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Summary Public services - current affairs -P4
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Directly from my public services course which I achieved maximum marks in, this covers P4 of the current affairs module
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Assess the independence of the media from owners, revenue generators and politiciansIn assessing the independence that the media has from outside parties including owners, revenue
generators and politicians it will be necessary to first establish how the media is able to separate
itself from these other groups this will determine how much independence they have. The reality is
of course that the media is involved with these outside parties but the media still has a degree of
independence. The independence that they have can be seen in how they operate. The way they
gather information, present information and the consequences of presenting that information.
When the media gathers information they will go to many different sources and each different media
has its own sources and information collection method. However factors that control how they
gather information and where from exist too. The sources they use will be varied but some will be
traditionally used sources or sources that have been deliberately been put in place to collect
information from. These sources serve the interest of someone usually the media owner or
politicians. Indeed some of those sources deliberately used may be politicians. This will be to sell a
story, support a story or serve to progress another parties interests. Of course the media when
collecting information is not by any means restricted to only these sources but because these
sources are in place they will to a degree pre-determine the information gathered removing the
independence of information gathering, but just because the media doesn’t use only neutral sources
and will have pre-determined information within it doesn’t mean it isn`t a free media, perceptions of
an oppressed media is wrong. Evidence that they have freedom is evident in the outside not pre-
determined sources that are used by the media to gain information on stories many of which can
only be accessed for that story only. The fact that both sources pre-determined and not are
published means that ultimately the sources can be either provided, it allows a story to be sold. So
whilst in information gathering the media may well be forced to operate in a pre-determined way
and use some sources deliberately they are not restricted to this and any information that will sell
can be sold, showing that whilst they are not fully independent of outside parties influence the
media remains free.
When presenting information it’s very difficult for outside parties to influence the media and so in
this area they have the greatest independence, but even here they can influenced. All Medias have a
standardised way in which they present information, so this makes it difficult for outside parties to
manipulate its presentational format. The best way they can manipulate here is by changing what is
said and how it is said. By this I mean only saying what will benefit a particular group and not
anything negative, also changing the emotive feeling in the presentation can stimulate feelings and
emotions within people. Outside this it becomes difficult to manipulate the information so the media
can present how they like within their standardisation and rules. However it’s worth noting that
profit driven medias always prefer shock and scandal to sell stories and this will be done freely by
them, this is an example of the media again being forced to act in a certain way because of an
outside party in this case one interested in profit.
The consequences of what the media presents are very important in displaying the Medias
independence. Ultimately the Medias information should have achieved something; this can be
merely informing the public of an issue or else trying to invoke a shock. Those outside parties
wanted something as a result of the information presented. For owners of media it will be for a huge
story that escalate and improve the Medias reputation. For revenue generators they want money or
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