Privacy And Health Information Privacy Essay - 1627 Words

Health Information Privacy With the increase of use of electronics sharing of health information and improved communication within healthcare team, privacy in healthcare has become an important aspect of nursing. Privacy in healthcare addresses the question of who has access to personal information and under what conditions. In healthcare, privacy is concerned with the collection, storage, and use of personal information. It is every practicing nurse’s responsibility to keep up to date on current health information practices and policies. In order for a nurse to implement health information privacy guidelines it is important for a nurse to understand the importance of health information privacy, legal requirements, privacy laws, current privacy measure in the workplace and nursing practice. Importance of Health Information Privacy The importance of healthcare information privacy. Some theorist claim that privacy as a basic human right and is an essential for the wellbeing of humans (Nass.,2009). Breaches in privacy not only affect a person’s dignity, but it can cause harm in various ways. Intentional breaches can consist of theft or an abuse or manipulation of the technologies that are so often used to catalogue and protect personal information (Nass.,2009). Intentional breaches are often vicious in nature and consist of a deliberate desire to access, collect, and use or disclose an individual’s personal information with a view of causing a disturbance or perpetrating aShow MoreRelatedPrivacy And Health Information Privacy Essay1527 Words   |  7 PagesInformation Privacy With the increase of use of electronics sharing of health information and improved communication within healthcare team, privacy in healthcare has become an important aspect of nursing. Privacy in healthcare addresses the question of who has access to personal information and under what conditions. In healthcare, privacy is concerned with the collection, storage, and use of personal information. It is every practicing nurse’s responsibility to keep up to date on current healthRead MoreThe Security And Privacy Of Health Information751 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Privacy of health information has become an area of emphasis across the healthcare industry. It is important to understand what data is protected under federal regulations, how it can be shared, and how to prevent any accidental exposure of protected data. It is possible that data that should be protected can be exposed without anyone even realizing a violation has occurred. Exposure of protected healthcare data can result in medical identity theft and is therefore a very importantRead MoreThe Importance of Health Information Privacy Bill of Rights1110 Words   |  5 Pagesdocuments the diminished rights of patient privacy. Kam (2012) states that an attorney specializing in patient rights James C Pyles complained that an individual has greater privacy rights regarding the size of a shirt you purchased online than you do about information in your mental health records under the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, issued by the White House in February 2012 Pyles consequently is pushing a forthcoming Health Information Privacy Bill of Rights that will provide patientsRead MoreSecurity Privacy Confidentiality of Health Information in the Philippines2076 Words   |  9 PagesSECURITY, PRIVACY, AND CONFIDENTIALITY (SPC) OF HEALTH INFORMATION IN THE PHILIPPINES DEFINITION OF TERMS Due to the special nature of health information, the legal and technical aspects of the concepts of security, privacy, and confidentiality (SPC) have a particular meaning in the context of healthcare. Privacy is the right of an individual to limit access to others to some aspect of their person. A more specific type of privacy is informational privacy (which is the notion of privacy we are mostRead MoreHealth Information Privacy Rule : Ensuring Process For Data Loss1361 Words   |  6 PagesHealth Information Privacy Rule: Ensuring Process for Data Loss A Case Review Information technology (IT) is at the forefront of everything we do today. In the same way, Information Technology has become an integral part of health care delivery (Shi Singh, 2012). How come? The idea is that IT can improve access to clinical information and can support clinical decision making (Hoyt, 2012); also, it is perceived that any data that can be used to understand and influence health outcomes should beRead MoreHipaa Privacy Of Individual s Private Health Information From Unauthorized Access2066 Words   |  9 PagesAbstract This paper is intended to summarize the objectives of HIPAA in safeguarding the privacy of individual’s private health information from unauthorized access in general and security requirements for HIPAA compliance in particular. The HIPAA privacy rule requires covered entities to protect patient’s health records and any other identifiable health information by using appropriate safeguard to protect privacy. The HIPAA security rule requires that covered entities implement a security technologyRead MoreSimilarities Between Video 5 And Video 7 Essay1712 Words   |  7 PagesThere are many similarities and differences within the health care system, specifically when it comes to Electronic Health Records (EHR) and its privacy. According to