Cmu. 200

What is the role of the mass media in a democratic society?

What do we need? want?

Democracy and Media

• DemocracyDemos = peopleKratia = rule

• rule/governance BY the people depends upon information.

• media facilitate information flow.

Idea of Democracy

1. People are intelligent2. Generally, people make the right

decisions3. IF they have the right information4. Wide array of information needed5. Therefore: diversity, competing

ideas6. Truth emerges from debate

How do media support democracy?

1. SurveillanceWhat’s going on – because we cannot experience everything of importance to us.Examples of media surveillance?

2. Interpretation and ContextNot just facts but a way to understand facts (through context, explanation, focus)

First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

• Congress shall make no law…abridging freedom of speech and press

• Special protection for the press

• Thus providing rights, responsibilities

The Role of the Media

1. Media active, not passive2. Media should take an active role in

interpreting, presenting information (e.g., what’s important, context, etc.)

3. Press should assure diversity, competition of ideas, creating or channeling friction

4. It’s the marketplace of ideas that allows self government

5. Premise: the more vigorous the debate, the healthier the society

The Role of the Media, continued

6. Media are a watchdog on government

7. Error inevitable in debateSo must tolerate some error

8. Tradeoff: error better than repression

9. Freedom of press: for the nation not just for the media

10. Safety Valve Theory

Alternatives to Free Press: Government Censorship

1. Restrictions on what media can publish, show

2. Anti-democratic3. Limits ideas, options4. Often self serving (for those in

power)Zimbabwe (see readings)

Taliban? Elsewhere….