An appetite for reform and democracy
New Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has raised the prospect of a review of communications regulation in a bid to ‘make federal policy apply to an era where social media and streaming is prevalent’. Could long-anticipated reform of media regulation be brewing? In today’s newsletter, Derek Wilding looks at a new paper from the Australian Communications and Media Authority that signals both an updating of broadcasting content regulation and its possible extension to broadcasters’ online services. Michael Davis explains the significance of ‘prominence’ - described by the Minister as the 'valuable real estate' in apps used on smart TV to ensure that free-to-air services can be found. And CMT research assistant Vidya Kathirgamalingam looks at how the Canadian government is proposing to bring streaming services into that country’s regulatory framework. But first, a video interview with Anya Schiffrin, a media academic from Columbia University whose research into propaganda and misinformation in the 1930s reveals some unsettling parallels to today. Her work has a fascinating Australian connection. Also on the theme of politics and lies, Esther Chan exposes the violence-fuelling misinformation circulating in PNG’s election campaign. And to round out today's newsletter, Alexia Giacomazzi previews an upcoming CMT panel about reporting on conflict and crisis featuring some terrific panellists. It’s an in-person event at UTS on August 19 and we hope to see you there. Click to read on:
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