livingstone and lunt

• Public Sphere


  • The public sphere is an area in social life where individuals can come together to freely discuss and identify societal problems, and through that discussion influence political action
  • The relationship in which the media either disseminates, withholds or influences the information, opinion or news with which citizens may democratically debate issues so that those in power can be held accountable.
  • Questions have been asked as to how far the mass media provide a public sphere along with concerns being raised about how much the public have been encouraged to be involved.
• governence

  
  

  • The manner and relationships that relate to the policy, regulation and rulings of the government in relation to the media industry, civil society and consumers.
  • Livingstone and Lunt favour more regulation that protects the citizen, who are often seen more as consumers by the industry.
• Regulation


  government intervention in a market that affects the production of a good
• Public interest


  • The best interests of the overall community; the national good, rather than the narrow interests of a particular group.
  • found regulators find it hard to balance wanting to act in the public interest (e.g protecting public from harm) whilst also trying to reflect commercial interests
• Media literacy

  • The ability to access, analyse and understand media.
  • Media literacy allows a better understanding of the complex messages received via the media.
  • argued "the public is becoming more media literate overtime as they get used to using a greater variety of media and digital technologies"
  • however also claims we are becoming more aware of the gaps in publics knowledge with media
  • those from disadvantages or vulnerable background become more behind in understanding and participating in a media landscape (digital underclass)
• Transnational Culture

  • An analysis of the cultural effects of globalisation.
  • idea that globalisation has allowed cultures being shared
  • originate in one country but cross nation-state borders
  • because of this it it more difficult for countries/ government to regulate what media content comes into the country
  • e.g people wanting to access foreign films from illegal movie sites
• Livingstone and Lunt Theory


  • Livingstone and Lunt think the needs of a citizen are in conflict with the needs of the consumer, because protection can limit freedom.
  • They noticed that regulating media to protect citizens from harmful content can limit freedom of expression.
• self-regulation


   regulation which is carried out (that is policed) by bodies other than an arm of government.
• argue regulation can be difficult and hard
• media companies have their own self-interest
• livingston and lunt argue that there is a need for regulation but it must not restrict freedom of speech
• traditional media regulation is being put at risk by:

  1. increase in global media conglomerates
  2. rise of digital media
  3. media convergence
• ofcom

  • mainly look at how successful Ofcom are
  • livingstone and Lunt argue Ofcom are good at promoting positive democratic values
  • fulfil their role as regulator to ensure the public are able to access a diverse range of voices in TV and radio
  • protectors of democratic values - make sure media producers aren't able to act as propagandists
• criticisms of Ofcom

  • livingstone and Lunt found Ofcom is also flawed
  • has been criticised for failing to protect children from harm on social media platforms such as facebook, twitter and instagram
  • argue ofcom are more in favour of protecting media producers - quite weak in regulating big media conglomerates, not hard enough on them