Freedom Of Press Research Articles

“Avenging the Nation”. Freedom of the Press and Constitutional Deliverance in Trollope’s Palliser Novels

Abstract This essay examines the notion of constitutional deliverance within the Victorian settlement. The expression points to the way constitutional arrangements react to threats that may disrupt the politico-legal order. Rooted in constitutional morality, it entails executing justice, restoring order, and protecting individuals’ rights and freedoms. To this end, it analyses Phineas Finn, Phineas Redux, and The Prime Minister, i.e. three of the six Anthony Trollope’s Palliser Novels, and explores whether the freedom of the press executed constitutional deliverance in the Victorian era. The essay will focus on Mr Quintus Slide, the editor of the People’s Banner, whose acts of moralisation seem to fit into the (political and biblical) notion of deliverance. The article argues that Slide used the press not to deliver the Nation, but to avenge his own interests. In so doing, he contradicted the idea of constitutional deliverance as embedded in Parliament, where the anointed Monarch summons His body politic to execute justice and protect it.

Unraveling fake news in Malaysia: A comprehensive analysis from legal and journalistic perspective

The impact of fake news in Malaysia is vast and complex, posing threats to democratic processes and social cohesion. However, fake news research often relies on Western definitions, contributing to a lack of understanding within the Malaysian context. The introduction of the Malaysia Anti-Fake News Act in 2018, which encompasses all types of information and ideas, have also left confusion regarding the definition of fake news. This research aims to serve as a guide, starting from how “fake news” is defined in the country and then addressing potential issues associated with constituting the term from both legal and journalists’ perspectives. Utilizing quantitative content analysis and qualitative interviews, the research reveals challenges in combatting fake news in a semi-authoritarian context. Balancing media freedom and regulation is challenging, and distinguishing between sensational and fake news is complicated by subjective interpretations. While enhancing professionalism in journalism is crucial, the utmost importance lies in establishing transparent governance. This is because establishing trust in government-owned new media is key to encouraging reliance on credible sources. This research assists in providing a clearer understanding of the underlying problems related to fake news dissemination in the country and suggests possible long-term solutions to curb its impact.

Examining the influence of corporate social responsibility performance on earnings management: A global perspective in the context of sustainable development

AbstractThis article examines the relationship between corporate social responsibility and earnings management behavior around the world. Using international data from 35 countries between 2003 and 2019, we find evidence that increased corporate social responsibility tends to mitigate the pressure to manage earnings. These findings are robust to alternate measures of earnings management, corporate social responsibility, as well as controlling for endogeneity caveats by two‐stage‐least square and system generalized‐method‐of‐moments estimations. We further show that the negative association between corporate social responsibility and earnings management is more pronounced for firms in countries with high press freedom or high societal trust. The findings from this article provide implications for investors, analysts, business participants, and regulators.

Journalistic Professionalism in a Time of Paradoxes: Ntv Online and “Alternative Voice” in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT This article explores the specific work mechanisms journalists use to promote the ideology of good and independent journalism at the online news services of Ntv station in Bangladesh. Along with the journalistic scholarships on issues of heightened state surveillance on broadcast and online communications by the hybrid regime and its relation to broader questions of how dissidents and alternative voices struggle to gain visibility in the context of media freedom and democracy in Bangladesh, the theoretical framework of the political economy of communication and concepts of alternative voice are employed in this study. It scrutinizes the implications of state control measures upon journalistic praxis and examines how journalists at Ntv Online – a digital section of this television station, perceive the “alternative voice” to become the place for public deliberation. Built on field-based case study research and in-depth interviews with reporters and editors at Ntv Online, this study reveals that Ntv Online is materializing the concept of “alternative voice” by opening up access to media production. This is empowering those who are involved in news-making processes. At a professional level, this study aimed to contribute to the online news-making process while capturing the experiences of conflict and challenges journalists face.

The role of natural resources and press freedom in sustainable development

The role of natural resources and press freedom in sustainable development

The Role of Information Policy in Shaping Public Opinion on Corruption in the Visegrad Group Countries

The state’s information policy that limits press freedom and conceals incidents of corruption is a significant threat to democracy. The work aimed to identify the relationship between corruption and information policy in the Visegrad Group countries. The research employed statistical analysis, correlation analysis, multiple regression, and thematic analysis. The research established worsening trends in Poland and Hungary regarding the corruption rate. At the same time, there is an improvement in the positions of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which may indicate an effective anti-corruption policy. Press freedom indicators show similar trends, decreasing for Poland and Hungary and increasing for the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The correlation analysis revealed a close relationship between corruption indicators and press freedom in Poland and Hungary. The multiple regression analysis revealed the influence of the Press Freedom Index on the corruption rate. These results indicate the dependence of the corruption rate in Poland and Hungary on the information policy of the countries regarding the restriction of media freedom. The obtained conclusions can be useful for civil servants in the course of developing an information policy that takes into account anti-corruption trends.

