Essay on the Influence of Media on Australian Politics and Society

This essay delves into the significant influence of media on Australian politics, examining its evolution and impact on the political landscape. It explores the definition of media and its historical role, highlighting instances where media outlets have exerted considerable influence, particularly focusing on the role of figures like Rupert Murdoch and the rise of digital media. The essay investigates how media can shape public opinion, influence electoral outcomes, and potentially distort political discourse. It also discusses the importance of unbiased reporting and the potential dangers of media overreach. The essay concludes by emphasizing the need for media to serve the public interest responsibly, without assuming a dominant role in society, and stresses the importance of critical engagement with media content to ensure an informed electorate and a functioning democracy. The essay highlights the crucial role of media in a democratic society, while also acknowledging the potential for abuse of power and the need for media accountability.

Running head: INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON AUSTRALIAN POLITICS
Influence of media on Australian politics
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON AUSTRALIAN POLITICS
The rise of the media is one of the most significant developments of the contemporary
world order. The end of the Second World War saw the introduction of the ideas of freedom and
liberty (Middaugh, Clark and Ballard 2017). In this regard, it can be believed that the individuals
of the world now had the right to pursue their activities without having to fear the imposition of
any obstructions from the state machinery. This is important to understand because there was a
considerable restriction imposed on media during the years of the two wars (Chadwick 2017).
Such restrictions was necessitated in order to reveal to the human society the various atrocities
that were committed by their Heads of the states. This was done away with in the twenty first
century and in today’s world it can be observed that the media occupies a significant position
within the structure of the state (McChesney 2015). However, a major problem which is related
with it is that often times, it can be seen that the media tries to influence the politics of the state
in their attempt to bring about a change in the world (Hepp, Hjarvard and Lundby 2015). The
main purpose of this essay is to understand if the organ of media have too much power in
contemporary Australian politics. In this regard, the essay first attempts to examine the meaning
of media and the evolution fo the role played by the media within the field of politics. The essay
then focuses on the instances when the media has over stepped the limits of its functionality
while dealing with the politics of Australia. The essay concludes with the importance of media
and its need to work for the betterment of the people without assuming a dominant place for
itself in the society.
The main function of media is to ensure that the various incidents which occur in the
human society, are communicated to the larger community in an unbiased manner. In this regard,
media is supposed to relay the news of the society in a factual manner and in the way in which
the incident occurred (Velasquez and LaRose 2015). Although it might not have existed in a

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formal manner or taken an official recognition as such, the aspect of media was present in the
human civilization for times immemorial. Due to the very nature of media, it dependent upon the
courageous people of the society to ensure that the relevant news were relayed to the people of
the society in an efficient manner and without any value judgment (Hansen 2018). The main
purpose of the media was therefore to assure to the people that the correct information would be
passed on to them with respect to their state leaders and the politicians who had the primary
objective of ensuring a decent standard of living for the concerned individuals (Strömberg 2015).
With the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, the various restrictions that were
imposed on many of the organs of the state, were removed (Bimber et al. 2015). The instillation
of the capitalist mode of market economy ensured to the business ventures and the organs of the
state that they would have the freedom to pursue their interests and objectives without facing any
kind of obstructions from the state (Kerbel 2018). Thus, the twenty first century saw the shift
from a state controlled economy to that of a welfare state. The objectives of the state leaders now
became the assurance and guarantee of the human rights to their citizens and to ensure that they
live a happy and satisfied life.
In this respect, the role of the media also slowly developed and changed. The media now
had the power and the authority to report on any societal event and on any person they who they
deem is affecting the society either in a positive or negative manner (Turcotte, et al. 2015). Such
people might be from any field of work such as a politician, a successful business or simply an
individual who belongs to the common public. This shows that the media has slowly started to
involve itself in all the spheres of human activity.
The rise in the significance of the media is also based on the fact that it is seen to be the
forth pillar of democracy. People believe that the important work done by the media is

3INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON AUSTRALIAN POLITICS
indispensable as the people of the world has a right to know about the activities of their elected
representatives (Mowlana 2016). It is not possible for all the individuals to keep a check on the
actions of omission and commission as undertaken by their politicians. In this regard, the media
has assumed the significant role if reporting on the actions and the measures under taken by the
politicians in the context of ensuring a good quality of life for their own citizens. Such news are
important as during the times of election, it becomes possible for the individuals to choose their
representatives in an informed manner (Flynn, Nyhan and Reifler 2017).
The media has assumed a strong foot hold in the continent of Australia. Australia is a
democratic country where the representatives in politics are elected by the people for a fixed
period of time (Bruns et al. 2015). In this context, it can be observed that keeping a vigilant eye
on the work done by the politicians is essential as it allows the people to have an idea about the
nature and level of efficiency about their state leaders. In this regard, it can be seen that the
media plays a significant part in Australian politics.
One of the instances when the media is seen to play the role of an influencer within
Australian politics occurred in the year 2010 (power et al., 2019). Chris Mitchell who was the
former editor of the newspaper “The Australian” said that he had a close relationship with a
politician named Kevin Rudd. Rudd was ousted from power by Gilliard and in retaliation, Rudd
started to talk poorly about Wayne Swan (Wingerei and Wingerei, 2019). This showed that Rudd
was happy and satisfied to misuse the power and influence of Murdoch only at a time when it
suited his own interests. Murdoch is an Australian citizen, believed to a mogul within the field of
media. The way he uses his power and influence to affect the politics of Australia is uncanny
since he owns many of the media houses of the country (Wingerei and Wingerei, 2019). Thus,
there is a possibility that the news reported by him or any of the media houses related to him

