CMNS 235 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Pulitzer Prize For Explanatory Reporting, Citizen Journalism, Unthinkable
6 Jun 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Six of seven things news can do for democracy. Journalism and democracy are one and the same. Journalism as a practice is unthinkable except in the context of democracy. Journalism as the practice of periodically producing and publicly disseminating information and commentary about contemporary affairs of general public interest and importance. Journalism exists and has long existed outside democracy. Democracy does not necessarily produce journalism nor does journalism necessarily produce democracy. Journalism can provide a number of different services to help establish or sustain representative government. The relative importance of services changes over time and varies across democracies. The news media can provide fair and full information so citizens can make sound political choices. The educational function of journalism puts the public in the front seat and enables the citizenry to participate in self-government. The informational function of journalism is consonant with democratic social and cultural style. The news media can investigate concentrated sources of power,particularly governmental power.