Some aspects of legal regulation of the legal activities of journalists in modern conditions

The article reveals some of the legal principles of regulating the legal activity of a journalist in modern conditions of martial law. The activities and state of media freedom in Ukraine over the past 11 years have been analyzed. Emphasis is placed on the fact that in modern conditions of martial law, the index of freedom of the press in the state is growing.
 The authors focused attention on some features of the legal regulation of the legal grounds of journalists’ activities according to the norms of international law and the national legislation of Ukraine; determined the rights and obligations of journalists, guarantees of media activity, specifics of activities of foreign journalists, employees of foreign entities in the field of media working in Ukraine.
 Attention is focused on certain types of prohibitions regarding interference in the professional activities of journalists under conditions of peace and during a state of war or in places of armed conflicts. The statistics of criminal offenses against the legal activities of journalists and the media during the ten years of the war in Ukraine were analyzed.
 It is substantiated that legal liability, including criminal liability, has been established for encroachment on the journalist’s life and health, and other actions against him. The current criminal legislation and specific articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provide for criminal liability for such criminal offenses as obstructing the legitimate professional activity of journalists, threatening, or using violence against a journalist, intentional destruction or damage to a journalist’s property, encroachment on a journalist’s life, taking a journalist as a hostage, were analyzed. Statistical information on the number of registered criminal offenses of this category for the last three years is provided. A criminological description of criminal offenses against the legal activity of a journalist is given.
 It was concluded that criminal offenses committed against journalists represent a significant public danger, as they encroach on freedom of speech, national security of the state, and violate the foundations of activity in the information sphere.

Public sector corruption is fertile ground for conspiracy beliefs: A comparison between 26 Western and non‐Western countries

AbstractObjectiveResearch on conspiracy theories has mainly focused on psychosocial and sociodemographic factors associated with conspiracy beliefs. Little is known about factors at the nation level that provide a breeding ground for conspiracist thinking. However, an interesting finding emerges from recent international comparisons: people living in countries with a highly corrupt public sector seem to be more likely to endorse conspiracy theories. The present study aims to replicate this finding with new data.MethodsWe investigate the relationship between corruption and conspiracy beliefs across 26 Western and non‐Western countries through multiple linear regression analyses and conditional inference trees. In addition to the corruption level of these countries, our statistical models include other nation‐level factors known to be associated with the prevalence of conspiracy beliefs, namely, their levels of democracy, freedom of the press, social threat (unemployment and homicide rates), economic inequality, and human development (life expectancy, standard of living, and education).ResultsOur analyses confirm a robust link between public sector corruption and conspiracy beliefs that remains significant when controlling for these other factors.ConclusionWe suggest that public sector corruption is fertile ground for conspiracy theories because it makes them less implausible to the public.

Ethnic Coalitions and Media Freedom in African Autocracies

Ethnic Coalitions and Media Freedom in African Autocracies

Mass Media Culture in Slovakia (on the Example of Tracking the Value Message of Media Content Flowing to the Public)

The media inherently reflect the cultural, political and social contexts of a nation through products (audiovisual programmes). Public opinion to some extent participates in the profiling of the programmes broadcast. The thematic concept of media products is marked by the current social current – the mainstream. The paper deals with the state of contemporary Slovak media in terms of value setting, specifically noting the pitfalls related to censorship, i.e. blocking uncomfortable opinions. It gives examples from media practice testifying to the violation of the typical principles of respecting the values of the pluralistic society in which we have been living for more than three decades. The main objective of the paper is to make the public image concerning media freedom (reflecting on problematic social causes) more accessible by presenting the stated facts, comparing them and placing them in a broader substantive context. Freedom of expression (thought) in the media should be maintained to a healthy degree even at the cost of expressing an opinion that contradicts the rhetoric of those in political power.

