Self-censorship
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Self-censorship is the act of censoring and/or classifying one's own book(s), film(s), or other kind of art to avoid offending others without an authority pressuring one to do so. Self-censorship is most often done by film producers, film directors, publishers, news anchors, or authors.
In authoritarian countries, creators of artworks may remove material that their government might find controversial for fear of sanction by their governments. In democratic countries, self-censorship can also occur, particularly to be more politically correct or if there is a time of crisis. News media are often accused of self-censorship because news media can face serious backlash for controversial or hasty reporting; therefore, news media have been accused of not "taking any risks." For example, certain organizations (Media Matters for America, FAIR, Democracy Now!, and the ACLU) have raised concerns about news broadcasting stations (notably FOX News) censoring their own content to be less controversial when reporting on the War on Terror. Though, this is not always attributed to self-censorship; there have been attempts by the authorities to pressure news organizations to withhold particular public information in the name of security. [link]. There have also been instances, beginning with the Gulf war and in subsequent conflicts, where journalists have actively sought censorship advice from military authorities in order to prevent the inadvertent revelation of military secrets.
"Self-censorship" can also be found in scientific publications. Usually, a scientist can feel discouraged from releasing their findings because of a popular ideology or political agenda. Examples of self-censorship in scientific publications that have been criticized as politically motivated include scientists under the Third Reich withholding findings that disagreed with the commonly-held beliefs in differences between races, or the refusal of these scientists under Hitler to support General Relativity (which got the reputation as "Jewish science".) Economists under the communist regime in the former Soviet Union would never voice their criticisms of a socialized economy; this is a clear example of self-censorship. More recently, certain scientists have withheld their findings related to climate changes caused by pollution and to endangered species.[link] [link] [link])
Taste and decency are also areas which often raise questions on self-censorship. Debates involving images or footage of murder, terrorism, war and massacres cause complaints as to the purpose to which they are put. Editors will frequently censor these images to avoid charges of prurience, shock tactics or invasion of privacy.
See also
- Censorship
- Newspeak
- Jayson Blair
- List of songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001 attacks
External links
- [Censorship] (FAIR)
- [Definition, Cambridge Dictionary]
- [33 internal FOX editorial memos reviewed by MMFA reveal]
- [CNN admits censorship]
- [raw data on self-censorship]
- ["Hostages of Self-Censorship." The Moscow News]
- [The SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) self-censors 'unauthorised' documentary on President Thabo Mbeki and gags the producers]
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