INP1000 Introduction to Print

Essay cover sheet

Student Name: Mayurri Rakshit Student Number: 20410841

Essay Topic Title: Media is an essential component of democracy.

Date Submitted: 28/05/21

Word Count: 1350

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Your essay will be assessed on:

 Response – Understanding and addressing the task.

 Structure – overall essay and paragraph structure.

 Evidence – Integration of relevant, scholarly evidence through paraphrases and

student voice.

 References – Reference List and In-text Citations

 Language – Sentence structure, grammar, vocabulary and spelling. Academic style

DECLARATION:
This is my own, original work. I have not previously submitted this work, in whole or in part,
for any other assignment. I understand the rules concerning plagiarism and copyright, and I
have retained a copy of this assignment for my own record.

Student signature: Mayurri Rakshit Date: 24/05/21

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Assess
ment 2
EXCELLENT GOOD ABOVE SATISFACTORY DEVELOPING LIMITED INADEQU
SATISFACTORY ATE
Essay
Rubric

RESPONS Has Has some

E understood understanding
Demonstrates a Shows a Shows the essay of the essay Has a limited
keen insight strong understanding question but question but understanding
and analysis of understanding of the essay not all aspects may have of the essay Has not
Understa the essay and analysis of question of the question some question and addressed
nding question the essay through are fully inaccuracies evidence used the essay
and through well- question evidence used. addressed or irrelevant is mostly question
addressi chosen through Source through evidence. inaccurate or or
ng the evidence. evidence used. requirements evidence used. May not have irrelevant. Assessme
task Source and word count May have met the nt
requirements Source met. errors in either source Source Requirem
and word count requirements source requirements requirements ents.
met. and word requirement or word and/ or word
4 marks count met. count not met.
and/ or word
count. count.

STRUCTU The essay The essay Satisfactory Essay may be Response has
RE demonstrates demonstrates attempt made difficult to been
highly effective good structure The essay is to structure follow in attempted but No
structure and and cohesion. easy to follow introduction, places. Errors is not clear or demonstr
cohesion Required for the most paragraphs, evident in cannot be ation of
Overall throughout. components part and and conclusion structure understood. paragraph
essay of required although across Little to no or overall
and Required introduction, components of errors may introduction, demonstration essay
paragrap components of paragraphs introduction, affect cohesion paragraphs of required structure
h introduction, and paragraphs and in one or two and/ or structure in
structure paragraphs and conclusion are conclusion components. conclusion introduction,
conclusion well contain only with limited paragraph
effectively minor errors. cohesion.
carried structured. and
9 marks conclusion.
out and are
error free.

EVIDENC
E (9)
Effectively Paraphrases Paraphrases Inconsistent
Integrati paraphrases relevant evidence in attempts to
on of relevant evidence in own words to Attempts to paraphrase Evidence
relevant, evidence in own words to support paraphrase with some mostly copied
scholarly own words to support paragraph evidence in reliance on from sources Does not
evidence support the paragraph controlling idea own words but copied words with refer to
through paragraph controlling although one or overall clarity or phrases. insufficient research
paraphra controlling idea. Well two examples and relevance Evidence paraphrasing. in
ses and idea. Eloquent thought out may be unclear could be often unclear Student voice response.
student and well student voice or lack improved. or lacks is limited or Student
voice. thought out evident in relevance. Student voice relevance. not evident. voice not
student voice discussion through Student voice evident.
evident in sentences. Student voice is discussion through
discussion evident through sentences may discussion
9 marks discussion
sentences. be simplistic. may be
sentences. simplistic or
inconsistent.

REFEREN In text citations In text In-text citations In-text In-text In-text No

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 CING and reference citations and and reference citations and citations and citations and reference
list entries are reference list list entries reference list reference list reference list list and/
correctly entries are show good entries show entries show entries show or in-text
formatted formatted understanding some partial little to no citations
Referenc according to according to of the rules of understanding understanding understanding provided.
e List and the Chicago the Chicago the Chicago of the Chicago of the Chicago of Chicago
In-text Reference Reference Reference Reference Reference Reference
Citations Guide. In-text Guide with Guide, but Guide. Guide. Guide. In-text
citations are only one or minor errors However, Multiple citations may
correctly two errors. In- may be present. errors are errors in be missing.
incorporated text citations In-text citations present in Reference List
into paragraphs are correctly are mostly Reference List and/ or In-
4 marks and placement incorporated correctly and/ or In- text text citations
in paragraphs is into incorporated citations and/ and/ or
varied. paragraphs into paragraphs or placement placement
and placement and placement and and
in paragraphs in paragraphs is incorporation incorporation
is varied. varied. into the into
paragraphs. paragraphs.