the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services, â€Å"an Electronic Health Record is an electronic version of a patient s medical history, that is maintained by the provider over time, and may include all of the key administrative clinica l data relevant to that person s care under a particular provider, including demographics, progress notesRead MoreThe Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act817 Words   |  4 Pageson the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). Enacted by Congress in 1996, HIPPA was created to â€Å"modernize health information exchange† (Solove, 2013). For the consumer, HIPPA sets rules which protect the privacy of health information, to be followed by health care providers and insurance companies. It also gives consumers rights over their health information, such as obtaining a copy, making sure it is accurate, and to know who is or has seen their health information (OfficeRead MoreHipaa Or Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act Of 1996983 Words   |  4 Pages HIPAA or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 is a set of laws aimed to protect people from losing their health insurance coverage during change or loss of em ployment, to control health care fraud and abuse, and to maintain patient`s health information and/or status confidential. The origins of HIPAA go as far back as the 1990 when medical records were suggested to become computerized, management of health care records was questioned and portability of health insurance becameRead MoreHippa Violation1569 Words   |  7 PagesSection 04 - Medical Law and Ethics class. HIPPA Violation – Privacy Rule Thesis: Preventing violations of the HIPAA Privacy Rule greatly impacts any health care professional, specifically patient information as it relates to a pharmacy and its entire staff. Ever wonder what the acronym HIPAA stands for, how it relates to health care professionals, as well as you, the patient? Violations of the HIPAA Privacy rule greatly impacts health care professionals, specifically those working in a pharmacy

Behavioral Health Prevention of Diabetes - 3251 Words

Prevention of Dibetes This paper will address the behavioral health prevention of diabetes. Diabetes will be defined. Type of diabetes and the risk factors will be discussed. The cause of diabetes and what to do to decrease the chance of getting diabetes. The target group and promoting adjustment to diabetes will be discussed. Diabetes can be prevention and if a person develops it can be manage if a person takes care of themselves. Diabetes is the seventh leading killer in the United Stated. According to Straub diabetes mellitus is the body’s inability to produce or use insulin properly, hormone that converts starches and sugar from food to energy. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults. The cause of diabetes is not†¦show more content†¦Health psychology’s can help individual to adjusting to psychological distress, personal coping skills and social support this factors that affect treatment regimens. â€Å"Youth with diabetes and their parents jointly complete diabetes management and family interaction related to diabetes can affect youths’ diabetes self-care and glycemic outcomes† ( Hilliard, Holems, Chen, Maher, Robinson and Streisand, 2013). Parents can persistent in their monitoring to ensure that their teen take care of self and manage their diabetes. Targeted group Children of parents with Type one diabetes. Women are affect more than men and people that are overweight. Gestational diabetes is a risk for women who had it during pregency or that had a nine pound baby or bigger. People that do not exercise regularly and people that have a low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides. People of low socioeconomic status. African-Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders. Children should eat a healthy plate for breakfast, lunch, dinner and healthy snacks daily. Each meal dairy 8 oz. fat-free or low fat milk, cheese and yogurt and fruits  ½ cups. For example apples, carrots and eat whole or fruit that have been cut up more than juice. Try not to use canned and frozen fruits that are packed in syrup. Grain should be included in diet 1/2 cup of whole grain. Included whole grain thatShow MoreRelatedA Brief Note On Diabetes And Prevalence Of Diabetes1376 Words   |  6 PagesPrediabetes Prediabetes is described as having a fasting blood glucose level higher than normal, but not elevated to the level of the classification of diabetes (CDC, 2014; CDC 2015) Normal blood glucose level is considered to be less than 100 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter), and diabetes is diagnosed when the blood glucose level rises above 126 mg/dL. Prediabetes falls in between at a level 100-125 mg/dL. Individuals with prediabetes are at a higher risk of heart disease and other complicationsRead MoreDiabetes Is A Group Of Metabolic Diseases1505 Words   |  7 Pages Diabetes in African American Populations Melanie Barber, MSN Student MPH 855 Principles of Epidemiology Department of Baccalaureate Graduate Nursing, Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY November 21, 2016 According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The chronic hyperglycemia associated with diabetes results in failure of variousRead MoreA Brief Note On Diabetes And Prevalence Of Diabetes Essay910 Words   |  4 PagesPrediabetes