"Media democracy is a democratic approach to media studies that advocates for the reform of mass media to strengthen public service broadcasting and develop participation in alternative media and citizen journalism in order to create a mass media system that informs and empowers all members of society and enhances democratic values."
An analysis of the impact of global media on democracy and the public sphere.
Freedom of the press: The right for journalists to report and share information without censorship or legal repercussions is a cornerstone of democratic values.
Concentration of media ownership: When a small number of corporations dominate the media industry, they have the power to control what kind of information and opinions the public receives, potentially limiting free speech and diverse viewpoints.
Role of social media: Social media has transformed the way we consume and share information, allowing for greater access to a wider range of content and perspectives. However, it has also raised concerns about fake news, filter bubbles, and the spread of misinformation.
Media bias: Different media outlets may have their own political or ideological biases, which can affect the way they frame and report on events.
Journalism ethics: Journalists have a responsibility to report accurately and objectively, and to refrain from engaging in practices such as sensationalizing news or using anonymous sources without proper verification.
Media literacy: Being able to critically evaluate and understand media sources is an important skill for consumers of media. This includes being able to identify bias, evaluate sources, and distinguish between fact and opinion.
Digital divide: Not everyone has equal access to digital media technologies, which can exacerbate inequalities in terms of access to information and participation in democratic processes.
Media regulation: Governments may try to regulate the media in order to ensure the protection of public interest, but this can also pose a threat to freedom of the press.
Globalization of media: Media companies often operate across borders, meaning that their influence may extend beyond national boundaries and have implications for democratic processes around the world.
Media ownership and political power: In some countries, media owners may have close ties to political leaders, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and the potential use of media as a tool of political influence.
Traditional media: It includes newspapers, radio, and television that are typically owned, controlled, and financed by entities that have political and economic power.
Social media: It refers to online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others where people can share their views and opinions on different issues.
Citizen journalism: It refers to the reporting of news and events by ordinary people outside of traditional media channels.
Alternative media: It includes non-profit and non-commercial news outlets that provide coverage of stories that are typically ignored by mainstream media.
Public service broadcasting: It refers to a type of broadcasting that is funded by the government and is tasked with providing unbiased coverage of news and events.
State media: It refers to media outlets controlled by governments or ruling parties, and often serves as a propaganda tool for the government.
Community media: It includes radio, television, and print media that are designed to serve the needs of a particular community or region.
Corporate media: It refers to media outlets that are owned and operated by large corporations and often provide coverage that is in line with the interests of their owners.
Media literacy: It refers to the ability of individuals to critically evaluate media messages and understand how they influence our perceptions of the world.
Participatory media: It refers to efforts by civic groups and media organizations to engage citizens in the production of news and information, often through online tools and social media.
Collaborative media: It includes efforts by journalists and media organizations to work together to cover stories and provide independent coverage of news and events.
Mobile media: It includes the use of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets to access news and information, as well as to produce and share content.
"It advocates for the reform of mass media to strengthen public service broadcasting and develop participation in alternative media and citizen journalism."
"Media democracy focuses on the empowerment of individual citizens and on the promotion of democratic ideals through the spread of information."
"For example, it views media ownership concentration as undemocratic and as being unable to promote democracy, and thus, as a facet of media that must be examined critically."
"Both the concept and the social movements promoting it have grown in response to the increased corporate domination in mass media and perceived shrinking of the marketplace of ideas."
"In the book Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media, authors Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky outline the propaganda model of media, which states that the private interests in control of media outlets shape news and information before it is disseminated to the public through the use of five information filters."
"It extends the media's relationship to the public sphere, where the information gathered can be viewed and shared by the people."
"The relationship of media democracy and the public sphere extends to various types of media, such as social media and mainstream media."
"It attempts to make mainstream media more accountable to the publics they serve and to create more democratic alternatives to current forms of mass media."
"The approach argues that the media system itself should be democratic in its own construction, shying away from private ownership or intense regulations."
"It understands media as a tool with the power to reach a large audience with a central role in shaping culture."
"It advocates for the reform of mass media to strengthen public service broadcasting."
"It advocates for the reform of mass media to develop participation in alternative media and citizen journalism."
"It is against concentration in the ownership of media, and it champions diversity of voices and perspectives within the news system."
"Both the concept and the social movements promoting it have grown in response to the increased corporate domination in mass media and perceived shrinking of the marketplace of ideas."
"It focuses on the empowerment of individual citizens and on the promotion of democratic ideals through the spread of information."
"It views media ownership concentration as undemocratic and as being unable to promote democracy."
"The relationship of media democracy and the public sphere extends to various types of media, such as social media and mainstream media, in order for people to communicate with one another through digital media and share the information they want to publish to the public."
"The approach argues that the media system itself should be democratic in its own construction, shying away from private ownership or intense regulations."
"It advocates for the reform of mass media to strengthen public service broadcasting and develop participation in alternative media and citizen journalism in order to create a mass media system that informs and empowers all members of society and enhances democratic values."