CANADIAN COMMUNICATIONS POLICY.   Term Paper ID:21020 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Govt. regulation vs. media autonomy. Publication bans, promotion of social justice, biases, preservation of culture.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Govt. regulation vs. media autonomy. Publication bans, promotion of social justice, biases, preservation of culture. Paper Introduction: CANADIAN COMMUNICATIONS POLICY: A QUESTION OF AUTONOMY IN THE MASS MEDIA Introduction Two of the four largest newspaper publishing companies in Canada have consistently posted financial operating losses in the decade of the 1990s. In 1993 and 1994, Canadian public information media—both print and electronic—have chafed over publication bans related to the Karla Homulka trial in Ontario. Canadian television broadcasters face increasing competition from American television stations located near the international border and from foreign programming transmitted into Canada via satellite. Questions have been raised about the wisdom of Canadian communications policies that, according to critics, will lead to the demise of Canadian ma Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. "Black Power." Maclean's, 3 August 1992, 27-3 .Fuller, Colleen. BibliographyBass, Warren. All of theaforementioned parties, albeit for different reasons, essentially supportan unregulated mass communications media in Canada, regardless of any otherconsequences. A systemthat minimizes to the extent possible any prior knowledge of thecircumstances of a case undoubtedly provides superior safeguards. The mostcelebrated contemporary case involving a publication ban is the KarlaHomulka trial that has been completed. On the opposing side of the issue, defenders ofCanadian communications policies contend that regulation is necessary topreserve a Canadian social and national identity. "Our Pale, Male Media." Canadian Forum, 71 (May 1992): 5- 7.Jenish, D'Arcy. It ishardly justifiable to require Canadian mass media to become socialcrusaders. To extend this discussion, assume that the publication ban on theHomulka trial were lifted prior to the Bernado, or Paul Teale to use hisreal name, as demanded by many Canadian mass media organizations.[7] Ifthe lifting of the ban were to somehow compromise a guilty verdict in theBernado (Teale) trial, the first people to be pointing fingers at theCanadian criminal justice system would be the Canadian mass media, whoalong with many member of the general public would contend that Canadianjustice was soft on crime and that Canadian prosecutors and jurists wereincompetent. The issue of communication regulation in Canada, thus, is a complexissue. The system in place in the United States in which a judgeassesses the validity of a potential jurist's contention that he or she canand will make an impartial evaluation of evidence to be presentedregardless of what prior knowledge the potential juror has of the case athand is ludicrous on its face. [7]D'Arcy Jenish, "Leaks in A Gag Order," Maclean's, 13 December 1993,16, 18. "Silence of the Press.," Columbia Journalism Review, 32 (September 1993): 15-16.Dalglish, Brenda. Publication bansaffect the ability of both journalists and media organizations to reportall events, the right of Canadians to know of all events, and the right ofan accused person to receive a fair and impartial trial. "Shakeup Predicted for Canadian TV." Variety, 1 March 1993, 5 -51.Watson, Russell. "Competition for TV Licenses Nears Finish." Variety, 22 November 1993, 48-5 .Murray, Karen. [8]Colleen Fuller, "Our Pale, Male Media," Canadian Forum, 71 (May1992): 5-7. CANADIAN COMMUNICATIONS POLICY: A QUESTION OF AUTONOMY IN THE MASS MEDIA Introduction Two of the four largest newspaper publishing companies in Canada haveconsistently posted financial operating losses in the decade of the199 s.[1] In 1993 and 1994, Canadian public information media-both printand electronic-have chafed over publication bans related to the KarlaHomulka trial in Ontario.[2] Canadian television broadcasters faceincreasing competition from American television stations located near theinternational border and from foreign programming transmitted into Canadavia satellite.[3] Questions have been raised about the wisdom of Canadiancommunications policies that, according to critics, will lead to the demiseof Canadian mass media. Again, the Canadian mass media reject such charges.Representatives of minority and other interest groups demand regulation tocompel Canadian mass media to fairly report events concerning them. To even ask this question, however, is to reduce an importantissue to the lowest common social denominator, wherein the only aspects ofCanadian culture that would be preserved are hockey violence and ice beer. First, the judge cannot look inside anotherperson's mind, and second any person with knowledge of a case forms someconclusions, even if those conclusions are in the subconscious. Problem Statement There are people in Canada who would like to reduce the serious socialissues surrounding the regulation of the mass media to the commondenominator of money. "Cashing in on Tragedy." Maclean's, 8 November 1993, 48.Jenish, D'Arcy. [3]Karen Murray, "Shakeup Predicted for Canadian TV," Variety, 1 March1993, 5 -51. This issue is examined in this paper. Thecontexts within which the issue is considered are publication bans, thepromotion of social justice, and the third preservation of Canadianculture.Publication Bans Publication bans are an important part of the issue. Such people tend the proclaim that if an action isprofitable it should be permitted, without consideration of other factors.Many of these same people contend that the content of mass mediapresentations should be the prerogative of those persons and entities whoown the presses and broadcasting technology. When oneis required to assess the validity of counter arguments within a broaderframework, however, the task becomes infinitely more difficult. With absolute assurance, one could be sure that the Canadianmass media would accept no responsibility for such an outcome, even if thatoutcome were the direct result of the lifting at their behest of a pre-trial publication ban.Promotion of Social Justice Many groups within the Canadian population contend that discriminationis promulgated-consciously or unconsciously-by the Canadian mass media onthe basis of gender, racial and ethnic background, and other factors.