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would have a political inclination and therefore, try to influence the voters in a particular line of
thinking ((power et al., 2019)). The memoir written by Chris Mitchell by the name of “Making
Headlines” has attempted to reveal this attempt by the editors of Murdoch to be seen as
influencers.
A second instance of media influencing the politics of Australia in the contemporary
world can be seen in the field of digital media. The twenty first century has seen the rise of
various forms of media, one of the most significant one is that of the digital field (Press-
files.anu.edu.au, 2019). Digital media uses the virtual forum to spread the news to the people.
This is advantageous to the various news channels and media houses since the people of the
twenty first century spends much of their time on such platforms. The media has a significant
impact on influencing the people of the society with the aid and use of such virtual platform and
digital media (Press-files.anu.edu.au, 2019). Within the arena of media influencing the politics of
the country, there is an argument that there is frequent distortion of the policies that are
formulated and implemented in the country. The people related to the field of news simply try to
ensure certain favors to the political parties there is influence of the media coverage on the
political elites. In the year 2012, certain attempts were made by Gina Rinehart to ensure the
assertion of the editorial influence on the Fairfax organization (Press-files.anu.edu.au, 2019).
However, this brought the aspect of political interest within the significant role played by the
editors of the media houses within the country of Australia. In this context, the digital media was
used in order to ensure that interests of the relevant political parties were served.
In this regard, it can be seen that the media has assumed too much power for itself within
the contemporary Australian politics. The primary objective of the media to simply report on the
news and the events as they exist, is done away with. Instead, the editors such as that of Rupert

5INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON AUSTRALIAN POLITICS
Murdoch has misused his financial resources and position within the society to play the role of
an influencer. It is important to understand that the news as read by the common public has the
potential of influencing their thought process.
The aspect of media was found to be relevant for revealing the true events of the society.
In the age of democracy, the politicians are chosen by the people and have the primary objective
of ensuring a decent standard of living for the concerned individuals (Flynn, Nyhan and Reifler
2017). However, often times it can be seen that the politicians do not comply by their work
ethics, instead, they choose to misuse to the power and authority which is endowed to them. This
is sought to be exposed by the various media houses of the society. The editors and the reporters
attempt to reveal and expose the main actions of the politicians to the people of the society so
that they may become aware of the actions of their chosen representatives (Middaugh, Clark and
Ballard 2017). This is important in the context of the election times because the people have the
option to elect better people to be included at the helm of the affairs of the state and to lead them
in the right direction.
However, in the recent times, the role of the media has changed. It no longer acts as the
bastion of information, but rather choose to assert its influence on the society (Flynn, Nyhan and
Reifler 2017). They believe that the have the responsibility to bring a change in the society. This
change can only be brought about if they involve themselves within the functioning of the state,
particularly in the political affairs of the country (Hepp, Hjarvard and Lundby 2015). Although
few are aware about the changing role of the media, many of the common citizens still consider
the media to be vital for the spread of truth and information. In this regard, they assume the news
to be true without analyzing them or critically reflecting upon them. This is dangerous since they
elect their representatives based on the news related to them (Flynn, Nyhan and Reifler 2017).

6INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON AUSTRALIAN POLITICS
This ensures the continuation of a government which, in the long run, might prove to be fatal to
the fulfillment of the needs and aspirations of the people and also to the main principles of
democracy.
To conclude, it can be observed that the aspect of media has changed over the centuries
of human evolution. Media no longer confines itself to the sphere of reporting the events as
observed by them. They have taken up the initiative to provide opinions on such events, with the
main objective of attempting to sway the views as held by the common public. In Australia, one
of the most influential media editor is that of Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch has a lot of political
connections and his agencies have the power to either promote a particular policy or demote it,
depending upon the political party which has instituted such a policy. In this regard, it is
important to understand the media has assumed a powerful place for itself within the field of
contemporary Australian politics. In other words, the politics of the country is changing because
of the influential role that is played by the media and its editors. This has affected the nature of
politics in the twenty first century.

7INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON AUSTRALIAN POLITICS
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