Wednesday, October 14, 2015

New Media: The “Real Power” of Media Ownership and Press Freedom

Introduction
Since 1906, Malay Press was begun to mushroom all over the Malaya when people realized that they should take control of political and economic future by seeking independence from the imperialists such as British and Japan. Highlighting the controversial issues, raising awareness about our right, and mount support from the society were the most Malay Press key roles until the establishment of Malayan Union (Hussin, 2005).
Newspaper and Magazines have contributed much in the process of getting independence. Malay Presses such as Al-Imam (1906–1908), Saudara (1928–1941), Pengasuh (1918–1938), Majlis (1930–1940) and Warta Malaya (1930–1941) were the early of media awareness who have talked about the importance of fighting for independence by portraying what had happened in neighborhood countries especially Indonesia and Philippine(Saat, 2010).
Media obviously played a big role in giving national awareness among Malays especially in fighting for independence. Through media, there were so many controversial topics being highlighted such as “we” should control the political power, economic mechanism, education system and social development that mostly have been stressed by the local Malay writers like Za’ba and Onn Jaafar. All of the media used was said were given a huge influential in discussing the importance of precaution to Malay’s right in their soil land (Sipon, 2008).
Basically, the two premier functions of media are to inform the public with information and to educate the public about their right. Other than that it is all about providing entertainment program for public gratifications. However, even though through entertainment program, media still acted as a springboard of imagination and fantasy to draw what public should think about (Lule, 2015).
In today world, media has been described as the fourth power in the country. It is because of the ability to influence over public opinion which able to turn affects and change the situation as they want. For example, media is able to give pressure to the government in order to implement and abolish certain policies. As media has been the “voice of the people” by keeping the government in check, so media ownership has become one of the long debate issues around the world. The ability of media as a watchdog is something undeniable. This is proven since before the independence day and deliberately effective until now.
However, there exist controversial issues where the media might control the public opinion in ways that contradict with the spirit of nationality. Upon the concept of maintaining the peace and national security of the country, the government starts to get involve in controlling the media. For example, through Printing Press and publication Act, stated that all media and presses are required to have a license granted by minister in order to make publications which need to be renewed every year (PPPA, 1984).
Another big issue of this media ownership is press freedom. Media was said being tied to so many rules and restrictions because of this controversial law. Media has been highlighted as bias to some group of interest and government especially in doing reporting. Even though through article 10 of Malaysia Federal constitution (FC) stated that public has right in express their opinion, freely can assemble and be associated, by the construction of so many laws and regulation as tarnished the concept of absolute freedom as guaranteed in Malaysia FC (Perlembagaan Persektuan, 1963).

Agenda Setting
When we talk about the “real power” meaning that those specific person or a group of people should able to place their agenda in shaping people mind or thought. Based on the concept of agenda setting theory that has been introduced by Mc Comb and Shaw, agenda setting explains on how the agenda is being deployed in order to control people mind towards something. However, in new media platform, we actually are confused whether the agenda actually has been set by the media or the public as the public is the one who owns the media itself. Government will be more likely can winning people heart if their current agenda aligning with what media and public likely has agreed (Eld, 2007).
At last, we can see that the government is just like sharing the common interest with the other parties. Historically, we can say that government agenda is the public and media agenda, but literally it is no longer like that. Press freedom concept was tarnished and it is known like that because old media that fought for people right was controlled by the ruling party. In today world, who controls who actually? As the new media is controlling everything, so the victory of powerful agenda setting was dropped to the public which totally strengthen the public agenda (Berger, 2007).
Public agenda is the most crucial part out of the world. Through new media, public concern is not merely limited to the local issues but goes to internationally breach the borders. The concept of global village or closed media environment plays international efforts that expanded through to every region in channeling the information. This is not only for public to get news but more on highlighting the global issues; offer solidarity and supporting activist by fully understand their perspectives (Karlekar, 2007).
When we examine the concept of new media and how public place their agenda throughout this internet discussion, public literally succeed in highlighting so many issues that never had been disclosed by old media. For example, the issues of dictatorships, censorship, press controls, corruption, manipulation, propaganda, economic inequality, business monopolies and many more incredible issues have been highlighted through new media (Alves, 2007).
We can call these as the serial power of public agenda just after they know the media ownership nowadays was turning into their hands. Press freedom through online sites and free blogging or microblogging are the platform where they can maintain their power by mounting support from the other users. Government has lost control of what public has to think. That is why, if the government make something against with public agenda, their place as the “ruling party” might be threaten.


Implication
The implication of this turning point of media ownership from the government to the public actually has deliberated so many controversial issues. In Malaysia for example, when the former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad launched the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), opposition party has turned effectively on using internet. The World Wide Web (www.) has given them a space to mount support from the public. As consequences, the result of general election in Malaysia was almost kicking down the Barisan Nasional party who has governed this country since Independence Day (Sani & Zengeni, 2009).
In general election 12th for example, Barisan Nasional lost five states out of thirteen and some discussion about this GE found that new media has become the main reason why the problems occurred. According to Sani and Zengeni (2009), during that election, Lim Kit Siang who is the President of Democratic Association Party (DAP) has three political blogs which have been used as weapon in mounting support from Chinese’s voters. Furthermore, the President of Justice for people (PKR) Dato Sri Anwar Ibrahim was found as having two political blogs that have been used in disseminating opponent ideologies to all Malay readers. Paradoxically, there is no Barisan Nasional leaders have any good connections with public through online sites.
Former Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who was responsible to lead the party on that time says that it was a mistake for his party to ignore the powerful of new media among youth’s voter. 
“We didn’t think it was important, it was a serious misjudgment. We thought that the newspapers, the print media, the television were important but young people were looking at text messages and blogs” – Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi(New Straits Times, 2008).
In some other perspective, it is not about how opponent party’s expert in utilizing new media but the government actually failed to resolve all those sensitive issues. According to former deputy finance minister, Tun Daim, the reason why BN almost lost in the general election because it was held at the wrong time. Government still did not resolve so many sensitive issues such as Hindraf, Bersih assembly, the hiking price of goods and fuel and many other issues related to the public welfares (Sani & Zengeni, 2009).
Therefore, we can see basically the public has the real power not only in highlighting issues but also in shaping this country. The implication also clearly can be seen in the thirteen general elections as BN almost lost their power to govern this country. No one can stop the public to express what they want to and no more censorship exist due to the public is the one who owns the media ownership now.

Conclusion
As conclusion, media used to be owned by Media Practitioners before the Independence Day. Then, government is the one who controls the media due to importance of maintain peace and national security. However, when new media turns up, public is the one who controls the media. No more censorship and no more limitation. Everything can be expressed freely without restrictions. The result of general election 12th and 13th has shown how this new media has changed Malaysia landscape. Opponent parties who have turned to the new media basically succeed in mounting support from the public by highlighting all those undisclosed issues.
Nowadays, public is the one who will placing the agenda. As the public is the one who owns the new media, so public agenda literally become the media agenda. If the government or policy agenda is not aligning with these two agendas, their life as government would not be longer. The result of GE 12 to GE 13 has explained the importance of government to pay full attention on public agenda. If there are so many sensitive issues unresolved, it might damage BN reputation in the next general election.
New Media is so powerful in integrating public and place a dominant opinion about something. As a free platform and discussion area, new media can be good and bad to the process of democratization in the developing countries. If the government is not be given a full right of governing, so their power to manage this country might be disgraced. A strong government is needed in determining the survival of the country in international level. This is why China’s government for example has blocked Facebook application in his country. Upon the concept of national security, some restriction towards the internet itself should be done properly.

References


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