LANGUA Writing Errors

GE (4) contains some throughout
Writing uses a Writing uses a errors, but Frequent writing makes
range of range of with minimal errors, making essay difficult
sentences sentence types impact on understanding to understand
Sentence types with no with only minor meaning. difficult in or relies
structure Writing is error easily grammatical places with heavily on Limited
, free and discernible errors. Vocabulary is errors in phrases/ evidence
grammar demonstrates grammatical Appropriate adequate for spelling or words copied of
, an advanced, errors. vocabulary and the task with proof reading. from sources. student's
vocabula academic style. academic style occasional There may be Basic own
ry & Consistent use are errors. some reliance vocabulary writing in
spelling. of appropriate demonstrated Attempts on words or with words the
vocabulary for the most made at phrases often used submissio
Academi and academic incorporating n.
part. copied from incorrectly and
c Style style. academic style, sources. style informal.
but this may No attempts at
not be proof reading
consistent. or spell
4 marks

checking.

Grade /30

Topic 3- Media is an essential component of democracy.

Democracy is a type of government that is formed through elected representatives,

by the eligible citizens of the country by the process of elections. The process varies

in each country such as the USA, the UK, Australia, or Asia. There are four types of

democracies, and the issues or exclusive contents of different political groups are

portrayed to the public with the help of media and are covered by the journalists,

which are then broadcasted worldwide. Media is referred to as the Fourth pillar of

democracy. They serve as watchdogs and enable people to learn about the

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wrongdoings or errors made by the politicians (Kumar 2016). It also allows citizens

freedom of speech. Media thus plays an essential role in democracy. But the arising

question to this topic is “how does media help to maintain a fair democracy?”

Media in its various forms such as news media, print or social media plays its own

role to help spread democracy and hence, becomes an important part of it. The most

relatable media form that has an important relationship to democracy is news media.

It is required for not only politicians but also, the citizens of a country to be informed

about their political system, the issues going on and what is wrong or right for them

to vote and support the representatives for the right causes, and also to have a

better government. If there are errors in the political system, there will be imbalance

in the country. However, all of these topics are covered by news media and the

journalists which are then spread to people. According to Dolunay and Kasap (2017),

there are communication codes and ethics that need to be followed by the journalists

or people who work in the mainstream media such as print. Since freedom of speech

is a necessary requirement in democratic countries, there is also criticism towards

the press that arises because of public’s will to speak freely. But in non-democratic

countries it is limited. Although, criticism is widely applied in democratic institutions,

the journalists or press use it within the legislative and ethical framework. This is to

prevent defamation (false accusation) and to not make anyone a killer target.

Therefore, this is one way how news media prevents unfair means in democratic

systems.

Other role of media is as an agenda setter and how it reports the deeds and

functions of the government. In the article by Hanan et al. (2016), it is argued by one

witness that media helps to raise awareness and creates a platform for debates with

governance issues and in that way the public becomes aware about the current or

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future works by the government. However, there is another witness who denies the

role of media in case of governance matters. It is opposed by him that not all

journalists are experts in the governance reporting activity and that they increase

conservatism and radicalization in the society causing chaos (Hanan et al. 2016). An

example of the media when it raised a positive awareness to the public was during

the killing of George Floyd in May 2020. They supported the public with the slogan of

‘Black Lives Matter’ and also the African-American reporters took a stand to speak to

discontinue unfair killing, hatred, and racism towards black people. It is important for

the political representatives to address the situation in a fair manner and the

journalists help in doing such, and they also act as the voice of the public.

News media and the journalists serve as watchdogs to the nation. The way that the

news stations earn their trust in the eyes of the public is important. In the USA,

according to the First Amendment to the US Constitution, it was stated there will be

no reduction in the freedom of the press. There are many local television news

stations along with other sources such as Fox news, The Wall Street Journal, that

produce content from stages of elections to community and civil affairs concerning to

education or other matters without having any motives, which has gained people’s

trust (Butler 2018). Patrick Butler who is the chief head of America’s National

television stations and an ex senior Vice President and served alongside an US

Senate’s leader. He said that in the last two years due to the Republicans and

Democrats quarrel, the credibility of the news media is viewed through adherent

filters by highly polarized public (Butler 2018).

The press and news media helps the citizens to be educated about the democratic

regulations. The more the citizens have corrected knowledge about the issues, the

better social valuable decisions they make during votes. But media not always works

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on its own format. An example is the Iraq War that occurred between the USA and

Iraq. It caused the media to work completely under the government’s policies to

symbolise patriotism to the US, because of which it was considered as a propaganda

model. It was said by witnesses that the media during those years affected the

country in a negative way, but there are also witnesses who thought that the

propaganda method performed its function by covering insider issues with the help of

corporate experts and sourcing mass media news (Jackson and Stanfield 2004).

