What Role Should the Media Play in a Democratic Society - Essay Example

?The role of the media in any democracy is a concept that s way back to the 17th century. The media was referred to then as the fourth e and today is being seen more as the fourth arm of government after the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. The media is being increasingly viewed as an integral part of democracy which the latter cannot function properly without (Lichtenberg, 1991, 21). The media of course refers to all the means of mass communication including the press, radio, television and lately the internet (Oxford English Dictionary). It is the means by which mass communication has been attained, sometimes instantaneously, for a long period of time. The media continues to shape dispersal of information, opinion and attitude formation today as it has done for over three centuries (Lichtenberg, 1991, 23). This paper sets out to describe the role that the media should play in a democratic society and factors that may prevent the media from playing that role in modern day Britain. The media plays the primary role of a watchdog and guardian of the public interest in the conduct of public affairs. It is also an important conduit of information between the governors and the governed (Coronel, 2010, 1). This means that there would literally be a breakdown of communication between the governors and the governed without the media. The governors have a tendency to communicate to the public only that which they believe is fit for public consumption and holding back the truth whenever it suits them. The media comes in handy in such situations to expose the information that the governor would wish to sweep under the carpet in order to avoid public disapproval or embarrassment. In this way the media performs two important basic functions (Center for Democracy, 1999, 3). The first role is to ensure that citizens make informed choices by getting access to relevant, truthful and relevant information on issues that directly or indirectly affect their lives. This cannot be possible if they are only subjected to information the government feels it can relay to them. IF they only rely on official sources to gain access, they are likely to act on the basis of ignorance or misinformation, which inevitably leads to the wrong choices (Center for Democracy, 1999, 3). Secondly, proper conveyance of information serves as a check on leaders to watch their excesses in the form of corruption, exploitation or even crime. Officials tend to act in their self interest even if such interests go against the law and their oaths of office, if nothing is done to check their conduct. This watchdog function of the media is therefore important in ensuring that the leaders only make those decisions that are in the public interest rather than serving only their parochial whims (Center for Democracy, 1999, 3). In order to play its role effectively the media particularly focuses on important facets of governance, the economy, public education, infrastructural and social development, internal and international relations, human interest issues, public discussions, peace and consensus building and control of their own internal operations. Without balancing these important tenets, the media itself may become a victim of its own parochialism or pettiness that puts its operations within reproach (Lewis, 2005, 70). On governance the media has been known to play a great role in putting governors in constant check. This is mainly done through investigative reporting. Journalists usually do their best, sometimes at great risk to life and limb, to expose issues that are otherwise covered up by the leadership. Such issues include involvement in shady and corrupt deals (Lewis, 2005, 72). In the UK such investigations by the Telegraph in 2009 revealed the involvement of members of parliament in false cash claims of expenses and allowances to the exchequer which resulted in loses of substantial amounts of tax payers’ money (The Daily Telegraph). This resulted in the resignation of several legislators, sackings, de-selections and repayment of public cash (Yeoman). Outside the UK some leaders have lost their seats due to the exposure of their involvement in corruption. These include Brazil’s Fernando De Mello in 1992 and Peru’s Alberto Fujimori in 2000. In some countries this kind of dedication to duty has endangered the lives of journalists some of whom have died in the line of duty. These are usually countries with weak legal systems and dictatorial leadership tendencies where the freedom of the media is curtailed by overzealous crooks out to protect their illegitimate thieving ways by all means possible. Even in such circumstances though the power of good has triumphed over evil as seen in the Latin American cases above where a change towards democracy was ultimately attained (Lewis, 2005, 81). In terms of the economy, the media always plays a great role. Apart from checking the rulers, the media helps to notify the public of developments in the economic sector that may be of interest to them. Many newspapers and electronic media channels run fully fledged business and finance departments that keep the public informed on developments in the business world (Hackett, 2001, 42). The media also plays a crucial role in educating members of the public on issues affecting them such as infectious diseases, oncoming famines and national disasters such as approaching hurricanes. In this way the public is able to make informed choices on how to prevent catastrophes from happening. The media also helps to