Assignment:4

Differentiate between authoritarian and libertarian theory

Submitted to:

Sir Kamran khan

Submitted by:

Rana Talha Roshan

Roll number : 031

Department:

Mass Communication and Media

Semester :6th

University of Narowal
 Libertarian theory vs. Authoritarian Theory

Each country’s mass media system is determined by its political philosophy. These controlling
philosophies have even started since then without people noticing or knowing it. From the
earliest civilizations up to now, various controlling philosophies are playing a great role in a
certain nation’s political and even mass media system.
 
When I was a kid, I thought that everything wherever part of the globe is for free. However, later
in college, I slowly understand things the way they should be. I realized that the God-given
freedom is not that free everywhere and not that free all the time. In fact, you cannot have that
freedom easily even in countries with democratic form of political system.
 
Since the earliest times, the control of leaders which led to the oppression of the people has been
demonstrated. The concept of authoritarianism developed throughout history wherein people in
various societies lived under the authority of scrupulous people. Even English monarchs in the
15th and 16th century, when the printing press was realized, compelled restrictive censorship on
publishers through a series of limitations such as licensing, taxation, and seditious libel.
Actually, these forms of limitations are not bad at all because these serve as gatekeepers for
some irresponsible printed materials.

Frederick Seibert propounded the libertarian and authoritarian theories in his ‘Four theories of

the press’. The term “press” in Siebert”s work refers to the media of mass communication,
namely, radio, television and newspapers.
According to Seibert, the media in an authoritarian system requires government control. In this
theory, the assumption is that not all men are endowed with wisdom and as such, only the wise
few (government) should direct the affairs of the people.. it also assumes that these wise men are
infallible.

Basically, both theories have control over the mass media; nevertheless, there is one important
difference. In authoritarian, the media is recognized as a different body from the government
while in Soviet-Communist theory; the press for all matters and functions has been a part of the
state. There is no such term as repression of the press in this system, for the press is the state.
However, the question is, how does the government make profit out of it?
 
The system prohibits the publishing of any material that the government deems to undermine the
security of the state, or its social or moral values. The authoritarian practice controls the media
by granting licenses and sometimes censorship. The governments do these with the aim of
protecting the collective interests of the public; or that is what they believe.
Ghana at one time also did its fair suppression of the media. This authoritarian
 “it is part of our revolutionary credo that within the competitive system of capitalism, the press
cannot function in accordance with a strict regard for the sacredness of facts and the press,
therefore, should not remain in private hands”
On another occasion, he stated, “the truly African press does not exist for the purpose of
enriching its proprietors or entertaining its readers. It is an integral part of our society…must
carry out our revolutionary purpose”.
The control of the media was reinforced with legislation. A Criminal Code (Amendment) Act
was passed requiring “newspapers and other publications of matters calculated to prejudice
public order or safety” to be submitted for scrutiny before publication.(Audrey Gadzekpo)
According to Gadzekpo, “the final overt policy… was the passing of the newspaper licensing
law (PNDC Law 211) in1989that revoked the registration of all newspapers. Seibert graphically
describes the relationship of the media and authoritarian systems as such government.

The libertarian or free press theory contrasts with the authoritarian theory. It rests on the idea that
the individual had the right to publish what he or she likes regardless of whether it was true or
not. It advocates for a free marketplace of ideas where each one would choose from among
various ideas, which one was true. Even attacks on the government are accepted. The
government does not intervene or censor the media in this system’s material.
The First amendment of the United States constitution prevents any law from being passed that
blocks the freedom of the press.

The authoritarian and libertarian systems do share some things in common. The media in both
systems are understood to wield tremendous power. Both systems recognize the vital role that
the media plays or can play. It is how they manipulate the knowledge that differs in both
instances. In Audrey Gadzekpo’s Ghana case study, she cited Joyce Aryee, as giving a clue into
the PNDC government’s communication policy when she said:
I do not see the press as laying outside of the political institutions that we have…People ought to
realize the role of the media differs from country to country. In a situation like ours when we
need to conscientise people and where we have an illiteracy problem, you use institutions like
the media to do the conscientisation”(African Contemporary Report,1983-84).
The conscientisation effort meant that private newspapers were randomly banned for “distorting
news”…and also for distorting the ideals of the 31st December Revolution. (Asante, 1996)
In addition both systems have a level of restriction. There is no absolute freedom in either
system. This is because the constitution has provision for the protection of citizens against libel
and slander by media houses. Any citizen who feels aggrieved can petition any law court against
a media house. This acts as a check on the freedom of the press although the check may not
come from government.

The law of contempt also curtails the right off the media to publish even what is true...
The Sunday Times of London was found guilty of publishing below a picture of Michael Malik,
who was then awaiting a retrial for an offense, ‘he took to politicks after an unedifying career as
a brothel keeper, procurer, then a property racketeer”
It would also amount to contempt if an accused person’s confession statement is published
however true it might be.
In contrast, each system is inclined towards the few in the society (the rulers) or the majority.
The authoritarian theory is a tool in the hands of the government or the select few. The
libertarian theory on the other hand puts much power in the hands of the people since owning
and operating a media could be done by anyone, in the absence of strict regulations.

Libertarianism grants a totally free press upholding that people are inherently rational truth-
seekers. Here in the Pakistan, just like in U.S., journalists and broadcasters have this freedom of
expression as stated in the First Amendment (“Congress shall pass no law…abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press.”). Though sometimes it leads to some libel and slander cases
in the part of journalists but they have this freedom to defend themselves. We have what we call
the privileged communication and fair comment on matters of public interest. For me,
Philippines is a perfect place to exercise libertarianism. As future journalist (hope so), I consider
my freedom of expression as my best weapon to influence others through writing. My freedom is
my life!

As future journalist, we should also have this social responsibility. A responsibility to eradicate
corrupt, irresponsible or immoral actions that may bring impairment to the community, its
people, or the environment before the behavior takes place. A true journalist must have this
passion to serve and provide good service to the people. Sometimes, the liberty of having this
freedom led for some to abuse it and use it in several negative purposes and intentions.
References

https://www.communicationtheory.org/authoritarian-theory/

https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/j.ctv1nhr0v

https://www.le.ac.uk/oerresources/media/ms7501/mod2unit11/page_07.htm

https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4107738