Commercial Media as Free Press
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4 word format
document in English
journalism
school essay
published 29/08/2007
review : Completed
level : General public
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Summary
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution states that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” (quoted in McChesney, 2004, p. 26). Ideally, the “free press” clause ensures that individuals may use the means of mass communication to engage in robust political debate through an open exchange of information and ideas, which must be its primary function in a democratic system of government.
Table of Contents
- The functions of mass media in their current commercialized state often prove to be in conflict with this democratic function.
- The former occurred in 1945, following a breakthrough in news distribution.
- The U.S. government filed an injunction against the AP and the Supreme Court upheld it.
- The consolidation of the AP and Western Union created a single commercial entity with unchallenged control over both the content and distribution of an entire medium.
- For example, under the previous regulations, no company could own more than 40 total radio stations
- Then-FCC chairman Michael Powell and others who supported the deregulation measures based their argument on a theory of democracy through free enterprise
- One such flaw is the uneven distribution of resources
- In an advertising-based media market, there is a high premium placed on the ability to attract advertisers
- Even if one concludes that the current market system is the most effective way to facilitate the exchange of conventional consumer products, there are certain aspects of media markets that make them drastically different from those of most other industries.
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