Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

The →  news is like lifeblood to democratic societies. The information provided daily through the major mass media →  Television , →  Radio , →  Newspapers , and increasingly the →  Internet – keeps citizens up to date with the latest political, economic, and social developments, world events, natural and man-made disasters, lives of famous public figures, scientific breakthroughs, and sports and weather. It serves to keep electorates apprised of the performance of their elected political representatives, helps people to cope with bad news, and also provides a sense of continuity in an increasingly varied media landscape and a sense of security even during times of extreme adversity (→  Journalism: Normative Theories ). The news media bring governments and politicians to account, expose scandals and antisocial behavior, and remind citizens of their own responsibilities within democratic societies (→  Investigative Reporting ; Objectivity in Reporting ). In non-democratic and developing regions of the world, the news media are used to maintain social order, but may also lead the people to question the actions and motives of their leaders (→  Development Journalism ). Where citizens display a lack of engagement in democratic processes, however, as evidenced for example by falling turn-outs in major political elections, attention often turns to the role and performance of the new ... log in or subscribe to read full text