What is Happening to Our Media, and Should You Care?
We need professional journalism. An independent Fourth Estate is essential to functioning democracy – by holding hands with freedom of expression, journalism helps us to discover truth and lead fulfilled lives as citizens without unduly harming others. However, the advent of online mass communication and social media has disrupted the old business model where advertising funded the production of the news. Hardly a day goes by without news of another news outlet closure. How has this happened? The internet has had colossal effects on media. It has transformed journalism, and changed how audiences locate and consume news, many are moving to social media platforms for news, but do they reveal truth and can they be trusted? Do governments have a duty to promote production of content and news, in the public interest? Or is a levy the way to go? And what about online safety? Can we have it all?
Bio
Ursula Cheer is a Professor at the University of Canterbury, and has been a prominent member of staff in the Faculty of Law for nearly 30 years. Specialising in media law, she is the author of the acclaimed journalist’s legal ‘bible’, Burrows and Cheer: Media Law in New Zealand (8th ed, 2021). Ursula is well-known as a media commentator on media law issues and is a Trustee of the Better Public Media Trust. She is also an international editor of media law journals such as the UK Journal of Media Law and the Australian publication Media & Arts Law Review.
Event
Tuesday 10 September, 8:00pm @C1 Espresso, 185 High Street, Christchurch Central
Also speaking at this location at 6:30pm is Chris Chen
