Media Power

After a day at the office yesterday, I have finally got round to starting work on my final essay of the year which will be looking at how new technology has affected the traditional relationship between media and politics. I’ve started doing a bit of background reading and have added three books, by Andrew Marr, John Lloyd and Steven Barnett and Ivor Gaber, to the ‘Reading List’ section. Hopefully, they’ll provide some good starting points for whatever argument I decide to construct on the issue.

I suppose new technology is inevitably affecting the relationship with politicians perceiving it as a means, finally, to brake away from the power of the ‘middlemen’ and speak directly to the public. I’m not sure that the end of the traditional press men is that close though. Changing formats, such as freesheets, seem to be keeping old media well in the fight. This week’s ABC figures might give us some interesting clues.

Of course Ofcom have reported a massive decline in use of traditional media among teenagers. It seems therefore that the mutual dependency which has kept politics and media in a love hate relationship since the Victorian era is waning. Will this be good for democracy?