Twelve Media influence on public policy
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Ian Ward
Abstract
News media play a central part in contemporary Australian politics. A great deal of political reporting and analysis canvasses policy issues. But the role that the media play in policy-making is less well understood.State and national level Australian politics routinely produce issues and events that seem to suggest that governments do directly respond to media coverage of issues.Yet much of what governments do is uncontroversial. A great many policy decisions and outcomes go unreported.Against this backdrop Australian public policy scholars have been reluctant to assign prominence to the media. As in other countries, they have not displayed any deep understanding of the effects of the media on the shaping and execution of public policy, which is the concern of this chapter.
Abstract
News media play a central part in contemporary Australian politics. A great deal of political reporting and analysis canvasses policy issues. But the role that the media play in policy-making is less well understood.State and national level Australian politics routinely produce issues and events that seem to suggest that governments do directly respond to media coverage of issues.Yet much of what governments do is uncontroversial. A great many policy decisions and outcomes go unreported.Against this backdrop Australian public policy scholars have been reluctant to assign prominence to the media. As in other countries, they have not displayed any deep understanding of the effects of the media on the shaping and execution of public policy, which is the concern of this chapter.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Contents v
- List of tables and figures vii
- List of abbreviations viii
- Australian states and territories; Australian governments from 1972; and map of Australian states and territories xi
- Notes on contributors xiii
- Editors’ introduction to the series xvii
- Foreword xix
- Preface xxiv
- Policy analysis in Australia: context, themes and challenges 1
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The ‘policy advising’ context
- Policy professionals in context: advisors and ministers 23
- The economic context of policy analysis in Australia 37
- Policy analysis and public sector capacity 53
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Analysis and advice within government
- Policy analysis at the federal government level 71
- Policy and policy analysis in Australian states 87
- Policy analysis capacity and Australian local government 105
- Reflections on policy advice in Australia 121
-
Policy analysis beyond executive government
- Parliamentary committees and inquiries 137
- Expert policy advisory bodies 151
- Consultants, think tanks and public policy 167
- Media influence on public policy 183
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Parties and interest groups in policy analysis
- Policy development in political parties 201
- Business associations and policy analysis 217
- Policy and the labour movement 231
- Policy capacity in the community sector 245
-
Policy analysis instruction and research
- Policy analysis instruction in Australia 261
- Academic research and public policy 283
- Index 303
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Contents v
- List of tables and figures vii
- List of abbreviations viii
- Australian states and territories; Australian governments from 1972; and map of Australian states and territories xi
- Notes on contributors xiii
- Editors’ introduction to the series xvii
- Foreword xix
- Preface xxiv
- Policy analysis in Australia: context, themes and challenges 1
-
The ‘policy advising’ context
- Policy professionals in context: advisors and ministers 23
- The economic context of policy analysis in Australia 37
- Policy analysis and public sector capacity 53
-
Analysis and advice within government
- Policy analysis at the federal government level 71
- Policy and policy analysis in Australian states 87
- Policy analysis capacity and Australian local government 105
- Reflections on policy advice in Australia 121
-
Policy analysis beyond executive government
- Parliamentary committees and inquiries 137
- Expert policy advisory bodies 151
- Consultants, think tanks and public policy 167
- Media influence on public policy 183
-
Parties and interest groups in policy analysis
- Policy development in political parties 201
- Business associations and policy analysis 217
- Policy and the labour movement 231
- Policy capacity in the community sector 245
-
Policy analysis instruction and research
- Policy analysis instruction in Australia 261
- Academic research and public policy 283
- Index 303