[8]On one side of this question are women's organizations, the representativesof Aboriginal peoples, and groups representing racial minorities whocontend that media representations and bias perpetuate discrimination. [5]Russell Watson, "The Barbie-Ken Murders," Newsweek, 6 December1993, 36. There are two central aspects of this issue. First, there is thecontention that significant reporting of the problems faced by thecomplaining groups is absent from the Canadian media; thereby, causingproblems to be virtually invisible. Conclusion This research examined Canadian communications policies as thosepolicies affect specific aspects of the functioning of the Canadian massmedia. Other parties contend thatthe integrity of the mass media is dependent upon the independence ofjournalists to report the truth as they see that truth without regard forother social concerns and without regard for the personal or corporatedesires of media owners. Thisgeneral conclusion of the research performed for this paper is thatnarrowly defined regulatory policies are both defensible and essential. [1 ]Karen Murray, "Broadcasters Brace for Yank Beamers," Variety, 16November 1992, 54. Opposing this general position are those parties contendingthat limited and well-defined restrictions on press freedoms in Canada areessential for the preservation of Canadian culture, the promotion of socialjustice, and the protection of constitutional rights. The issue of communication regulation in Canada is a complex issue. It would appear thatwhat the complaining groups are actually seeking from the Canadian massmedia is a public voice or platform from which to deliver their positionsto the general public. Analysis of the Issue The analysis of the issue is considered in three contexts. "Leaks in A Gag Order." Maclean's, 13 December 1993, 16, 18.Kaihla, Paul. "Canada to Regulate Foreign Sat Shows." Variety, 14 June 1993, 45-46.Murray, Karen. [6]Warren Bass, "Silence of the Press," Columbia Journalism Review, 32(September 1993): 15-16. [4]D'Arcy Jenish, "Cashing in on Tragedy," Maclean's, 8 November 1993,48. [2]Paul Kaihla, "Policing the Press," Maclean's, 21 June 1993, 28-29. Both Karla Homulka and her husbandPaul Bernado were charged in connection with the gruesome deaths of twoteenage girls in southern Ontario.[4] Homulka's trial has been completed;however, publication of the details of the trial have been banned in aneffort to assure that Paul Bernado receives a fair and impartial trial.[5]Unlike the United States, where extensive pre-trial publicity is usuallyallowed unless corporate trade secrets are involved, Canada adheres moreclosely to the British justice practice of protecting the constitutionalright of a fair and impartial trial in criminal cases.[6] Basic to a fairand impartial trial is the empaneling of a jury, the members of which havenot already made conclusions concerning the case on the basis of mediareports. It is somewhat difficult to justify this desire, asworthy as it is, as an essential role of the Canadian mass media. The second aspect of this issue is a contention that the Canadian massmedia is guilty of overt bias against certain societal groups in thereporting of events. Some members of the general public in Canadacontend that they have a right to know all that has happened, is happening,or may happen without censorship of any kind or for any reason. Themedia- both journalists and organizations-generally deny the validity ofsuch accusations. The mass media, in rebuttal, generallycontends such problems and conditions are reported relative to theirimportance in the overall Canadian social structure. "The Barbie-Ken Murders." Newsweek, 6 December 1993, 36.----------------------- [1]Brenda Dalglish, "Black Power," Maclean's, 3 August 1992, 27-3 . The validity of the arguments on each side of the issue is defensible inall instances, if the frame of reference is sufficiently narrow. When one is required to assess the validity of counter argumentswithin a broader framework, however, the task becomes infinitely moredifficult. [11]Karen Murray, "Canada to Regulate Foreign Sat Shows," Variety, 14June 1993, 45-46. The validity of the arguments on each side of the issue isdefensible in all instances, if the frame of reference is sufficientlynarrow. "Policing the Press." Maclean's, 21 June 1993, 28-29.Murray, Karen. "Broadcasters Brace for Yank Beamers." Variety, 16 November 1992, 54.Murray, Karen. Conversely, however, existing regulations prohibiting thereporting of events in an untruthful and biased manner, regardless of thegroup concerned, should be vigorously enforced by both regulatoryauthorities and the Canadian justice system.Preservation of Canadian Culture The electronic media in particular tend to rebel at Canadian contentrules.[9] Advocates of the policy contend that it is the best way topreclude the Americanization of Canadian culture, while Canadianbroadcasters contend that the policy will send them into bankruptcy.[1 ]To help Canadian broadcasters, the Canadian Radio and Tele-CommunicationsCommission (CRTC) issued a policy for the regulation of foreign programmingtransmitted to Canada by satellite.[11] A valid question is whether it isappropriate for an agency of the Crown to act to preserve Canadian cultureif a majority of Canadians are not prepared to support Canadianprogramming. [9]Karen Murray, "Competition for TV Licenses Nears Finish," Variety,22 November 1993, 48-5 . If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.