Why is the media important in a democracy? - BBC Bitesize For the sake of this task, free media are an indispensable part of every free democracy. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. After all, the media exercise a control function over those in power by also disseminating information that they would have liked to keep secret and by taking a critical stance on this information. It was against this background that the Institute for African Alternatives(IFAA) recently hosted a public forum, The future of independent media, at Community House in Salt River. We hear each and every one of you. The exercise of this human right by journalists benefits everyone. They help in forming the opinion of the masses. Independent news has never been so important. Your email address will not be published. The media can expose corruption. Honest reporting on the government better prepares the public to vote in elections. The role of a free and independent media in development Protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a free press helps maintain the balance of power in government. A free media is considered as the backbone of any true democracy. This means that the journalists do not have the right to freedom of expression, and that the media is not independent. The world sucks, and someone with credibility has to tell the truth about it., An independent news organisation is vitally important to democracy., Journalism is the best answer to tyranny., You are exposing the corruption and lawlessness of global criminals so that we may hold them accountable and become a better world.. Due to the anti-communist hysteria during. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Only by protecting independent journalism can we ensure that people have a balanced, informed understanding of their government and its policies. nama pengguna anda. - Spreads political awareness. No one sort of definition explains everything. The war on journalism goes beyond the most extreme acts of murder and intimidation journalists routinely face legal and financial pressures and other forms of intimidation that prevent them from fulfilling their vital role in the democratic process. Just as government officials are beholden to the people, media in a democracy must exist to serve the people. Today is #GivingNewsDay, a day which celebrates and calls attention to the critical journalism being produced by independent, nonprofit news organizations like ICIJ. The reasons vary but they all have a similar theme the work of ICIJ, and the work of investigative journalists, is needed more than ever. Hence it is rightly called the fourth Pillar of democracy i.e. Without an independent media, reports of the government are often only positive. However, citizens looked to improve the coverage and quality of democracy.