Example of propaganda role by the media is prevalent in the democratic rule in India,

such as when Netaji Subash Chandra Bose was tragically killed, there were false

rumours spread by the opposite political party which the media supported and

showed to the public, and also when there are patriotic movements in the country,

the media completely follows the government's orders, not allowing public opinion

even though the government makes wrong decisions. Jangdal (2019) states that in

Sweden there has been an introduction of hyperlocal journalism where the reporters

cover local community issues relating to a particular geographical area. Research

has been conducted to analyse the relationship of that to democracy, and it proves

that there is a positive relation of hyperlocal media with democracy of a country as

there is more active civic participation and awareness of geographical issues. The

reporters interact with people of different cultural backgrounds and hence, more

topics and private topics are gained by them from the interviewees because they

gain their trust. Overall, this helps the people to understand their nation’s situations

more to make proper democratic decisions.

There are situations when news media members are given money by high ranked

political people for covering or being anonymous to give a certain information, which

is a wrong decision made by the journalists and media because it has a negative

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impact and creates imbalance in democracy. Journalism can also act as problem

resolver before and after (post) conflicting situations. They can get both sides to

common agreement terms and stop or reduce violence. So, proper news media and

truthful sources about issues can help to maintain peace within a nation (Global

Conference Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2019). The press should have liberty and

truthfully report information to have a state of security in a country. There are danger

threats made against the journalists that must be stopped because their safety is

important, otherwise there won’t be correct reporting performed. The hostile

behaviour by some people towards reporters must be controlled as well as the quote

by Thomas Jefferson made was the liberty of the country depends on freedom of the

press which cannot be limited without being lost (Charles Koch Institute 2018).

To conclude, there must few points that must be taken into consideration for a fair

democracy in a country. Online, offline, free and independent journalism performs an

essential role in journalism. But during times when elections are threatened by

discrediting rhetoric, information deception, internet disturbance and violence, it

affects the reporting conditions. Hence, it should therefore be defended strenuously.

There must not be cases when journalism is prevented from playing its role in a

rightful manner. World Press Freedom Day 2019 is a major opportunity to advance

the goal of deepening (strengthening) democracy and to have a sustainable

development in digital times (UNESCO 2019). Hence, media is a sensitive yet strong

component of democracy that must be protected.

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Reference list:

Butler, Patrick. 2018. “A free press: Boisterous watchdog of Democracy.” The SAIS
Review of International Affairs 38 (2): 15-22. https://www-proquest-
com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/docview/2201589255/fulltextPDF/
79A66C0AF7F741C3PQ/1?accountid=10382.

Charles Koch Institute. 2018. Importance of a Free Press. May 3, 2018.

https://charleskochinstitute.org/stories/importance-of-a-free-press/.

Dolunay, Ayhan and Fevzi Kasap. 2018. “Freedom of the press in the digital age
within the frameworks of ethics, law and democracy education: example of the
North Cyprus.” Qual And Quant 52 (1): 663-683. https://www-proquest-
com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/docview/2157777071/88B19A2EBCBF4B37PQ/1?
accountid=10382.

Global Conference Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 2019. “World Press Freedom Day 2019.
Media for Democracy Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation.”
UNESCO.https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/concept_note_en_wpfd_201
9.pdf.

Hanan, A. Mian, Noshina Saleem, Aniqa Ali and Sahifa Mukhtar. 2016. “Role of
media in strengthening Democracy in Pakistan: Journalists' perception.”
South Asian Studies 31 (1): 331-345. https://www-proquest-
com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/docview/1832679221/fulltextPDF/
62F547288FBF4723PQ/3?accountid=10382.

Jackson, Pamela T. and James Ronald Stanfield. 2004. “The role of the press in a
Democracy: Heterodox economics and the propaganda model.” Journal of
Economic Issues 38 (2): 475-482. https://www-proquest-
com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/docview/208846848/fulltextPDF/
B83BF6F573AF4DFDPQ/1?accountid=10382.

Jangdal, Lottie. 2019. “Local Democracy and the media.” Nordicom Review 40 (2):
69-83.
https://www-proquest-com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/docview/2311733470/
BBD11761B4344405PQ/16?accountid=10382.

Kumar, Anuj. 2016. “Role of Media in Democracy.” Legal Desire.

https://legaldesire.com/role-of-media-in-democracy/.

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