Freedom of speech is not freedom from ethics: The 2019 Israel Folau media controversy as a case study

This article examines how freedom of speech is framed in the media controversy surrounding the Australian rugby player Israel Folau's April 2019 Instagram post. A content analysis and framing analysis of newspaper reportage reveals that the controversy has been largely discussed in terms of whe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Media international Australia incorporating Culture & policy 2021-11, Vol.181 (1), p.87-102
Main Authors: Thompson, Jay Daniel, Muller, Denis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Content analysis
Democracy
Disputes
Ethics
Evaluation
Frame analysis
Freedom of speech
Journalism
Journalistic ethics
Methodology
Rugby
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Summary:This article examines how freedom of speech is framed in the media controversy surrounding the Australian rugby player Israel Folau's April 2019 Instagram post. A content analysis and framing analysis of newspaper reportage reveals that the controversy has been largely discussed in terms of whether or not Folau's speech was being curtailed and whether this curtailing indicates a broader, ideologically motivated censoriousness. This discussion is problematic in that it says little about the actual substance of Folau's post. This article argues that debates surrounding freedom of speech such as the one involving Folau could and should be enriched by an engagement with ethical principles. This engagement is premised on a commitment to the free exchange of views, while acknowledging that 'speech' is not always inherently beneficial for democracy, nor worth defending.
ISSN:1329-878X
2200-467X
DOI:10.1177/1329878X21992890