FOUR THEORIES OF PRESSSocial Responsibility TheorySoon Cai En

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MEDIA

Media

Media plays a vital role in informing citizens in a democratic society.

Media should be free from any constraints that may or may not be given by the government.

So that, media can be fair and just in providing information to the society at large.

The social responsibility theory - an outgrowth of the libertarian theory - goes beyond “objective” reporting to “interpretive” reporting.

Social Responsibility Theory

“The duty to one’s

conscience.”

Social Responsibility Theory

In the 20th century, US practiced this theory

Its purpose is to inform, entertain, sell, but also to raise conflict to the plane of discussion

Its ownership is private

Social Responsibility Theory

Today, a truthful yet complete account of the news is not necessarily enough.

The Commission on the Freedom of the Press: "It is no longer enough to report the fact truthfully. It is now necessary to report the truth about the fact.“

The complexity of today’s world often necessitates analysis, explanation, and interpretation.

Social Responsibility Theory

As the Commission stated in 1940: Emerging theory does not deny the rationality

of man. Seem to imply that man is not innately

motivated to search for truth and to accept it as his guide.

If man is to remain free, he must live by reason instead of passively accepting what he sees, hears, and feels.

The more alert elements of the community must goad him into the exercise of his reason.

So as motivated man into searching for the truth.

Social Responsibility Theory

It is the press that should be the ‘more alert element’ and provide the public with the truth of facts and facts.

However, "The owners and managers of the press determine which persons, which facts, which versions of these facts, shall reach the public," so says the Commission.

Social Responsibility Theory

Siebert, Peterson, and Schramm said, “Freedom of expression under the social

responsibility theory is not an absolute right, as under pure libertarian theory. One’s right to free expression must be balanced against the private rights of others and against vital society interest.”

Acceptance of Libertarian Theory, freedom of airing and publishing what it wants, does not mean that it should abuse it.

Therefore it is wise to use it responsibly as well as exercising self-restrain.

Social Responsibility Theory

Siebert, Peterson, and Schramm cautioned, “The power and near monopoly position of the

media impose on them an obligation to be socially responsible, to see that all sides are fairly presented and that the public has enough information to decide; and that if the media do not take on themselves such responsibility it may be necessary for some other agency of the public to enforce it.”

According to a research by:-

Media Pluralism and Development in Malaysia: A Third Eye View

Md. Asiuzzaman Assistant Professor, University of Liberal Arts

Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Social Responsibility in M’sia

Social Responsibility in M’sia

Theoretically, a free press exists in a country that practices full democracy.

Malaysia is no exception. It falls into the category of

authoritarian form of government Tends to control or regulate

media By laws and regulations BUT allows certain degree of

freedom. (Asiuzzaman, n.d)

Laws made to Restrict Media

The following are the most used in restricting the media: 1. Printing Presses and

Publications Act (1948); 2. Sedition Act (1948); 3. Official Secrets Act (1972); 4. Internal Security Act

(1960); 5. Defamation Act (1957);

and 6. Imported Publications Act

(Asiuzzaman, n.d)

Ownership is a form of media muzzling in Malaysia.

When Badawi became the fifth Prime Minister All free to air television were bought up by Media

Prima. In 2003, the Media Prima, a company associated with

UMNO, took over 100 percent equity interests in Malaysia’s first commercial television station TV3 launched in 1984.

Took 43.5 percent stake in New Straits Times Press. Media Prima acquired 8TV in 2004, followed by

Channel 9 and ntv7 in 2005. All these were done within a short span 3 years.

Ownership in Malaysia

(Asiuzzaman, n.d)

Ownership in Malaysia (con’t)

Malaysian news media Largely owned or indirectly controlled by the

14 political parties which constitute the ruling BN or National Front.

In Malaysia’s ‘fettered democracy’ (Netto, Media in divided societies 2002) mainstream media coverage of government policies Usually uncritical, while political opponents face

limited reporting, especially calls for political reform.

(Asiuzzaman, n.d)

World Press Freedom Day3rd May 2012

The Struggle For Freedom

Malaysian Media Struggle For Freedom

World Press Freedom Day, 3rd May 5 mainstream Chinese Newspaper turned

black to protest media restriction, control of the government and the recent beatings of journalist in the 29th April 2012 Bersih 3.0 Rally.

During Bersih 3.0 rally, more than 13 journalists and reporters had been beaten up, experienced violence or arrested

by Malaysia police while they are on duty.