Prediabetes is described as having a fasting blood glucose level higher than normal, but not elevated to the level of the classification of diabetes (CDC, 2014; CDC 2015) Normal blood glucose level is considered to be less than 100 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter), and diabetes is diagnosed when the blood glucose level rises above 126 mg/dL. Prediabetes falls in between at a level 100-125 mg/dL. Individuals with prediabetes are at a higher risk of heart disease and other complicationsRead MoreDiabetes Prevention And The Health Belief Model1052 Words   |  5 Pageswill define diabetes and prediabetes, identify the prevalence and major risk factors for diabetes, and present behavioral changes that can reduced the risk of developing diabetes. This section discusses the types of presentations and teaching methods that have been utilized in diabetes prevention and the health belief model. The final paragraphs in the review of literature present the learning theory and delivery meth od of instructional designs, which are ideal for a diabetes prevention program. PrediabetesRead MoreAmerican Diabetes Association : A Long History Of Research Support And Engagement1662 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction American Diabetes Association has a long history of research support and engagement. The first direct ADA research were awarded in 1952, and in the late 1970s, the ADA research funding was centralized into a program model after that of the National Institute of Health (NIH), with operational and scientific oversight housed in the national office. Founded in October 1994, the ADA Foundation was created to substantially accelerate the Association s ability to raise major gifts to directlyRead MoreChildren And Type 2 Diabetes1533 Words   |  7 PagesChildren and Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been reported with increased frequency over the last twenty years in adolescents and children in the United States. As a result of T2DM glucose metabolism within the body of affected adolescents and children is severely compromised. Formerly known as adult onset and/or insulin resistant diabetes T2DM occurs due to the cell inability to properly use insulin which then results in lowered secretion of insulin as well as insulin resistanceRead MoreFactors Contributing Risk Factors For Diabetes Mellitus802 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is an endocrinal disease characterized by elevated blood glucose level, diagnosed by laboratory blood analysis with random glucose level 200mg/dL and fasting blood glucose of ≠¥126mg/dL.1 Risk factors The risk factors of T2DM are mainly attributed to the lifestyles and behavioral factors. Although the etiology cannot be pinpointed on a single cause it is proved that obesity, socioeconomic conditions and genetic factors increase the risk of T2DM. (Cite)Read MoreSurgeon General Project: Childhoudd Obesity1734 Words   |  7 Pagessteadily increasing in the United States drawing immediate concern for the coming generations and the overall health and well-being for society. While addressing this concern, a matter of significance has to be reviewed to undoubtedly warrant the attention of the nation and propose factors of government, community, organizational, and individual involvement. According to the Society of Behavioral Medicine, â€Å"Since 1960, overweight prevalence rates among children and adolescents have increased more thanRead MoreA Research On High Risk Population851 Words   |  4 Pagesoutcomes of the disease (Ricci-Cabello, et al. 2013). Type 2 diabetes mellitus ( T2DM) is a progressive and protracted disease related with substantial morbidity and mortality. African Americans (AA) adults have the highest occurrence of T2DM due to factors such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and high consumptions of sugar that predisposed them at risk for prediabetes. AA adults with T2DM are predisposed to experience greater debility from diabetes-related consequences that arise when their blood glucoseRead MoreDiabetes Among Ethnic Minorities And The Aging Population1420 Words   |  6 PagesThe high number of reported new cases of diabetes yearly among ethnic minorities and the aging population is alarming. According to a report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National diabetes Statistics Report in 2014, diabetes is high among minorities; 15.9% American Indian/Alaska Native, 13.2% African American and 12.8% Hispanics. This is consistent with the community I worked with during the first part of my clinical rotation. The community of Casa de Merced in Tolleson

