The Media - Role, Rights and Influence

The media and democracy

In a democracy, a free press (newspapers, TV, radio and online news) does more than report the news. It informs citizens, investigates problems, and holds those in power to account. This module looks at the role of a free press, the rights and responsibilities of the media, and how the media is used to influence public opinion.

The media words

The key ideas about the media in a democracy:

Match the role

The watchdog role

A newspaper investigates and reveals that a minister has misused public money. Which role of a free press is this?

• Scrutinising those in power
• Entertaining readers with celebrity gossip
• Selling advertising space
• Reporting the weather forecast

Rights and responsibilities

A free press has important rights, but with them come responsibilities.

Why a free press matters

Select the TWO reasons a free press is important in a democracy.

• It informs citizens so they can make up their own minds
• It holds those in power to account
• It lets the government control what people think
• It hides problems from the public

Freedom with limits

A free press is a powerful check on those in power: this is why it is sometimes called the watchdog of democracy. But press freedom is not unlimited. The media must be accurate and respect privacy, and a press regulator handles complaints when standards are not met. Sometimes reporting is censored, for example to protect national security or a person's safety.

The two harder cases

A paper uncovers that a minister has taken money from a company they are supposed to regulate. Publishing invades the privacy of that person, and it is still right to publish, because the public _____ in how power is used outweighs it. Now a paper learns the home address of a witness in a criminal trial. Readers would be curious, but curiosity is not the same thing, and publishing could put the witness in _____. That is one of the reasons reporting is sometimes _____. The question is never whether a story is _____; it is whether people need it in order to hold power to _____.

Where is the line?

A newspaper wants to publish the private medical details of an ordinary person, with no public-interest reason. What should guide the decision?

• Respect for the person's privacy and dignity
• Whatever sells the most newspapers
• Publishing first, before rivals
• Whatever the government prefers

Spot the responsibilities

The media has responsibilities as well as rights. Tap the TWO responsibilities of the media.

• Report accurately and fairly
• Investigate matters of public interest
• Respect people's privacy
• Report without government control
• Publish opinions and criticism

Freedom or harm?

For each case, decide what a free press should do.

• A journalist finds evidence that a company is dumping toxic waste and hiding it. Should the press report it?
• A paper wants to print a celebrity's private medical records, with no public-interest reason. What should it do?
• A government tries to stop a newspaper reporting on a genuine failure by ministers. What does a free press value here?

The value of a free press

Explain why a free press is important in a democracy, and explain why its freedom is not unlimited. Write in clear, full sentences.

• Explain one way a free press helps democracy, such as informing citizens or holding power to account
• Explain what is meant by the media acting as a watchdog
• Give one responsibility the media must keep to, such as accuracy or privacy
• Explain why reporting is sometimes limited or censored