[csaa-forum] Is 'Fourth Estate' Journalism A Western Mythology? (3pm Friday March 13)

[Timothy Laurie]

IS ‘FOURTH ESTATE’ JOURNALISM A WESTERN MYTHOLOGY?: THE NEED TO REDEFINE JOURNALISM

Speaker: Dr Kalinga Seneviratne

Discussant: Prof Andrew Jakubowicz

3pm-5pm Friday, March 13 | University of Technology Sydney

Hosted by the FASS Cultural Diversity and Communication Research Colloquium in collaboration with the Centre for Media Transition

ABSTRACT

The talk will be based on Dr. Seneviratne’s new book 'Myth of 'Free Media' and Fake News in the Post-Trurth Era' where he argues that news media as the "fourth estate' is basically dead as the media is commercialised. Where "free media" is a myth in the age of manufacturing consent, and 'fake news' is a fear of the alternative when digital technology has made it possible for alternative media to challenge the mainstream media. The focus of the talk will be on cultural perspective and censorship rather than political ones. How cultural censorship leads to subjective (and biased) journalism. Examples will be given focusing on the Asian region such as coverage of ethnic and religious conflicts, migrant labour, human rights issues and China's Silk Routes project. Danger of "extremist" liberalism to freedom of speech will be discussed arguing that foreign-funded NGO media is bigger threat to democracy in Asia than "authoritarian" governments. Finally, it will be argued that libertarian media paradigm has led to an adversarial journalism tradition that leads to news of exception - not the norm - and a news media that promotes conflict rather than solving them. A number of Asian communication scholars (initiated by Dr. Seneviratne) are working on to create a new and mindful paradigm of journalism drawing on Asian philosophical ideas, that will promote cooperation and social harmony, which will be briefly explained.
Dr Kalinga Seneviratne is a Sri Lanka born journalist, radio broadcaster, television documentary maker and international communications analyst. He has been a development communication consultant for UNESCO and was the Head of Research at the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) in Singapore from 2005-2012.

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