THE PUBLIC SPHERE AND THE FOURTH ESTATE

The public sphere and the fourth estate

Introduction

Public Sphere is a figure of speech which is used to circulate information over mass media that is in large society. Media theory is widely revolving around political, economic and cultural theory, which is trying to understand world progress and how it is going towards progress. Major debates are portrayed within media which highlight where power resides with in society. If study is done on understanding society in respect to political economy it usually based on creation, compilation and allocation of wealth. Australian's media environment was initiated by successful family-owned newspapers which, followed with an introduction of new electronic media, radio and television, and later they went towards operation diversification to strengthen media.

Discussion

The fourth estate, in its role to inform the public (and therefore be a contributing factor in the public sphere) and keep those in power accountable, had a relentless task to perform. Fourth State has been referred in press from the early stage of 1980s. It has played a role of supporting hand to public media as a pillar, over which democratic society smooth functioning rests, combining other three estates named as legislative, judiciary and executive. A free press is also a counterbalance to these powers, a watchdog guarding the public interest, and providing a forum for public debate - a public sphere - that underpins the processes of democracy (Daya Kishan Thussu, 2008)

Media Ownership in Australia

Given the size of the country and its population distribution, Australia has always experienced a high level of concentration of media ownership. Australian media ownership was in the hand of two wealthiest men in just later part of the 20th century and another important feature is that important journalists played in its politics.

Australia when judged on the basis of legality, rights and responsibilities it seemed to be lacking in it. It does not have the legal instrument, also not having constitutional or statutory bill of rights for guaranteeing freedom of speech for its citizen, neither its constitution convey freedom of the press. Its journalists also do not given any special rights just as ordinary citizen. Australian media portraying interesting examples that journalistic culture is not in any connection with the legal framework. Journalists here are having no constitutional rights protecting freedom of speech and no defined legal framework. Journalists have limited flexibility in sharing their views (Robie, 2011, pp. ...