Why is censorship ineffective Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Why is censorship ineffective - Essay Example As going to be critically analysed below, it can be noted that with the new dispensation of methods of communication obtaining on the ground during the contemporary period, censorship of the media is gradually becoming ineffective. Indeed, libel laws as well as the secrets acts are meant to protect the interests of the nation such as peace and tranquillity. It is the duty of the government to protect the nation while at the same time the press maintains that the public has the right to know (Dennis and DeFleur 1994). Therefore, an inherent conflict exists between the right to press freedom and the need to control the information disseminated by the media that can be damaging to the government. For instance, many countries have regulations that prohibit the broadcast of illicit content such as pornography as this would be damaging particularly to the young viewers who can be corrupted behaviourally. Different acts of parliament are in place in many countries which seek to regulate the operations of the broadcast industry so as to ensure that the amount of hate speech is checked as well as to ensure that the dissemination of certain information does not threaten the security of the country. In the same vein, lic ensing as well as regulatory bodies are in place to regulate the print media. Depending with the country, other governments actually require the editors to censor the content of their newspapers prior to publication so as to remove information which is deemed to be unfit for public consumption. In countries such China, Russia, Cuba and other countries in Latin America as well as developing African countries, there are statutory regulations that compel the mass media to abide by certain statutory regulations where censorship is given prominence in some instances. Whilst the notion of free press has dominated the media fraternity, it can be noted that such a right is not absolute in some of the above mentioned countries so as to contain the levels of civil