Media Influence On Political Class

Citizens must actively participate in formal political decision making to uphold Australia’s democratic values. Yet, as my research unfolds, mainstream media predominately holds the power to influence public opinions on the political class. Mainstream media suggests that politicians use their power and authority to benefit themselves, rather than upholding their purpose of representing the people . Due this interpretation on the political class by mainstream media’s, loss of public trust and confidence in the government system develops; leading to the perception of politicians as out of touch .
A diverse focus group allowed recognition of varying perspectives surrounding the divide between people and political class. Furthermore, the questionnaire conducted identified the disengagement between people and politics as over 50% were unaware of their local Member of Parliament and only 8.1% of respondents stated that their local MP was highly accessible. However, the methodologies are limited as the questionnaire only reached individuals on social media networks and 125 responses does not represent the 24 million people in Australia. The generalised assumption of politicians being out of touch; evident through questionnaire responses, leads to the suggestion of a rising divide between the community and political class. Hence, individuals in a society
predominately controlled by mainstream media’s values and perspectives become reluctant to hold legitimacy in a political system that is detached from them.
To diverge from the bias and controversial nature of mainstream media, politicians utilise social media to control what is perceived by the public . Interviews conducted with Members of Parliament; Pru Car, Michelle Rowland, Dr Anne Aly and Emma Husar, recognised how social media plays as a platform for politicians to be perceived engaged with community interests. As explored through primary and secondary methodologies, the rise of “social media savvy politicians” is to allow a more personalized connection between politicians and the meso community. Nevertheless, social media provides politicians an opportunity to portray only one side of the story; resulting in citizens, especially elderly or economically disadvantaged, socially excluded from political discussion and law reform.
There is a perceived belief that the vast majority of politicians are from a privileged background .
Despite this necessarily not the case; mainstream media exacerbates the highlighted difference between political and working class, hence the working class develops a sense of disempowerment leading to unwillingness to become engaged in politics. Therefore leading to politicians provided with an excess of power and authority that do not require the perspectives and values of the collective community in an equal democracy . Lack of political involvement by working class greatly challenges Australia’s democratic
values.
A democratic and civil society requires informed decision makers and voters. However, as mainstream media exacerbates the divide between people and the political class informed citizenship is not upheld. Thus, the conflicting viewpoints between people and politics potentially leads to the social exclusion of the working class in political decision making.