Option theme 3: Australian media: entertainer or informer

In this theme, students gain an appreciation of the power of information and of the media’s role in disseminating, shaping, and presenting information. Students develop an understanding of the impact that the rise of electronic and digital media has had on contemporary politics. Students learn to become critical consumers of information and are challenged to analyse media content for bias, purpose, and political manipulation. They develop their understanding of the limitations and challenges faced in contemporary political journalism, and the impact that these have on the quality and diversity of information that is published. Students also explore the impact that these limitations and challenges have on public opinion and the extent to which people are informed.

The four inquiry questions are:

1. To what extent is political reporting biased?
2. Is the media a defender of freedom of speech?
3. Can the major challenges to political reporting in Australia be solved?
4. Can Australian political ‘journalism’ be trusted?

In addressing inquiry question 1: ‘To what extent is political reporting biased?’, students may consider:

• the purpose and power of political journalism
• media bias and its forms
• social media platforms and the power of opinion
• comparative case studies.

Students may explore the overwhelming amount of political reporting through social media platforms and other traditional forms of media. They critically examine how this ‘information’ has the profound power to shape ideas, beliefs, world views, and policy. Students also evaluate the implications of political reporting that is dominated by bias, opinion, entertainment‑based reporting, and reporting that lacks journalistic integrity. Students develop their ability to critically analyse reports produced by the media and to recognise credibility, bias, and purpose. Through the analysis of comparative case studies, students develop their understanding of professional integrity in journalism and the integral role that political reporting plays in political systems. Students may also consider historical case studies, or those that compare or analyse media in different countries.

In addressing inquiry question 2: ‘Is the media a defender of freedom of speech?’, students may consider:

• freedom of speech and expression
• the role of freedom of speech in Australian democracy
• the accountability of political institutions
• contemporary case studies.

Students consider the role of freedom of speech as an underpinning human right that is essential to democratic societies. Students consider the media’s role in advocating freedom of speech, and explore emerging threats to this freedom. They examine the independence of the press and the impact that this has on reporting and the accountability of governments in a range of global locations. Students examine the debate around defamation, freedom of speech, and political correctness, in order to understand the reliability of media. Students use case studies to examine where the media has used its essential right to challenge contemporary thinking or where it has been restricted from reporting the truth when it criticises the action of individuals, powerful groups, or governments.

In addressing inquiry question 3: ‘Can the major challenges to political reporting in Australia be solved?’, students may consider:

• media concentration and centralisation
• the degree of censorship
• the role of whistleblowers
• contemporary case studies.

Students consider the power of the press and the extent to which mass media can manipulate the minds of the masses and change political discourse. Students explore diversity within the media and the concentration of media ownership in Australia, and the subsequent power that these entities accumulate. Students evaluate other challenges to balanced political reporting, such as the degree of censorship in different societies. They analyse the concept of accountability, the role of whistleblowers, and how social media empowers ordinary people. Case studies are used to explore how whistleblowers have shed light on areas of corruption and deception, or how media moguls have used their power to pursue their political agenda and influence political outcomes.

In addressing inquiry question 4: ‘Can Australian political ‘journalism’ be trusted?’, students may consider:

• the nature of news in contemporary Australia
• the 24‑hour news cycle
• platforms for political spin
• opinion polls and political reactions.

Students consider the changing landscape of political ‘journalism’ and how this affects the reliability and rigour of political reporting. Students evaluate the impact of the pressure for reporting entities to create new content and to constantly attract viewership. Furthermore, students explore how reporters and politicians use platforms to push their political agendas and spin political content. Students investigate how opinion polls influence the actions of political parties and shape political bias and outcomes. Students critique the accuracy of polls and their limitations. They analyse the impact that these factors have on the political narrative, and evaluate whether Australians can access trustworthy information through the media in order to make informed political choices.