JOUR2300 Ch1 Notes PDF

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The Mirror, the Watchdog and the Marketplace Chapter 1 Learning Objectives Understand the essential role journalism plays in a democracy. Explore the specific functions the press performs to fulfill democratic needs. Consider the factors that influence whether and how well journalism can perform those functions. Opening Anecdote Sri Lankan newspaper editor Lasantha Wickramatunga assassinated in January 2009 Criticized the government war against separatist Tamil Tigers Wrote/published an editorial 3 days before, anticipating his death, describing his role as a journalist and the role of a free press in a democracy Roles of a journalist, and a free press in a democratic society Sri Lankan newspaper editor Lasantha Wickramatunga Free media serve as a mirror for the readers on their nation and its management by elected officials. Journalists are (often) risking their lives to do this. Supporting unpopular causes Standing up for the weak Challenging the powerful Exposing corruption Presenting a “contrary” view Key ideas of Chapter 1 Journalism: a key player in democracy Needs of self-governance include: Information dissemination Accountability Representation Deliberation Conflict resolution Metaphors for how journalism meets those needs Mirror Watchdog Marketplace of ideas Journalism and democracy around the world What does it mean for the press in a country to be free? Free from what? Free to do what? Which nation’s press is most free? Least free?

What kinds of challenges to press freedom exist in countries, both free and not so free? Why is press freedom important? Freedom in the World 2016 Report from Freedom House The vanguard of liberties “A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both.” James Madison Historical Backdrop American colonial experience American Revolution Taxation issues Hands-off vs resubmission to British control Spread of Enlightenment in Europe John Locke and others: Power and authority of individual reason over other, perhaps arbitrary, sources Marketplace of ideas and decision-making Democracy Enlightenment philosophy What is the source of truth? Who has the ultimate authority? (missing info here) What Democracy Needs from Journalism: Three common metaphors used in describing Journalism (But NOT “What Democracy Needs From Journalism”) The Mirror Journalism shows us who we are The Watchdog Journalism alerts us to what needs attention The Marketplace Journalism offers us ideas to consider and a place to discuss options 5 Needs for a Democracy that Journalism Provides Information dissemination Accountability Representation Deliberation Conflict resolution The press as a mirror

Fulfills democratic needs for: Information dissemination Editorial judgment/Gatekeeping Representation The press as a watchdog Fulfills democratic needs for: Accountability Information dissemination The press as a marketplace Fulfills democratic needs for: Representation Deliberation Conflict resolution From The Hutchins Commission, 1942 Freedom of the press is essential to political liberty. Where men cannot freely convey their thoughts to one another, no freedom is secure. Where freedom of expression exists, the beginnings of a free society and a means for every extension of liberty are already present. Free expression is therefore unique among liberties: It promotes and protects all the rest. From The Hutchins Commission, 1942 Press freedoms were threatened. Many did not support the press because of… Sensationalism ‘Scoop’ mentality Blurring lines between advertising and news Concentration of media ownership Unless something changed, censorship was inevitable Social responsibility theory What happens when the press doesn’t perform those functions? Hutchins Commission: Free press in danger In danger of what? What was to blame? “Behave, or else!” Gave rise to the idea of journalism as a profession Along with freedoms come (public) responsibilities Journalism Informs, Analyzes, Interprets and Explains Goal: Get the right information to the citizens under the assumption that when properly informed, they will make sound decisions. News vs. information News has process, judgment(s), values, professional norms Brings meaning and context to what happened today

Journalism Investigates Watchdog function Late 20th century creation Muckraking Calls on society to decide what is, or is not, an outrage to our sense of moral order Adversarial Journalism Environmental journalism Journalism Creates a Public Conversation A forum where people can speak freely About government About business About anything Journalism is a conversation starter Journalism Helps Generate Social Empathy News media assist in creating tolerance and pluralism Public norms Laws Journalism Encourages Accountability Accountability of institutions Democracy is supposed to be a self-correcting mechanism Institutions should provide information about its operation, and there must be sanctions when it behaves badly. The Fourth Estate Horizontal and vertical accountability Lippmann vs. Dewey Lippmann: If we depend on citizens, we are in trouble. Dewey: democracy is more about the conversation than the information. Freedom and responsibility Summary Journalism plays an important role in democratic self-governance Performs functions related to information dissemination, accountability, representation, deliberation and conflict resolution The mirror, watchdog and marketplace metaphors are common ways of describing those functions Journalism must be free to perform those functions, but also responsible for doing so A key tension in journalism Many barriers to performing necessary functions

Elements of Hutchins Commission still ring true today...