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Who is the king of the media monopoly game? (15 August)
Games always have winners and losers. No one can predict who will win the latest game, sparkled by new federal media ownership proposals.
The Federal Government plans to loosen up cross-media ownership law and limitations on foreign ownership by next year.
"This package of reforms will allow the Australian media sector to move from the old analogue-based regime into the dynamic new world of digital content, where traditional media co-exist and compete with new delivery platforms," Communications Minister Helen Coonan said.
Under the reforms, companies can own print, radio and television interests in one market. However, media firms are not allowed to own more than one TV station or two commercial radio stations. As a result, there will be no fewer than five independent media groups in capital cities and four in regional areas.
When it comes to media ownership, “diversity” would be one of the most crucial factors in keeping democracy functioning well. "We think that, taken as a whole, these sets of arrangements provide a degree of flexibility to enable not only media players but consumers to have all of the advantages of new technology and new investment in these services." said Coonan
However, the media market in Australia has been monopolised by huge media companies or moguls for a long period and it is doubtful whether if Australian citizens can benefit from the changes. News Corp and John Fairfax Ltd occupy more than 80% of the national newspaper market. Seven Network, Channel 10 and the Packers’ Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd control the most of capital city and regional television audiences. “Australia has the highest concentration of media ownership in the Western world and any attempts by the Government to alter existing cross-media ownership laws will be met with strong opposition,” Anthony Kiers said, in a private submission to a Senate review of Media ownership low.
According to one survey which has done by a Crikey.com survey of Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance members conducted by Roy Morgan, more than 80% of journalists believe that the changes will have a negative influence on reporting in the long run and 85% answer that the amendment shrinks the diversity of media.
The same survey shows that around 63% of journalists believed Australian media companies are too powerful in influencing how Australians vote, and 71.4 % insisted that media owners possess too much influence in deciding the political issues .
Stephen Conroy, Federal Labor’s spokesman on communications said, "The Government's media ownership proposals will inevitably result in a massive concentration in media ownership and reduce diversity of opinion.”
Rupert Murdoch, the owner of News Corp, expressed a negative attitude toward new reforms despite the fact that most media companies appreciate the federal government’s revisions.
Two months ago, Murdoch tried to persuade the Federal Government to broaden its scope of media ownership reforms or drop the plan completely.
News Corp said the reforms will distort the market and decrease diversity. "We think it is a policy failure on a number of fronts that will short change consumers who are supposed to be the primary beneficiaries," a spokesman for the company said.
On the other hand, Fairfax welcomed the reforms. Chief executive David Kirk said the new policy can enhance the potentiality of the media industry and also be helpful to keep diversity within Australia. "These policies provide clear opportunities for strategic growth for Fairfax," he said.
With two media moguls showing different perspectives on this issue, you might ask yourself who can really benefit from this new policy?
By Keiichi Onodera
‘Murdoch still critical of media reforms’ The Age
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Murdoch-still-critical-of-media-reforms/2006/08/09/1154802930551.html
‘Coonan gives media barons more’ Green Left Weekly
http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2006/678/678p11.htm
‘Media moments’ The Canberra Times
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=opinion&story_id=501667&category=Opinion&m=8&y=2006
‘Journalists strongly oppose media laws’ Crikey
http://www.crikey.com.au/articles/2006/08/08-1610-6807.html
So-called reforms generate scepticism The Australian
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19998199-14622,00.html
‘Mixed response to planned media reforms’ The Age
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