In a recent opinion piece in the Daily Telegraph Mark Latham commented that ”The freedom to express our views is a fundamental part of Australian democracy … Free speech is under attack. Everywhere we look, there’s a new attack on the rights and liberties of Australian citizens.”
In a democracy, the press should be able to present any number of opinions about events that the public should be made aware of. The ability of the press to be able to operate without the hindrance of government interference for example, is important. In a democracy the press should be able to advance alternate opinions and uncover the truth behind stories without interference. As the Australian Press Council comments:
“In a truly democratic society open debate, discussion, criticism and dissent are central to the process of generating informed and considered choices. These processes are crucial to the formation of values and priorities and help in assessing and finding solutions to social, economic and political problems.”
Australian Press Council (2011) A Charter for a Free Press in Australia. Australian Press Council
While total freedom of expression is the goal, there are obviously times where it would be inappropriate. Reporting false facts (e.g. fake news) and prejudicing a criminal trial, freedom of expression should be protected from those who simply want to shut down their opponents.
However, “we are increasingly seeing the rich and powerful resort to litigation to pursue journalists’ sources or lodge defamation writs purely to stop the publication of stories and scare off the rest of the media” according to Nick McKenzie of the Age investigative team. Freedom of the press, freedom of speech and freedom of information is essential in guaranteeing a healthy democracy and keeping the powerful in check.
There is also a suppression of what journalists can report in many countries. This is particularly apparent in communist regimes, but also in supposed “free” countries there are suppressions on what can be reported. In this week’s seminar, we discussed press freedoms throughout the world. While Australia enjoys a relatively free press, this is not the case in many countries. Communist countries such as China and North Korea place many restrictions on what can be published. While this may keep the population “controlled” is does not serve to advance freedom in the general sense.
Free speech should be just that.
Should journalists then deliberately withhold information from the public to save their own necks?
How “free” is free speech? What do you believe?
References:
Australian Press Council (2011) A Charter for a Free Press in Australia. Australian Press Council [available] http://www.presscouncil.org.au/charter-of-press-freedom/ [accessed 11.07.2017]
Latham, M. (2017) Attach on free speech. The Daily Telegraph 12 September 2017. p13
The Wakely Foundation (2014) 2014 Press Freedom Address. [available]http://www.walkleys.com/2014-press-freedom-australia-address/ [accessed 11.07.2017]
The Wakely Foundation (2016) mandatory prevention. [available] http://www.walkleys.com/mandatory-prevention-hard-report-asylum-seekers-days/ [accessed 11.07.2017]
The Wakely Foundation (2015) Freedom of Expression: The Operating System for story-telling. [available] http://www.walkleys.com/freedom-of-expression-the-operating-system-for-story-telling/ [accessed 11.07.2017]
Daniel Sahyoun 