Investigating chilling effects: news media and public speech in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia

Read the full text

PDFInvestigating chilling effects: news media and public speech in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia
Image: scazza_ / Flickr

27 April 2010News media in Malaysia and Singapore are often said to be constrained in covering political and public issues, in comparison with plural democratic states such as Australia. However, commentary also suggests that online communications are allowing more independent speech. This article investigates whether such restrictions and changes online can be seen. Through analyzing media content, it illustrates factors relevant to the concept of a “chilling effect” on public speech, including matters of law, media ownership, journalistic practices, and civil society. While news is constrained in Malaysia and Singapore, it seems that online media can be less limited. Rather than the Internet itself being decisive, however, it is the extent of civil society and political opposition that appear more significant.

International Journal of Communication 4 (2010), 440–467

Publication typeJournal Article
Publisher TypeJournal
CoverageAustralia, Asia and the Pacific
Permanent URLhttp://apo.org.au/node/21111
Views2459

Related Topics

Censorship

International

Creative & Digital

Politics

Related content

Most viewed: This week

1
Casualties - ADF: Australian Defence Force casualties in Afghanistan
2
The impact of trade liberalisation on jobs and growth
3
Survey: Last chance to have your say on information technology and mental illness
4
Belonging, being and becoming - the early years learning framework for Australia
5
Boat arrivals in Australia since 1976: January 2010 update

Noticeboard

Copyright Law Inquiry
10 February 2012

The Attorney-General, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, has announced the appointment of Professor Jill McKeough as Commissioner in charge of the ALRC’s Inquiry into Copyright Law.

Review of the Australia Council for the Arts
20 December 2011

Arts Minister Simon Crean has announced an independent review of the Australia Council for the Arts ahead of the development of the nation's first National Cultural Policy in almost 20 years.

Survey: Last chance to have your say on information technology and mental illness
15 December 2011

We live in a 'wired society'. But how much are people affected by mental illness included in this? Does social media increase isolation or help people overcome it?

Topics

APO