initiate discussions on topical issues and to keep the public informed on new developments on each of them. A handy example is discussion on the indiscriminate information and images available to underage children via the internet. This has helped individuals to take measures to control the surfing of the internet by their children (Hackett, 2001, 42). Another important contribution of the media towards maintaining order in society is initiating discussions that ensure peace and harmonious co-existence. Where uncontrolled rhetoric from leaders may result in chaos and disharmony, the media plays the role of preaching unity and tolerance. The media has been known to be active in fighting racial discrimination, political intolerance, genocides and ethnic violence (Fourie, 2008, 45). Unfortunately, sections of the media have also been known to push forward agenda that support such violent schemes as the ones mentioned here. A case in point is the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, which was seriously incited and driven by state run radio in collaboration with the now infamous Hutu owned radio station RTLM (Melvern, 2004, 49). The media plays an integral role in British society. It is always the leading light in terms of shaping public opinion and influencing decisions. However, this great power the media controls is also the greatest threat to its role in Britain today. The media is its own worst enemy. Carl Marx once described the media as a tool for creating false reality to disguise oppression and exploitation (Curran, 1982, 14). This is the danger the media faces if it creates a surrealism of its own, different from the existing reality. The media cannot be allowed to operate outside the legal jurisdiction just because it happens to be powerful. The leaks that emerged in 2010 about Rupert Murdoch involvement in tapping the telephone lines of various MPs exposed a transgression of the law by the media mogul (Porter, & Hutton, 2010). The very powerful Murdoch showed contempt to the media when they tried to interview him over the scandal. When the media gets too powerful for its own good like this, then it may just begin pursuing a sectarian agenda that fits in with the Marxist derogatory definition of the media. As a watchdog of society, the media must remain beyond reproach. Activities like those Murdoch was accused of do not help this cause at all (Porter, & Hutton, 2010). Another problem the British media must contend with is its tendency to go personal and concentrate on the sleaze in the individual’s lifestyle. The media today has a high content of innuendo targeting public figures that cannot pass for human interest stories. They rate more as story loved by the alternative or gutter press. One or two stories may be acceptable, but when the mainstream media goes all out to look for sleaze, then they tend to cheapen their stories and run the risk of going out of business, as seen in the next point (Hackett, 2001, 41). The media is no longer the only source of information to the masses today. Social networking sites which are individually rather than institutionally run are slowly taking over. They have up to date pictures of events in areas where journalists are not to be found. Of course the internet is classified as part of the media, but it is a rogue media that does not fall under the normal control. There are no journalistic ethics, or official registration or regulation. They may slowly be putting the mainstream media as we know it out of business, especially if the latter concentrate on issues that are not of such interest to the public (Hackett, 2001, 48). Provided that the media continue to play their role in society and concentrate on issues that are of importance to the public, they will continue play to be important. The information gap between the governor and the governed needs to be bridged more, especially now that the world is becoming one big village. Incorporating new trends in to the manner of communication to the public will also help a great deal in keeping the press in business in Britain and elsewhere. This includes working more closely with the social networking sites. Works Cited 1. Center for Democracy and Governance, 1999, Role of the Media in Democracy: A Strategic Approach, Washington: USAID, pp 3-4. 2. Coronel S. Sheila, Role of the Media in Deepening Democracy, Geneva: UN Publications, p 1. 3. Curran, J et al, 1982, Culture, Society and the Media, London: Methuen, p 14. 4. Fourie, Pieter J.,2008, Media Studies: Media History, Media and Society, New York: Juta and Company, p 45. 5. Hackett, Robert A., 2001, Building a Movement for Media Democratization, New York: Seven Stories, pp 41- 48. 6. Lewis, Jeff, 2005, Language Wars: The Role of Media and Culture in Global Terror and Political Violence, London: University of Michigan Press, p 81. 7. Lichtenberg, Judith (ed), 1991, Democracy and the Mass Media,” Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 21-65. 8. Melvern, Linda, 2004, Conspiracy to Murder: The Rwandan Genocide, New York: Verso, p 49. 9. Oxford English Dictionary, 2011, Online Version, Retrieved on 8/3/2011 from 10. Porter, Henry & Hutton, Will, 2010 12 September, “Rupert Murdorch and the Future of the British Media”. The Guardian Newspaper online retrieved on 8/3/2011 from: 11. The Daily Telegraph, 2010 February 5, "MP's expenses: Our MPs still aren't getting the message", London, Retrieved 6 March 2011 from 12. Yeoman, Fran, 2009, 18 June, "How the censors filleted the meat out of MPs expense claims". London: Times Online. Retrieved 18 June 2009 from Read More