This document provides an overview of a lecture on media and democracy. It discusses key concepts like what democracy is, the historical development of democracy, freedom of speech and press, and how new media may be transforming politics. It also touches on debates around direct democracy, representative democracy, the tyranny of the majority, John Stuart Mill's harm principle, human rights to freedom of speech, press, and thought, and the relationship between the free press and private media ownership.

1. Introductions Tessa Houghton PhD candidate, Media & Communication Hacktivism and Habermas: Online Protest as neo-Habermasian Counterpublicity Filling in for Dr. Babak Bahador: COMS205/POLS232: Media & Politics

2. COMS205/POLS232: Media & Politics “The course provides an understanding of the role of the media in domestic and international politics. It does this by analysing key theoretical assumptions and debates on the role of media institutions in the struggle for power domestically and internationally.”

3. COMS205/POLS232: Media & Politics Public opinion + media effects Media + democracy The public sphere Politics + entertainment Public relations, celebrity + spin Politics + media in NZ Propaganda + state control The Propaganda Model Media + foreign policy

4. L1 Media & Democracy: Lecture Overview What is democracy? Historical development Freedom of speech and press New media and the transformation of politics?

5. What is democracy? Government “of/by/for the people”

6. The history of democracy Common belief today is that democracy = only legitimate form of government But democracy = rejected for 2000yrs!

7. Global democracy: claimed

8. Global democracy: actual

9. Democracy FTW? So, why is democracy better? Claims to be superior both: Instrumentally Intrinsically Two key values: Freedom Equality

10. Jean-Jacques Rousseau The ‘general will’ Direct democracy “Were there a people of gods, their government would be democratic. So perfect a government is not for men.”

11. Limits of Direct Democracy Barely conceivable, inefficient Who sets the agenda?

12. John Stuart Mill & Representative Democracy Elected political representatives Make and execute laws If they do it well, society > more prosperous But system must have safeguards

13. The Tyranny of the Majority Democracy/majority vote alone = insufficient Minority rights must be protected Must have a liberal democracy

14. Mill’s Harm Principle The state should only limit individual actions that harm others Balance must evolve from principles

15. Rights Harm principle > human rights Life, freedom of assembly/movement/religion/vote/standing for office/speech/the press, etc.

16. Freedom of Speech/Thought Mill: complete freedom in the private sphere, few limits in public. No gain in censorship but great possible loss Suppressing falsity will make the truth weak and dogmatic.

17. Freedom of the Press Varying degrees of freedom given to mass media No complete press freedom

19. Mass Media’s Role in Democracy Great weight placed on communication. Key roles: Deliberation Representation Accountability

20. The Free Press and Market Critics seen tension between free press and market Issues over private ownership

21. New Media and Political Transformation New media? Claims of political transformation and a return to direct democracy… Global networks Interconnectedness Globality Identity

22. Time and Space Always constrained by spatial and temporal limits New transport/communication technologies have dramatically reduced these constraints

23. Reconceptualising space

24. Reconceptualising time 60 days 1 day 0.5 days

26. Electronic Democracy Belief that the internet can change politics Belief in the dawn of a new democratic order Potential for direct democracy

27. Limits to direct democracy More information does not necessarily mean better information Technology can devalue democracy Technology can serve the powerful

28. Next lecture…