Influence of National Culture on Accounting MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Influence of National Culture on Accounting Conservatism. Answer: Introduction: The international accounting system is dynamic and in so doing presents various challenges among the persons undertaking the financial responsibilities for different firms. Accounting remains essential in organizations for the sole purpose of communicating an organizations financial position to the investors, managers, the government, and fiscal institutions. In this case, it provides a particular set of principles and rules guiding the content of the financial statement. Eventually, accounting leads to the reality of consistent reporting of the financial position of a firms asset which expresses the health status of a company. While global accounting may be viewed as an easy task, it comes with a set of challenges to the financial individuals and the organizations as well due to several factors involved in its practice. It is evident that the present world is changing the face of doing business and thus makes the world better by initiating a competition among the financial firms. The accounting professionals in global businesses are not left out in the change that prompts the professionals to reorganize themselves towards adopting strategies in modern accounting (Radebaugh, Gray, and Black 2006). The global world makes things easier by creating a uniform financial system and internationally accepted standards in conducting business. However, the adherence to the international standards remains a challenge due to the differing legislations that affect the financial operations of a firm. Traditional Accounting Standards Historically, different countries have been using their accounting standards which make it hard to compare and contrast companies operating in various nations. Therefore, individuals might be reluctant to adhere to the international standards as the local policies support the existence of the traditional accounting procedures. According to Hail, Leuz, and Wysocki, (2010), the dependence on the local procedures and policies in accounting presents a challenge to the international accounting practices for various logistical and financial issues. In this case, the existence of the traditional procedures impedes the commitment to change and adoption to the international standards of accounting. Adhering to the international standards presents a set of challenges to the accounting professionals. First is the challenge based on the issue of incentives where there exist several factors that might encourage incentives to the individuals while others are discouraging the same throughout organizations. Different nations present differing incentives to the accounting professional which affects the operational of accounting professionals in the global businesses (Kaplan, Atkinson and Morris, 1998). While some countries through incentives may encourage acts of accounting, others without the incentives impede serious accounting practices which lead to challenges to their international accounting. On the other hand, countries have a differing commitment to the adoption of the international accounting standards. Governments enact regulations to the financial institutions which differ from nations to nations. The difference in the regulatory authorities might either encourage or discourage the existence of a proper adoption of the internationally accepted accounting practices (Camfferman and Zeff, 2015). Countries that block transparency in financial practices make international accounting a nightmare due to the policies that prevent the professionals from carrying out their tasks smoothly (Saunders and Cornett, 2014). Therefore, the differences in legislations matter in the existence of international accounting. Cultures existing in different nations determine the perception and commitment to the international standards of accounting. While it might be easy to adopt international standards in some countries, others may exhibit resistance leading to difficulties in practicing the same. Therefore, businesses working in the global space face problems as the accounting practices on the international standards cannot exist, thus impeding uniformity in the financial institutions working (Camfferman and Zeff, 2015). The lack of a uniform culture serves as a challenge to the international accounting practices and formulas. The difference in culture leads to the implementation of accounting practices in different formats which limit the capability of investors making comparison to other nations thus leading to the lack of faith in the local practice. As a result, investors might fear setting up businesses in such locations. Poor Translation and Interpretation While international laws on accounting practice might be uniform, the issue of translation of the policies in the effective working might differ, thus presenting challenges to the respective organizations involved in global businesses. Lack of knowledge and proper education on accounting procedures among professionals might lead to diverse means of interpretation thus leading to different results and practices by individuals (Albu, Albu, and Alexander 2014). The case presents challenges for the international firms which seek to have a uniform set of practices across their businesses. Consequently, companies that fail to meet the international standards of accounting may hinder the existence of the policies thus presenting different results that ought to match for global businesses (Bebbington, Unerman and O'Dwyer, 2014). For instance, the presence of different translations of the policies might affect the accounting operations of a firm like coca-cola which needs a uniform working gl obally thus leading to non-compliance issues. Eventually, the fact presents a financial challenge to the professional accounting body. Moreover, the issue of education affects the functioning and interpretation of the international accounting procedures and practices. The education standards in some countries do not conform to the international standards and as such differ in the dispensation of knowledge. The