Socioeconomic and political settings for the land development decreasing urban green. Inside view from Moscow

The analysis shows the impact of socioeconomic factors and civil freedom on allocating green areas for investments. The research was conducted for the period 1992–2020 using the example of Moscow as the metropolis in a country with a robust centralized political system. Quantitative research methods included recognizing changes in land use, selected socioeconomic parameters, and indicators measuring the power of civil society. Calculated correlations and modeling of the collected data were used to identify Russia's revenue for petroleum and Moscow's budget revenue as predictors for losing green areas. Among the social activity indicators, the Press Freedom indicator was the best correlated and used for modeling. The analysis of the decision-making procedure for land development and the reconstruction of the case Krylatskie Kholmy allowed gaining insight into actual mechanisms leading to investment in urban green areas. The outcomes that were reachedexpress that investing in bare soils is of the most significant importance; however, the dynamics of change decreased in the analyzed period. The modeling showed that growing Russia's revenue for petroleum increases the likelihood of greenfield investment. The legal nature-protection status brings the most significant effect of preventing land development. The likelihood of land development decreases with the growth of Moscow's budget revenue. It indicates the support for the redevelopment of abounded land located within the range of the existing infrastructure. The modeling of the dependence between the Press Freedom index and land development probability demonstrates the possible effectiveness of public opinion pressure to protect natural and semi-natural areas within the urban fabric. The described decision-making mechanism for land development made it possible to assess that the role of civil society in the decision-making process is insufficient, given the converging interests of investors and administration. The results show that in highly centralized countries with a marginal role of civil society, the concentration of capital from the export of strategic natural resources is the key factor of urban green losses. These findings contribute to understanding differences in urban spatial policy approaches to green areas and their effectiveness.

KEBIJAKAN PROGRAM UJI KOMPETENSI DALAM MENINGKATKAN PROFESIONALISME WARTAWAN DI KOTA SUKABUMI

The Journalist Competency Test Program carried out by the Press Council is one way to increase the professionalism of journalists. This is in line with Press Council Regulation No. 1 of 2010 concerning journalist competency standards which states that only journalists can take the journalist competency test (UKW), which aims to uphold press freedom based on the public interest, as well as to maintain the honor and dignity of journalism as a profession of intellectual work, as well as avoiding misuse of the journalist profession through journalist competency tests. Based on research on the behavior of journalists in the city of Sukabumi, it shows that many people claim to be journalists but do not demonstrate journalist standards, which is detrimental to various parties and detrimental to the journalist profession which is tarnished by the actions of fake journalists. A journalist competency test is very necessary to show that journalists can actually show a competency card after carrying out a journalist competency test so that ultimately the public can assess which journalists meet journalist standards or which do not. The need for a journalist competency test is in line with the statement of expert Muhamad Nuh (former Minister of Education and Culture and Chairman of the Press Council), that the Journalist Competency Test (UKW) is a requirement to improve quality in the press world.

Media freedom and pluralism in the EU mechanism of the rule of law and requirements for Ukraine.

Media freedom and pluralism in the EU mechanism of the rule of law and requirements for Ukraine.

An Analysis on the Right to Freedom of Speech: A Privilege or a Curse?

The right to freedom of speech is fundamental in society, granting individuals the liberty to express their thoughts without restraint. In a liberal democracy, this right is paramount, fostering the exchange of ideas across various mediums. However, contemporary challenges arise as media outlets increasingly assume quasi-judicial roles, influencing public perception and potentially undermining principles of equity. Despite the intrinsic nature of this right, its exercise is subject to reasonable restrictions to safeguard societal well-being. International frameworks and constitutional provisions underscore the importance of balancing free expression with other societal interests. The press, often dubbed the "fourth estate," plays a critical role in ensuring transparency and accountability in governance. Yet, sensationalism and biased reporting threaten its integrity and the principle of fair trial. Striking a balance between press freedom and responsible journalism remains imperative to uphold democratic values and ensure justice. Efforts to address the phenomenon of "media trials" are essential to preserve the rule of law and protect individual rights. Ultimately, the pursuit of an informed and impartial media landscape is essential for upholding the principles of democracy and ensuring the equitable administration of justice.

“SLAPPed” and censored? Legal threats and challenges to press freedom and investigative reporting

The issue of SLAPPs remains a largely understudied area in journalism studies. Limited academic work on the topic mainly focuses on its legal aspects and there is little empirical academic work engaging with the way SLAPPs are experienced by those who are personally involved. This study focuses on illuminating the impact of these vexatious and frivolous lawsuits on investigative journalism and press freedom, and recording whether journalists experience additional or different consequences from SLAPPs in comparison to other types of threats. Based on interviews with journalists who have experienced SLAPPs in recent years and documenting their personal experiences, the study sheds light on the hidden professional and personal costs of investigative reporting, attempts to assess this phenomenon in relation to its effects on journalism and journalists, and is one of the few to record and analyze journalists’ personal beliefs and experiences.

