State regulation or self-censorship? – Bob Teoh

September 20, 2013

I am currently in Manila for the on-campus component of my Masters in Journalism program at the Asian Centre for Journalism, Ateneo De Manila University. I was given this topic to lead a class discussion: State regulation or self-censorship? Which is more effective in limiting the contribution of a news media to the democratic process?

Let's begin by talking about democracy and the press.

There's an interesting quote from one of our readings. "Today, the Philippines is democratic, it has a free press, but remains trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of poverty and corruption. What good is freedom if close to one third of Filipino families continue to live below the poverty line?"

Let's look at the other side of the world the US, which is reputed to have the best model of free press. Like the Philippines, press freedom is enshrined in their respective constitutions. But the US owes so much money to China and the rest of the world that it is technically a bankrupt country. So what good is press freedom?

On the other hand, China, which has a state-regulated press like Malaysia, has emerged as a world economic dynamo. It is poised to overtake the US, assuming other things being equal.

The role of the press in China is development journalism. I was in China recently at the invitation of the Peoples' Daily, China's largest newspaper run by the Communist Party. It has a daily circulation of one million. Unashamedly, their role is to promote the "Chinese Dream" of bringing greater prosperity to China through a doctrine what they call "socialism with Chinese characteristics."

The problem with development journalism anywhere is that sooner or later, it would be hijacked to become state-sponsored journalism.

Their neighbour, India, is also another economic dynamo but India has a vibrant and free press. The Times of India has a daily circulation of three million.

In Indonesia, the government has eased up control of the media after the fall of the Suharto regime. The press there is freer than in Malaysia or Singapore.

Follow this link:
State regulation or self-censorship? - Bob Teoh