Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

The mass media are an important, if not the most important, factor in the development of free opinion in democracies. That is to say that the media have a specific democratic responsibility ( McQuail 1987 , 117–118). It is no wonder that, apart from freedom of speech, free journalism, and a free media system, the diversity of media is seen as being the most important condition for the emergence and progression of democracies (→  Concentration in Media Systems ). A heterogeneous media structure is also seen as being an important condition for the development of a diverse and pluralistic media content, representing a balanced diversity of viewpoints on political issues and opinions (→  Plurality ). This again is conceived as an important condition in the development of a diverse and pluralistic →  public opinion and sound comprehension by citizens of political coherences and procedures in democracies. On the other hand, low competition and too much homogeneity within the media system is seen as a threat to a diverse and pluralistic media content. This notion presumes that ownership concentration has a direct (negative) effect on the content variety of media. However, a pluralistic media structure and competition within the media system alone are no guarantee for the prevention of consonance of media content. This is especially true for nonfictional media content like news. Noelle-Neumann ... log in or subscribe to read full text