Is there a chill in here? News and free speech in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore
18 March 2010, 18:00 - 19:00
- Event Type:
- Lecture
- Speakers:
- Professor Andrew Kenyon, Professor of Law and Director of the Centre for Media and Communications Law, University of Melbourne, Australia
- Venue:
- IALS
- Venue Details:
- Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
Charles Clore House
17 Russell Square
London
WC1B 5DR
Description
News media in Malaysia and Singapore are often said to be constrained in covering political and public issues, in comparison with plural democratic states such as Australia. However, commentary also suggests that online communications are allowing more independent speech. This paper investigates whether such restrictions, and changes online, can be seen. Through analysing media content it illustrates factors relevant to the concept of a ‘chilling effect’ on public speech, including matters of law, media ownership, journalistic practices and civil society. While news is constrained in Malaysia and Singapore, it does seem that online media can be less limited. Rather than the internet being decisive, however, it is the extent of civil society and political opposition that appear more significant.
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