The U.K Phone Scandal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The U.K Phone Scandal - Essay Example Communication practices and media of communication have with time mutated, becoming self-organized, and wholly evolving to new forms (McQuail, 2008:214). Outcomes of these new forms of communication systems and practices are often not predictable. This paper discusses in depth how the recent phone hacking scandal in U.K portray incidences where the popular press use their press freedom as a justification of their unwarranted media intrusion in people’s privacy. Research depicts that the cell phone is one fascinating garget that has undergone many changes and still undergoing technological changes (Wyatt, 2000:4). For instance, it never envisaged that the use of mobile phones would change drastically from voice mail communication to SMS then later to the internet use. Mobile phones are depicted to have a variation of features that make them powerful gargets. They not only serves as a means of communication but also installed with the necessary technology of accessing the intern et, watching television, and playing games. In addition, some mobile phones have been installed with the GPS that enables the location of an individual. Therefore, change in the cell phone technology has increased dramatically. This change in the cell phone industry has been both beneficial and hazardous to the society. Although people have a positive attitude towards the use of cell phones, in some cases, they pose a negative impact to the society. For a better understanding of the emergence of media, it is necessary to understand public communication and media are much more than the deployment of communication technologies. The key factor that differentiates media and communication is practices. These practices include co-creation, conversation, collaboration, and community building. Cell phones, mostly used as gadgets of communication have been used by the U.K as a means of retrieving information from people especially the politicians. Scholarly research depicts that in the world of news and media all hours of the day, political advertising, and communication are viewed as a strong set of policy ideas. The press has always been extensively given the responsibility and freedom of carrying out research and informing the nation about the current and on-going issues in the country (Curran, and Seaton, 2009:6). However, the U.K press has gone to a further extent of using their freedom in intruding people’s privacy. Phone-hacking scandal in recent years has been an ongoing controversy in the international news. It is depicted that the press use phone hacking as a way of obtaining information. Researchers depict that the U.K press viewed their work as commercial rather than a responsibility. Legal, economic, and social context in which the media is allowed to function lead to an ultimate contribution in an individual’s political life will. For instance, media and its effect on political process health in U.K, remains a considerable issue under scruti ny (McNair, 2011:20). Moreover, the emergence of political industry in U.K has raised an argument on efficient and reliable political communication to democracy. Research depicts that most of these social reporters typically base their concern and focus on celebrities, gossip, and other subsequent trivia rather than social issues affecting the country. However, the media not only portrays the social issues in the society but also becomes a pathway for extensive political campaigns, civic actions, and professional and business