differences give rise to challenges that hinder the implementation of international practices at the domestic level (Deegan 2013). The differences affect the local performance in line with the international standards at this moment leading to a stampede to international firms operating the local levels which demand uniform accounting practices among their franchises. Besides, the international accounting policies and practices have a high frequency of changing that presents complexity to the international accounting. While some countries, through their policies might be quick to adopt the changes, others might be slow to incorporate the same at the domestic level (Guthrie and Parker 2014). The lack of will or technology to embrace the fast pace of change leads to challenges in practicing the latest demands of accounting. As a result, individuals with businesses on the global market might fail to have the different businesses in selected countries accounting in line with the provisions of the international markets. The international standards of accounting may be substantial to businesses but expensive to implement thus presenting implementation challenges. The medium sized entities and accounting firms who lack the resources and personnel to adopt the international policies and procedures may fail to utilize the provision. Consequently, such companies opt to remain glued to the traditional practices which fail to demonstrate the nature of the global accounting practices (McFarlin and Sweeney 2014). The different standards may affect the uniform expectations on international firms operating in such a local environment with poor resources towards international accounting practices. Most countries face difficulties in the adoption of the international standards and accreditation. Limited accessibility to the standards matching international business presents a barrier towards international convergence (Kanagaretnam, Lim, and Lobo 2013). Some countries, especially in the developing nations might cite the high fees charged for accreditation as factors impeding their ability to obtain international financial certification for local accounting firms. Individual Restrictions At personal levels, the rapid changes in the accounting field through technology and global trends calls for accountants to adjust their positions towards the adoption of the international standards and practices. Accounting firms with professionals with limited levels of education hinder the implementation and adherence to the international standards (Solas and Ayhan 2016). Lack of knowledge may lead to adherence to local and traditional practices of accounting that differ from the international standards. As a result, the lack of knowledge on the use of technology in implementing financial obligations may lead to non-uniform results which make interpretation and comparison difficulties among global firms. Consequently, the situation presents challenges to the international accounting. On the other hand, global accounting calls for proper communication skills as a requisite factor among the accounting professionals. As such, it affects the act of presenting and defending views on accounting orally and in written using the technological means. The ability to communicate and display negotiation skills in common languages promotes uniform accountability (Alzeban and Gwilliam 2014). However, the present market does not guarantee a high market for individuals with such skills which hinder the implementation of the international standards. At the same time, the inability to utilize the latest technology in accounting presents a challenge to the accounting field. Accountants need to communicate more efficiently at the local and the international levels with their counterparts to find out the latest trends and practices in accounting. The revolution in technology does not impede communication but on the contrary presents chances for enhanced communication with the global accountant where such alliances might lead to proper practices (Fernandez-Feijoo, Romero, and Ruiz 2014). While one business in a nation may use a particular technology conforming to the latest technology, another company similar in nature, but working in a developing nation may fail to replicate the same. The situation presents a challenge to uniformity in a business where investors cannot compare the overall performance of a business to another in the same region. Personal Adaptability to International Standards Flexibility of individuals to international standards presents a challenge to the accounting world. While a country may fail to observe and implement the international practices, individuals through technology can be able to conform to the same and remain in line with the latest trends in global accounting. In this case, people are tasked with the responsibility of participating in knowledge acquisition activities to gain the requisite skills to international accounting. Technology gives accountants the ability to learn several practices which can be learned on the internet as opposed to the local level that might fail to cultivate the standards used locally (Florou, Kosi, and Pope, 2017). The ability gives accountant an upper hand in understanding the international practices and using them in their daily operations. However, the ability to do so depends on a personal commitment to the profession. The lack of