THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN A

DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY;
ELECTRONIC AND PRINT MEDIA
 ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN A DEMO-
CRACY
• Electronic media:- any media that needs elec-
tricity or batteries
• E.g. Internet, emails, websites, Facebook,
Twitter, radio, TV, films and DVD’s.
• Print media:- includes books, newspapers,
magazines, pamphlets, brochures, posters
• The role is to inform society about daily
events that are newsworthy and to enter-
tain.
• Newspapers give us the daily national and in-
ternational news.
• TV and Radio entertain and also offer news,
educational programmes and documentar-
ies.
• Telephones keep people in touch.
• Social media allows you to interact instantly
with other users.
 MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY
• Exposes violations of human rights.
• Reports unlawful activity.
• Exposes corruption and mismanagement.
• Communicates, inform and educate.
• Entertain
• Give political information that can inform
voters.
• Identify problems in our country and com-
munities.
• Promote debate and discussion.
• Promote nation building
• Gives access to diverse viewpoints and
world views as well as sport coverage.
• Give publicity to successes and people who
are inspiring.
• Shape public opinion.
• The responsibility of the media includes be-
ing honest, fair and reliable.
• Freedom of expression comes with the re-
sponsibility to use this freedom with care,
and to take note of the limitations of this
freedom.
• The media reflects and influences public
opinion and are powerful policy drivers.
• Media coverage can make or break a per-
son’s or a company’s reputation.
• Media should explain and give enough in-
formation regarding things happening.
• They should not sensationalise.
• Not use headlines to sell papers.
• Promote free and fair elections.
• Differentiate between facts and opinions.
• Should publish corrections when mistakes
are made.
• The media does not always perform their
role in a democratic society.
• They sometimes misinform, harm and pub-
lish inaccurate versions or half truths.
• They often do not tell the whole story or
put it in its true context.
 WHEN MEDIA DOES NOT FULFIL
THEIR ROLES RESPONSIBLY
• Media aim to satisfy the interests of their ad-
vertisers.
• News entertains rather than informs.
• Political news is often more about personalit-
ies than about the politicians’ work and con-
tributions.
• The lives of famous stars are made difficult by
the paparazzi who invade their private lives.
 FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND
LIMITATIONS
• Means that you can express your ideas and
opinions freely through speech, writing, and
other forms of communications.
• It is the basic right in a democratic society.
• It applies to everyone.
• it does have limitations and boundaries.
• People may not express viewpoints that viol-
ate the rights of others.
 CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOM OF
EXPRESSION
• The Constitution guarantees freedom of ex-
pression for everyone.
• It includes:
• Freedom of press and other media.
• Freedom to receive or impart information.
• Freedom of artistic creativity
• Academic freedom and freedom of scientific
research.
CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATIONS TO
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
• These are the following limitations:
• Propaganda for war
• Incitement of imminent violence
• Advocacy of hatred that is based on race, eth-
nicity, gender or religion
• Incitement to cause harm
 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
• You have freedom of speech, but cannot use
hate speech.
• You cannot use racist language, or discrimin-
ate against anyone
• You cannot encourage people to take part in
violence
• Media may not publicise and distribute any-
thing that is of a criminal nature, or that can
damage or harm people
 THE PROTECTION OF THE STATE
INFORMATION BILL
• This Bill is also known as the Secrecy Bill be-
cause it proposes long jail sentences for
journalists or whistle-blowers or anyone who
makes state secrets public.
• state secrets usually include information that
the general public and other countries don’t
need to know.
• This information is used to protect the public
and country.
• Whereas it is necessary to protect our coun-
try’s state secret, there is fears that this Bill
may be abused to protect some corrupt offi-
cials.
• The negative aspects are that this legislation
may harm investigative journalists, because
it may gag or silence opinions.
 EXTENT TO WHICH MEDIA RE-
PORTING REFLECTS A DEMO-
CRATIC SOCIETY
• The following information can let you decide
the extent or level to which media reflects a
democratic society.
• Topics covered
• Positions take by editors
• Space allocated
• Geographical distribution
 CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF MEDIA
AND CAMPAIGNS
• It is important to critically analyse the media
to evaluate their balance and fairness in re-
porting.
• Pay attention too:
• Content, sources used, types of sensational-
ism, use of shocking details, exaggeration and
accuracy.
COVERAGE OF SPORT, SPORT PER-
SONALITIES AND RECREATIONAL
ACTIVITIES
• The media focuses more on the 5 big sports
namely:
• Rugby, soccer, cricket, golf and motor racing.
• All other sports are under reported.
• Sportsmen dominate the sport media over
sportswomen.