5 Chinese Newspaper turned black in protest:-

Sin Chew Daily (星洲日报 )

Nanyang Siang Pau (南洋商报 )

China Press (中国报 ) Guang Ming Daily

(光明日报 )Oriental Daily

(东方日报 )

World Press Freedom Day protests

BLACK

FOR FREEDOM

Tampering of Bersih 3.0 VideoFMT News, “Snipping off freedom – and truth” by Jeswan Kaur on 5th May 2012.

Tampering of Bersih 3.0 Video

BBC and Al Jazeera broadcast news on Bersih 3.0 had been tampered by Astro.

Excerpts from FMT News, “Snipping off freedom – and truth” On May 2, the eve of the World Press Freedom

Day, veteran minister Rais Yatim in all foolishness revealed the federal government’s desperation in not wanting to “speak the truth and nothing but the truth” concerning the Bersih 3.0 protest.

(Jeswan Kaur, 2012)

Tampering of Bersih 3.0 Video (Con’t)

Excerpts from FMT News, “Snipping off freedom – and truth” Rais is of the opinion that Astro has the “right”

to show only the “best parts” of the April 28 protest

He said Astro should “be given credit” for providing “quality” news through stylised in-house editing.

Rais clearly is at loss for words in explaining the unwarranted breach by Astro, which, to the rakyat, explains it all – that the federal government is trying every trick in the book to portray Bersih 3.0 and its people as “anti-establishment”.

(Jeswan Kaur, 2012)

Tampering of Bersih 3.0 Video (Con’t)

It is clear that the ruling BN government has no intention of allowing media houses the freedom to report the unvarnished truth.

(Jeswan Kaur, 2012)

Anger over Astro’s “Quality Editing”

Astro’s actions on editing the video on Bersih 3.0 Rally prevented BBC and Al-Jazeera from telling the truth.

Excerpts from FMT News, “Snipping off freedom – and truth” The BBC had demanded an explanation from Astro for

snipping off 30 seconds of its two-minute news clip on the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28.

It was learnt that Astro allegedly broadcasted a doctored version removing three separate sequences, one of which showed a policeman allegedly firing at demonstrators.

It also noted that the “censoring was not made clear to viewers when it happened” and that Al-Jazeera (also demanding explanation) was not notified of the incident by Astro (Jeswan Kaur,

2012)

The Relationship of Malaysian Media and Social Responsibility Theory

As can be clearly seen, Tampering of Bersih 3.0 Rally Video The beatings on journalists who covers the news

“…if the media do not take on themselves such responsibility it may be necessary for some other agency of the public to enforce it.” (Siebert, Peterson, and Schramm)

The media in Malaysia is taking the responsibility However, “some other agency of the public” is

preventing the media freedom of journalists to bring the truth to light.

Social responsibility Theory in Malaysia, is but a dream.

Conclusion

The Social Responsibility theory denotes that the media is responsible for truth towards the public.

As it is in Malaysian, the government controlled media is unable to provide truth towards the public in the following:- The government The opposition Fabricated reports Twisted truths etc

References

Asiuzzaman. (n.d). Media Pluralism and Development in Malaysia: A Third Eye View. Retrieved June 21, 2012 from http://www.asianscholarship.org/asf/ejourn/toc.html

Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani. (2012). Malaysian media unite in black. Retrieved June 22, 2012 from http://www.mmail.com.my/story/malaysian-media-unite-black

Barr, S., & Barr, D. (2002). Four Theories of Press. Retrieved June 13, 2011, from http://www.coolschool.k12.or.us/courses/190200/lessons/lesson3/fourtheories.html

Four Theories of International Mass Communication Lecture 3a_1.(2011). Kampar, PK: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.

References

Jeswan Kaur. (2012). Snipping off freedom – and truth. Retrieved June 22, 2012 from http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/05/05/snipping-off-freedom-%E2%80%93-and-truth/

Pitner, S. (2009). The Social Responsibility Theory, first developed in the 1940s by Robert Maynard Hutchins, is still a guiding principle for the media today. Retrieved June 22, 2012 from http://suite101.com/article/what-is-the-social-responsibility-theory-a118662

References

SarawakReport. (2012). Nowhere Else In The World Do We Find Censorship Like This! – Al Jazeera Condemns Malaysia Exclusive. Retrieved June 22, 2012 from http://www.sarawakreport.org/2012/05/nowhere-else-in-the-world-do-we-find-censorship-like-this-al-jazeeras-shock-at-malaysia-exclusive/

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