adaptability and willingness to overcome the local practices not conforming to the international standards presents a challenge to global accounting. The differences in ethical considerations and practices based on the culture of nations acts as a challenge to international accounting. International accounting expects individuals to use globally accepted ethical guidelines which might differ from the local considerations thus present challenges to the case (Yarahmadi and Bohloli, 2015). As such, the ethical issues in accounting affect the practices initiated by accountants in their local levels. The fact remains a hindrance on international businesses that expect their accountants to behave in a similar manner when it comes to financial information disclosure. Failure to adhere to the international ethics in accounting results in severe damage to reputation should a companys accounting sector act contrary to the provisions in the international front (Florou, Kosi, and Pope, 2017). Ethical guidelines ought to be incorporated during training which can be done in-house or through educational institutions to align firms with the inter national policies and standards. The presence or absence of technology in different nations present different challenges to the global accounting world. While the countries in the developed countries might have access to technology and use it in accounting, others in the developing nation might fail to enjoy the same privilege due to the absence of technology or the necessary expertise to utilize the same in accounting. The difference in technology might impede the use of accounting software across nations thereby creating non-uniform accounting practices (Deegan 2013). As a result, firms working on the international front may fail to have the ability to compare the financial performances of businesses existing in divergent markets. Accounting calls for transparency in the financial dealings that have to be left open at all times to scrutiny by the respective firms. However, the challenge presents difficulty to such transparency needed for improved operations and increased investment. Conclusion The present world is changing at a faster pace which offers a set of challenges to the global accounting world. While some nations may be quick and willing to adapt to the latest trends in accounting, others may fail to demonstrate a similar commitment due to several issues. At the same time, individuals in the accounting profession matter in their willingness and ability to utilize technology to allow the current practices to prevail. Therefore, the differences present challenges to the global accounting that ought to be uniform across nations to guarantee the spread of international business. As such, there is a need for a change of policies and individual commitment to use of technology towards exercising a uniform accounting practice for transparency and financial reasons. Reference List Albu, C.N., Albu, N. and Alexander, D., 2014. When global accounting standards meet the local contextInsights from an emerging economy.Critical Perspectives on Accounting,25(6), pp.489-510. Alzeban, A. and Gwilliam, D., 2014. Factors affecting the internal audit effectiveness: A survey of the Saudi public sector.Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation,23(2), pp.74-86. Bebbington, J., Unerman, J. and O'Dwyer, B., 2014.Sustainability accounting and accountability. Routledge. Camfferman, K. and Zeff, S.A., 2015.Aiming for global accounting standards. Oxford University Press, USA. Deegan, C., 2013.Financial accounting theory. McGraw-Hill Education Australia. Fernandez-Feijoo, B., Romero, S. and Ruiz, S., 2014. Commitment to corporate social responsibility measured through global reporting initiative reporting: Factors affecting the behavior of companies.Journal of Cleaner Production,81, pp.244-254. Florou, A., Kosi, U. and Pope, P.F., 2017. Are international accounting standards more credit relevant than domestic standards?.Accounting and Business Research,47(1), pp.1-29. Guthrie, J. and D. Parker, L., 2014. The global accounting academic: what counts!.Accounting, Auditing Accountability Journal,27(1), pp.2-14. Hail, L., Leuz, C. and Wysocki, P., 2010. Global accounting convergence and the potential adoption of IFRS by the US (Part II): Political factors and future scenarios for US accounting standards.Accounting Horizons,24(4), pp.567-588. Kanagaretnam, K., Lim, C.Y. and Lobo, G.J., 2013. Influence of national culture on accounting conservatism and risk-taking in the banking industry.The Accounting Review,89(3), pp.1115-1149. Kaplan, R.S., Atkinson, A.A. and Morris, D.J., 1998.Advanced management accounting(Vol. 3). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. McFarlin, D. and Sweeney, P.D., 2014.International Management: Strategic Opportunities Cultural Challenges. Routledge. Radebaugh, L.H., Gray, S.J. and Black, E.L., 2006.International accounting and multinational enterprises. New York, NY: John Wiley Sons. Saunders, A. and Cornett, M.M., 2014.Financial institutions management. McGraw-Hill Education,. Solas, C. and Ayhan, S., 2016. The historical evolution of accounting in China: the effects of culture.De Computis-Revista Espaola de Historia de la Contabilidad,4(7), pp.146-173. Yarahmadi, H. and Bohloli, A., 2015. Ethics in Accounting.International Journal of Accounting and Financial Reporting,5(1), pp.356-360.

