The libertarian theory of the press holds that the freedom of the press is a fundamental human right and should be protected from government interference. According to this theory, the press should be able to report on any issue without fear of retribution or censorship, and should not be subject to government control or regulation.
The basis for this theory can be traced back to the principle of freedom of speech, which is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and is considered a fundamental human right in many countries around the world. The press, as a means of communication, is an integral part of this right and plays a crucial role in ensuring that the public has access to a wide range of viewpoints and ideas.
Libertarians argue that the press should be free to report on any issue, regardless of whether the government or other powerful interests find it inconvenient or disagree with the message being conveyed. This is because the press serves an important watchdog function, holding those in power accountable for their actions and exposing wrongdoing and corruption. Without a free press, it would be much more difficult for the public to hold their leaders accountable and to make informed decisions about the issues that affect their lives.
However, while the libertarian theory of the press emphasizes the importance of freedom of expression, it also acknowledges that this freedom is not absolute. For example, libel and defamation laws may be used to protect individuals from false or malicious statements made by the press. However, these laws should be narrowly tailored to protect the rights of individuals, rather than being used to silence critical voices or suppress unpopular viewpoints.
In conclusion, the libertarian theory of the press holds that the freedom of the press is a fundamental human right that should be protected from government interference. This freedom allows the press to serve as a watchdog, holding those in power accountable and ensuring that the public has access to a wide range of viewpoints and ideas. While there may be some limited exceptions to this freedom, such as libel and defamation laws, these should be narrowly tailored to protect the rights of individuals rather than being used to silence critical voices or suppress unpopular viewpoints.
(DOC) THE LIBERTARIAN THEORY OF THE PRESS: A CONTEMPORARY REVIEW
It is also known as the four theories of the Press by Wilbur Schramm 1956. Libertarian theory is also part of the normative theories of mass communication. The four theories of the press according to Siebert, Peterson and Schramm are: Authoritarian Theory Developed in 17th century England, Soviet Communist Theory The Soviet Union expanded on the authoritarian theory and imposed even more restrictions on the press. This paper employs a theoretical framework that combines political economy and cultural studies to uncover the forces driving the development of press freedom in early modern England, the United States and France from the launch in 1640 of the English Short Parliament, which temporarily abolished censorship, to the French Revolution in 1789. Four Theories of the Press The four theories of the press are authoritarian, libertarian, social responsibility, and communist soviet theory.
Normative Theory
This is a complete example of Libertarian Theory of Mass Communication where people and the media give comments or criticize the policies without any government interference. Diversity of Opinions As part of their founding charters, social-responsibility press organizations often have a responsibility to provide a diverse range of opinions. The press and communication system is controlled by the government nominated authority or agency. Vanguard, an eastern-bloc newspaper, Tribune, a western bloc newspaper and New-Nigeria, a core northern Newspaper. This study offers a new theory of press freedom, undergirded by the claim that the production of rights occurs in the realm of social relations, which have cultural, economic and political dimensions. Social responsibility theory allows the press to publish news without taking permission from the government, but at the same time, they need to liaise with society. A broad range of libertarian publications and productions provide a wider range of opinions, but no outlet is likely to provide the range of a social responsibility organization's.
Four Theories of the Press: Authoritarian, Libertarian, Social Responsibility
This means they are more likely to enjoy financial stability. I REST MY CASE. Also, the person can file a law-suit if they are defamed or their privacy is compromised. So, it publishes news and information that the government wants to know about the public in the country. Newsmoor- Educational Website For Online Learning. These articles are providing brief knowledge about the government and its activities which helps people to identify what is happening in the society and its gives great choices to elect a better president in future. Four theories of the press: The authoritarian, libertarian, social responsibility, and soviet communist concepts of what the press should be and do Vol.
Libertarian Theory
After that, and in the 1900s, Europe accepted it. THE LIBERTARIAN THEORY OF THE PRESS: A CONTEMPORARY REVIEW To cite: Okafor N. The author discusses how the philosophy of communitarianism might serve as a model to maintain the interests of both the media and national development in an emerging media context. That why I choose the theory for review…. The libertarianism is an idea of individualism and limited government which is not harmful to another. The Four Theories of the Press are Authoritarian Theory, Libertarian Theory, Social Responsibility Theory, Communist Soviet Theory, Authoritarian Theory. According to the Libertarian concept, the human is a rational individual to know the truth.
Libertarian Theory of Mass Communication
Obiriki Tarelayefa Department of mass communication Caleb University Imota Lagos Nigeria On paper, the theory seems to be more appealing, however practically it is hard to be adopted by most of countries with fake democracy ideologies. Firstly, In the 1700s, authorities applied the libertarian theory of the press in the USA. Communist Soviet Theory Communist Soviet Theory describes that the ministry of the respective government controls the press media, but they are free to work for the society. And that this theory made perfect sense to me. Therefore, the social responsibility theory of the press has linked the libertarian and authoritarian theories. The government regulates and guides the mass media outlets for the benefit of the people.
