How Does Mass Media Promote Democracy

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Ebony Booth 4726601
Explain the function of the mass media in promoting democracy. To what extent do you think the mass media succeeds in this function? Give TWO reasons for your view.

The conditions contributing to democracy have evolved significantly from the idea’s formation in Ancient Greece, where only a limited number of citizens participated. Today millions of people are involved in their countries democratic processes and therefore the process surrounding democracy have too changed. The continuation of modern democracy requires the mass media to connect the governing and the people. It is assumed that function of the media is to promote democracy. Thinkers have differing views of how the mass media supports democracy, this essay explore
The mass media is unsuccessful in promoting democracy.

The differing interpretations of what function the mass media plays in promoting democracy becomes problematic when evaluating the success said functions. Jacob Rowbottom identifies the functions as: acting as a public watchdog while providing diverse information and ideas (2010, pp. 609). While Strömbäck states there are three functions: preserving the flow of information, providing a forum for discussion of diverse and conflicting political ideas; and acting as a public watchdog against abuses of power (2005, pp. 332). Trappe & Maniglio formulate functions from democratic principles of freedom, equality and control and inclusion of Stromback’s ideas. The flow of information develops from freedom principles, public forum of diverse ideas and interest mediation; derives from notions of equality and public watchdog against the abuse of power comes from the control and transparency desired in democracy (2009, pp. 177-178). Two functions that are prominent in all the definitions presented are the role of the mass media to act as a public watchdog and providing diverse and translucent information. The public watchdog “…performs its democratic function by holding the government and other public
Trappe & Maniglio study into developed countries found that commercialisation of the media has a negative impact on supporting democracy “…the media, mainly driven by consumerist approaches, have gradually abandoned the public service mission of journalism.” (2009 pp.197). The public service model deems the role of the mass media is to provide different viewpoints to a wide audience, enabling citizens to interact with information of which they were are not aware or may disagree (Rowbottom 2010, pp. 614). The public service model promotes diversity of viewpoints as previously acknowledged this function is essential in supporting democratic ideas. The move away from the public service model of journalism allows for certain ideas to become dominant the mass media to increase profits however this is can be disastrous for democracy. This can be exhibited in Lithuania were “… the influence of powerful institutions is comparably high…” (Trappe & Maniglio, 2009 pp.197)Therefore Lithuania scored lowest in equality and interest mediation at only 60% in Trappe & Maniglio study into monitoring the media (2009 pp.197). An additional change in the mass media identified by Trappe & Maniglio is that the countries Lithuania and Portugal suffer from a lack of investment in resources for investigative reporting (Trappe & Maniglio, 2009 pp.197). The consequences of the lack of

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