What extent do the news media fulfil Habermas definition of the public sphere Essay Example

What extent do the news media fulfil Habermas definition of the public sphere Essay The concept of the public sphere has had a long tradition, both in philosophy and also social sciences. The main understanding of the term is based on the work of the German sociologist Jurgen Habermas, whom provided a comprehensive analysis of the nature of the public sphere and also its historic transformations. Habermas defines ldquo;the public sphere as the network for communication and points of view, the streams of communication are, in the process, filtered and synthesised in such a way that they coalesce into bundles of topically specified public opinionsrdquo;. The public sphere is situated between households and the state. It is a space where free and equal citizens come together and share their opinions and information and also discuss their common concerns. Habermasrsquo;s social theory is interpreted as moving over the years from a Hegelian Marxist orientation to a sort of Kantian orientation, thought not without truth; this view underestimates the unity in his intellectual project. Kant occupies a central place as the theorist who offered the fullest articulation of the ideal of the bourgeois public sphere. However, in this public sphere practical reason was institutionalized through norms of reasoned conversations in which arguments or traditions were to be decisive. Even though, Habermas rejects Kantianrsquo;s theories, and its collary historical exaltation of philosophy as arbiter and foundation of all science and culture. In his current work he argues that something remains crucial from the Kantian view of modernity. nbsp;The notion of the public sphere is at the centre of participatory approaches to democracy. The public sphere is the arena where citizens come together and exchange opinions regarding public affairs, discuss and therefore form a public opinion. This arena can be a specified place where citizens gather for instance, town halls where they meet and deliberate these issues they feel needs looking into. This can also be a communication infrastru cture through which citizens send and receive information and their opinions. We will write a custom essay sample on What extent do the news media fulfil Habermas definition of the public sphere specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on What extent do the news media fulfil Habermas definition of the public sphere specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on What extent do the news media fulfil Habermas definition of the public sphere specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The public sphere can also be good governance, and without a good public sphere, government officials cannot be held accountable for their actions and citizens will not be able to assert any influence over political decisions. Moreover, the idea of a public sphere is normative since it is an ideal of good and accountable governance. Some historical roots of the public sphere will include the ancient Greeks where citizens directly participated in political discussions. The public life was tied to a specific local where their citizens will discuss and exchange their opinions on certain issues. European monarchies where the royal court was the public sphere and only the king would determine what should be said in public. Today, the public sphere is even more strongly tied to the media; it is also defined in relation to the mass media, since the mass media permits the circulation of information and also offers the conditions were forums can function. Internet and The Public Sphere; the internet is the single most important communication breakthrough of the latter half of the last century. It has revolutionalised how individuals communicate, access information including the mass media and how they respond to and comment on social and political issues. It has been argued that the internet facilitated the philosopher Jurgen Habermas. The internet is singularly the most important development in contemporary communication, which has produced a global public sphere. Every individual has direct access to global forums where they are capable of expressing their personal opinions and arguments without mediation or censorship. nbsp;Facebook and a vast number of blogs, chat rooms and discussion boards could fulfil the conditions of a public sphere as a forum for rational and critical debates. One of the theoretical perspectives is that Habermas argues that publicness or publicity of representation was not constituted as a social realm that is a public sphere; rather it was a status attribute. nbsp;Representation