The media's role in Finland's EU membership discussionKirsikka Bonsdorff |
INTRODUCTION |
THE MASS MEDIA'S SOCIAL FUNCTIONS AND ROLESThe mass media have obligations that have to do with providing information and rights that are related to freedom of expression. These obligations and rights are endless sources of social discussions and quarrels. Different kinds of expectations, passions and interests in a society are directed at the media. Unimportant, uninteresting institutions do not receive such attention. Hence we may assume that the mass media have a central role and some very important functions in society. In this chapter I will present some theories and conceptions of these roles and functions. |
| Five paradigms |
| Functionalistic view |
| The agenda setting function and the effects of mass media |
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLITICIANS AND THE MASS MEDIA |
| Symbiosis and exchange |
| Power struggle |
THE SURVIVAL OF NEWSPAPERS"The two most important functions of newspaper in a society are distribution of information for formation of political opinions and for making economic decisions. The newspaper is a ... fast, flexible and credible media ..." wrote Veikko Löyttyniemi 20 years ago. Today, there are many fast and flexible ways of getting and distributing information. We have several fast, flexible and interactive media. How is it possible that something as "old-fashioned" as the newspaper has survived all changes in the communication field? Newspaper seems to be very untypical and different media in today's "postindustrialized interactive high technology world": It is a concrete object made of paper, it can not be modified by the user, it is not audio-visual, it cannot be turned off, it is not expensive. |
| The Finnish press |
THE HELSINGIN SANOMAT |
| The HS's role in the Finnish society |
| A monopoly |
THE PUBLIC EU CAMPAIGN |
| An example of the public's and the mass media's different agendas |
| Another example: comparing the agendas of the HS & STT and the citizens |
THE 'TWO PALACE GAME' BETWEEN POLITICIANS AND THE MEDIA |
THE EU IN THE HS |
CONCLUSIONS |
REFERENCES |