stewart’s chapter, Vanishing Points: Three Paradoxes of Political Culture Research, sets out the framework of the study of political culture, looking at its strengths, weaknesses and relevance. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Academic

Centralization of federal party powers, leaving the grassroots to burn

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First published: October 11, 2004

The discussion of pan-Canadianism in David E. Smith’s article Party Government in Canada – and the analysis of it in Ties that Bind, by James Bickerton, et. al. – explains the evolution of the link between government and citizens and how the relationship is now more centralized, controlled by an elite few, with diminished regard for the diversity of ideas and visions for the country. While the authors in Ties that Bind give us an analysis up to the period of Brian Mulroney and the 1993 election, which nearly wiped out the federal Progressive Conservatives; it would be an interesting exercise to extend this analysis to the Liberal governments of Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin. If Smith is right, the governing party determines Canada’s political development. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Academic

Regional clevages grow deeper in Canada

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First published: November 03, 2004

In their essay A New Canadian Party System, R. Kenneth Carty, William Cross, and Lisa Young tract the evolution of Canadian party politics and the emergence of fourth party system in Canada. After having reviewed changes in the four functions of Canadian parties, looking at representation, accommodation of societal interests, institutionalization of democratic practices, elections and governance, the authors conclude the Canadian party system is in transition once more. They raise a significant doubt about whether the historic parties’ ability to sustain themselves during the current evolution, which is already playing out in the media over the past few months since the Liberals formed a minority government in the spring. By reviewing the five characteristics of the new system presented in the essay, there is an opportunity to make some interesting observations. The authors were correct in identifying the impact of the two new parties. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Academic

Evolution of patronage limits nationalist vision

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First published: November 20, 2004

The way the two major Canadian political parties use of patronage during the first party system, as described by Gordon T. Stewart’s article Political patronage Under MacDonald and Laurier 1878-1911, provides a useful analytic tool to examine the brokerage system found in the subsequent systems, both to the benefit and detriment of public life. In Stewart’s article we see how patronage was a significant means to creating party stability and allowed the political parities during this time to move forward on their nation building agenda. He discusses how the local party executives acted like employment agencies for loyal party workers, often making party allegiance more important than qualification. The use of patronage was not limited to finding employment, but also involved promotions within the public service and appointments to the judiciary. It was not until the Royal Commission of 1911-1912 that serious questions regarding the use of patronage and its affect on government were raised. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Academic

Quebec nationalism about economic, as much as anything else

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First published: December 06, 2004

Jean Crete and Guy Lachapelle, in the article The Bloc Quebecois, attempt to explain the actions of Quebec voters through the period beginning with the Liberals in the 1970s; and the Progressive Conservatives in the 1980s; and the emergence of the Bloc Quebecois in the 1990s through an understanding of the context of these times, the party leaders, the political parties themselves and voter behaviour. While compelling, the authors might also chosen a number of other factors such as ethno-cultural influences, religious factors, and global influences, among a long list. However, one factor, which does not get a lot of attention, yet is mentioned by the authors a number of times, is the economic conditions that seem to exist during key times during the rise and fall of political movements within Quebec. If money talks, it is not very loud in the interpretation used in this article. Certainly, it is impossible to ignore the ideological reasons and key arguments explaining the various efforts to create, or to dissuade, the formation of a nationalist party in Ottawa. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Academic