in the sense in which the members of a national assembly represent a nation. (Habermas, 1962). nbsp;Habermas goes on to argue that European society in the Middle Ages showed no indication of a public sphere as a unique realm distinct from a private sphere, and each stratum of power acted as mere spectators of the authority greater than theirs However, changes in the Europersquo;s political structure in the eighteenth century largely embodied in capitalist modes of production and the enlightenment philosophy culminated in the collapse of feudalism heralding the entry of the bourgeois into the centre stage. Whereas the feudal system which made no differences between the state and the society, private and public, the new social order defined the boundaries of state and private lives. More accurately a bourgeois public sphere where members of a property owning, educated reading public were engaged in rational debates on issues primarily relating to politics and literature (Habermas, 1989). Furthermore the bourgeois public sphere worn once again through structural and economic changes paving the way for what Habermas calls the modern mass society of the social welfare state, were critical debates the life blood of the public sphere has been replaced by leisure. In order words the state and society have become in twined into each otherrsquo;s sphere. Horkheimer and Adorno both argue that the change is the direct result of the mass produced, and the mechanically reproduce culture, which have been manufactures through structural changes in cultural industries. Horkheimer and Adorno suggest that the man with leisure have to accept that the cultural manufacturers offer him (Horkheimer and Adorno, 1995). Horkheimer and Adorno views are simply based on Marxist arguments which suggest the ideas of a ruling class are in every period the ruling ideas (Marx and Engels, 1976). These arguments suggest that the class which controls the means of material production also would control the means of mental production therefore the ideas of those who lack the means of production are subjected to it. Another sociologist called Antonio Gramsci argued the social groups attain hegemony; this is the dominance by inducing consent of the majority of the subaltern classes, the classes in the subordinate political position within a given social theatre. Horkheimer and Adornorsquo;s views on contemporary culture suggest the cultural industries treatment of culture as commodity and the mass media as a product filtered and packaged for customers based on the market statistics. This has created a media culture where every individual response has been carefully planned by the cultural manufacturers, since as this limits the possibility for any critical though outside of a prearranged equation. The contribution of cultural manufacturers including advertising and also public relations. Habermas arguments have manifested into refeudalisation of the public sphere, where the people in the public have been reduced to the status of spectators whilst the expert opinions have taken over the true public opinions. Every aspect of culture has been subjected to commercial imperatives of advertising entertainment and public relations and also the mass media to such an extent that any attempts of even creating the illusion of a public sphere by the mass media continue to be governed by bottom lined finances, therefore failing to conform to the broadest notions of public opinion in the public sphere. Moreover, public opinions published in mainstream media continue to be influenced by a series of commercial needs from availability of column space to consideration of possible increases to circulation figures. The internet is a freely accessible medium of mass communication; it has been introduced to this heavily commercialised theatre of mass communication and sparking great expectations in the publicrsquo;s minds that support the reinvigoration of the public sphere. Furthermore, it also should be stressed that while mass media have largely failed to create a public sphere, mass in itself at times play a very significant role in gaining and retaining democracy in numerous political threatens. It can also be argued that the internetrsquo;s potential in creating the public sphere can be and has to be harnessed by the public intellectuals, if the internet is to fulfil its potential as a forum for public spheres, this arguments can be presented in spite of the risk of over generalization as need for cyber analogues with the cafes and taverns which brought the intellectuals together, however creating an environment favourable for the sharing of ideas and hence the nourishment of a public sphere.