Mass media in Saudi Arabia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Mass media in Saudi-Arabian Arabia - Research Paper ExampleSaudi Arabia achieves control of the media mainly through the Ministry of Information, which administers the national news show agency and the broadcasting services, and is responsible for applying blackballship regulations (Rampal, 1994). Simons (2006) states that the three main roles played by mass media be as mirror, witness, and transmitter. This refers to the necessity for media to reflect the news, events, and situations, to observe occurrences of social, political and other interest, and to convey the information, observations and analysis to the general public. dissertation Statement The purpose of this paper is to investigate the various aspects of mass media in Saudi Arabia, including its functioning and conditions affecting Arab mass media. 2. An Authoritarian Mass Media System The standard schemes of classifying mass media are as prideful, libertarian, social responsibleness and totalitarian (Siebert, Peters on & Schramm, 1963). The Arab media do not fall specifically into any one of the above categories, only if just about elements of all four systems are found in the mass media system of Saudi Arabia. In well-nigh of the Arab countries the media function under different variations of the authoritarian theory thus, of the four theories this is the one that most closely explains the Saudi Arabian mass media operations. The authoritarian governments in these Arab countries play a part in the use of authoritarian media functions. In the authoritarian system, the media support and advance the policies of the government, which controls the media either directly or indirectly through licensing, sound action, or perhaps financial means (Rugh, 2004, p.23). Rampal (1994) reiterates that despite political reform initiatives, Saudi Arabia remains an autocratic monarchy. The authoritarian political system has resulted in a controlled press, particularly since 1958 when the governments Publicat ions Department was goven to censor publications. The authoritarian governing permits the media to discuss society and the machinery of government, but not of the people who hold the political power. This system is built on the theory that truth does not emerge from a great mass of people, but of a few wise men capable of directing and guiding their fellow human beings (Siebert et al, 1963). In the authoritarian system comment and criticism are carefully guided, and lucid goals for the community align with the objectives of the regime