Examining Active News Avoidance Across Countries: A Multilevel Moderation Analysis of News Interests, News Trust, and Press Freedom

Previous studies have identified various individual factors explaining news avoidance, but the understanding of how these factors function within the broader political information environment is limited. This study, leveraging a large-scale cross-national survey, reveals that the relationships between individual news interests, news trust, and news avoidance differ across countries with varying levels of press freedom. In nations where the press is strong and free, personal preferences minimally influence individuals’ active avoidance of hard news. News avoidance is not solely a product of individual-level attributes. Rather, the impact of these individual factors is significantly shaped by the overarching political information environment.

Shut Up! Governments’ Popular Support and Journalist Harassment: Evidence from Latin America

ABSTRACT During the past few decades, Latin American governments’ recurrent attacks against journalists have contributed to the erosion of press freedom in the region and, relatedly, of the quality of democracy. Yet what pushes governments to harass journalists? We argue that governments are more likely to harass journalists when popular support for them drops. Due to the ability of journalists to influence public opinion, governments could perceive the harassment of journalists as a means to punish and silence those individuals who are seen as contributing to their decline in public support or as obstacles to regaining popularity. We test our argument on a sample of Latin American countries observed from 1990 to 2019. We find that declines in governments’ popular support lead to more harassment of journalists. Our research contributes to the debate on the determinants of press freedom and sheds further light on the current decline of democratic quality in Latin America.

COVID-19 vaccines and vaccinations coverage on news portals: Framing, Tone, and Source Analysis

A comparative quantitative content analysis was adopted to explore the frames, tones, and information sources for the coverage of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination in four countries in Africa. The news portals and countries for this study were purposively sampled based on the World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders for 2021. Namibia, South Africa, Ghana, and Botswana are among the top ten countries in Africa with the best Media Freedoms. The findings showed that Ghana’s news portals’ coverage of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination campaigns used mainly unofficial sources in the coverage of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination stories, whereas Botswana, Namibia, and South African media used official sources. Other findings show that Ghana’s news portals covered COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination stories in a negative tone and employed conflict and economic consequence frames. Botswana, Namibia, and South African news portals, however, adopted neutral and positive tones and framed them according to human interest, responsibility, and morality. The results suggest that the text of the news articles from the four African countries’ coverage of the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination adopted different generic framing styles, and the tones were predominantly a mixture of positive, neutral, and negative.

Corporate carbon reduction and tax avoidance: International evidence

Using data on firms’ carbon emissions in 28 countries, we document that a firm’s initiation of carbon reduction activities relates to lower tax payments. This result endorses a perception of legitimacy theory suggesting that companies can gain legitimacy with tax authorities by adopting carbon reduction strategies. Our study also shows that the positive relationship between lower tax payments and a firm’s carbon reduction leads to higher Return on Assets (ROA), particularly for firms with lower operating performance. Moreover, our study documents that firms that engage in carbon reduction activities can mitigate their tax burden in countries that impose a carbon tax, have higher media freedom, judicial independence, and robust legal systems. These various institutions within a country can influence the relationship between a company’s carbon emission reductions, lower tax payments, and its overall performance. Our findings are robust even when using alternative measures of carbon emissions, control variables for corporate social responsibility, and the entropy-balance or propensity score matching sample.

South African Media and Politics: Is the Three Models Approach Still Valid After Two Decades?

When Hallin and Mancini (2004) produced their watershed three models theory, South Africa was a new democracy barely a decade old. Even then, along with other countries of the Global South, the experience of a young democracy posed certain critical challenges to Hallin and Mancini’s understanding of the way that media and politics interrelate. Two decades later, South Africa has continued to change. There has been increased diversity in media ownership, rapid growth in community and social media, digital disruption, and significant challenges to media freedom. How does the three models theory stack up now? This article reviews scholarly critiques of Hallin and Mancini’s model, including their follow-up work, <em>Comparing Media Systems Beyond the Western World</em> (2012), and assesses to what extent the three models is still a valid approach to understanding the connection between media and politics in the Global South. The article concludes by evaluating Hadland’s (2012) Africanisation of the model in light of the complex postcolonial trajectories of South Africa, suggesting that this, along with Hallin et al.’s (2021) expanded hybridisation model, still offers a better set of variables with which to understand how the media and political systems intertwine in the postcolony.