Transcript Is media censorship necessary FINAL

Is media
censorship
necessary?
DONE BY:
CHENG TONG WEN (4P203)
ONG KIAN HAN (4P220)
SIM ZHAO XIANG (4P226)
ZAC LEE (4P231)
Coverage

Key definitions

Forms

Reasons

Who censors and what is censored?

Limitations

Importance

Consequences

Media censorship in Singapore against media
censorship in America
Key Definitions:

Media: means of communication ( such as radio,
television newspaper, magazines) that reach or
influence people widely

Censorship: The practice of officially examining
books, movies, etc., and suppressing
unacceptable parts.

Necessary: required to be done, achieved, or
present; essential
Forms

Political censorship

State secrets and prevention of attention

Educational sources
Political censorship

Government attempts to conceal, fake, distort, or
falsify information

By suppressing or crowding out political news

suppression of views contrary to those of the
government in power.

Done through power of the army and the secret
police

Through methods such as bribery, ruin of careers,
imprisonment, and even assassination.
State secrets and
prevention of attention

Preventing the release of information that might
be useful to an enemy

Involves keeping times or locations secret, or
delaying the release of information until it is of no
possible use to enemy forces.

Done to aid authorities or to protect an individual
Educational sources

Due to inappropriate quality of such material for
the young

Textbooks are "whitewashing" the individuals

Religion: block the teaching of evolution

Or blocking information that contradicts their
religious beliefs
Reasons

Ensure that the interests of children and family are
protected and religious beliefs are respected

An example is pornography censorship

Continuation of culture and customs

Security of the nation and defence

An example is military censorship

historical events and considerations

For example in Germany: No glorification of Nazis
Reasons

Companies use it to control or restrict information
pertaining to their business activities

Practiced by companies which have problems in
its business operations
Who censors and what is
censored?

Self-censorship

Censorship by higher authority
Self censorship

Act of censoring or classifying one’s own work out
of fear or deference or sensibilities, without overt
pressure from any specific parties or institution of
authority

Mainly done by:

Film directors/producers (scenes)

Publishers/journalists (stories, articles, parties
involved)

Musicians (words)
Censorship by higher
authority

Act of censoring that is forced by higher authority
such as the government

Example: 911

Government wanted to keep low-profiled

To prevent panic and more chaos

Censor news through publishers, radio, etc.
Limitations

Political agendas

Loss of freedom

Resources needed

Violation of human rights
Political agendas

Political parties determine who can say what and
when

Places power and control to the high powers

Limits the power of the press to communicate
issues, problems and agendas of those holding
political power
Loss of freedom

Restrict other people

Limits the room for creativity and passion
(journalist, writers, movie directors)

Huge disincentive
Resources needed

Whether it’s small scale or large scale, censorship
takes huge amounts of time and resources that
can be devoted into other sectors

Due to the following areas:

System needs to be maintained, upgraded and
repaired

Labor pool needed

Cost of equipment
Violation of human rights

People are denied in doing what they want

Article 19 of the UDHR: “Everyone has the right to
freedom of opinion and expression; this right
includes freedom to hold opinions without
interference and to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and
regardless of frontiers”
Importance

Prevents the minds of children from becoming
corrupt (pornography)

Prevention of religious conflict

Preservation of national secrets

Reduction of negative influences (scenes of
alcohol and smoking)

Prevent politically motivated propaganda

Prevents public display of disrespect to certain
people or groups of people (races)
Importance

Prevents the spread of racism

Children are prevented from learning things that
could harm others and themselves. (violence and
vulgarities)

Control panic and rumors (911, India 2008)
 Main
idea:
Censorship is imposed to
protect people, not to restrain
the expression of them.
Consequences

Difficult to educate children on sensitive topics
(sex, STI, HIV, AIDS)

Dictators use it to promote a flattering image of
themselves and can remove information against
them

Encroaches upon the freedom of press

Ignorance in society

Incorrect perceived image

Associated with dictatorship
Consequences

Compromised entertainment value (books, plays,
movies)

Different standards of morals among different
societies

Block legitimate criticism (which could be
beneficial)

Political parties use it for their own benefit

Stifles opposition

Broadcasting a narrow point of view/only one
particular point of view
Consequences
 Main
idea:
Censorship denies access
to vital information, differing
points of view and criticism
that could be beneficial
Singapore versus America

Local censorship: motion picture association of america vs
media development authority
Singapore versus America

Internet censorship:
Singapore
America
Minimal internet filtering
for online searches
Minimal internet filtering
for online searches
Still has strong filtering for
any kind of pornography
Not so strong filtering for
pornography except for
child pornography, which
is disapproved of worldwide.
Video game censorship:
ADV( age advisory)
M18 (mature 18)
Not much restriction
Singapore versus America

Local, television, press
Singpore
America
Still follow MDA’s
guidelines
Not much censorship
Largely controlled by
Singapore Press Holdings
(SPH)
Viewed as corporate
censorship
Speaker’s corner
available as well.
Free speech zones are
available, areas set aside
in public places for
citizens of the United
States engaged in
political activism to
exercise their right of free
speech.

Are there any questions?