COMMON THREADS
One of the Common Threads discussed in Chapter 1 is the role that media play in a democracy. Is a free media system necessary for democracy to exist, or must democracy first be established to enable a media system to operate freely? What do the mass media do to enhance or secure democracy?
In 1787, as the Constitution was being formed, Thomas Jefferson famously said, “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” Jefferson supported the notion of a free press and free speech. He stood against the Sedition Act, which penalized free speech, and did not support its renewal when he became president in 1801.
Nevertheless, as president, Jefferson had to withstand the vitriol and allegations of a partisan press. In 1807, near the end of his second term, Jefferson’s idealism about the press had cooled, as he remarked, “The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them, inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.”
Today, we contend with mass media that extend far beyond newspapers—
But in a country as big as America, the media constitute one of those critical organizations that can help or hurt us in creating a more economically and politically democratic society. At their worst, the media can distract or misinform us with falsehoods and errors. But at their Jeffersonian best, the media can shed light on the issues, tell meaningful stories, and foster the discussions that can help a citizens’ democracy flourish.
KEY TERMS
The definitions for the terms listed below can be found in the glossary at the end of the book. The page numbers listed with the terms indicate where the term is highlighted in the chapter.
authoritarian model, 540
communist or state model, 540
social responsibility model, 540
Fourth Estate, 541
libertarian model, 541
prior restraint, 542
copyright, 545
public domain, 545
libel, 546
slander, 546
actual malice, 547
qualified privilege, 547
opinion and fair comment, 547
obscenity, 548
right to privacy, 549
gag orders, 551
shield laws, 552
indecency, 559
Section 315, 561
Fairness Doctrine, 562
REVIEW QUESTIONS
The Origins of Free Expression and a Free Press
Film and the First Amendment
Expression in the Media: Print, Broadcast, and Online
The First Amendment and Democracy
QUESTIONING THE MEDIA
LAUNCHPAD FOR MEDIA & CULTURE