The Libertarian Theory
The libertarian theory looks at how the media ought to operate within the liberal society or a state that practices libertarianism or capitalism. It has its roots from the demise of autocratic rule or authoritarianism-a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.). Many astute personalities like John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, Saint Simone, Thomas Paine, John Stuart Mill, Alexis de Tocqueville, John Milton among other liberal thinkers did all they could- both in speech and in writing to inform people about the need to boot out the autocratic way of life and embrace democracy cum libertarianism. These efforts were in the later part of the sixteenth and the seventeenth centuries when the Industrial Revolution (The transformation from an agricultural to an industrial nation) was creeping steadily across the world. (Info acquired from McQuail’s “Mass Communication Theory”)
In this theory or society, the media is expected to play or perform some duties to live up to the norms or tenets of the theory. They are:
• The media should in no way be subjected to censorship (Deleting parts of publications or correspondence or theatrical performances).
• Distribution and publication of information by the media should be within reach of every individual or group with a permit or licence.
• Assail on governments or parties by the media should not be liable to be punished by the authorities or law enforcing body.
• No oppression or intimidation by anyone or group to publish anything.
• Freedom of access of the press to information.
Social Responsibility Theory
The social responsibility theory is an outgrowth of the libertarian theory. However, social responsibility goes beyond "objective" reporting to "interpretive" reporting.
“A truthful, complete account of the news is not necessarily enough today,” notes the Commission on the Freedom of the Press: "It is no longer enough to report the fact truthfully. It is now necessary to report the truth about the fact." Today's complex world often necessitates analysis, explanation, and interpretation.
As the Commission stated in 1940:
The emerging theory does not deny the rationality of man, although it puts far less confidence in it than the libertarian theory, but it does seem to deny that man is innately motivated to search for truth and to accept it as his guide. Under the social responsibility theory, man is viewed not so much irrational as lethargic. He is capable of using his reason but he is loath to do so.
If man is to remain free, he must live by reason instead of passively accepting what he sees, hears, and feels. Therefore, the more alert elements of the community must goad him into the exercise of his reason. Without such goading man is not likely to be moved to seek truth. The languor which keeps him from using his gift of reason extends to all public discussion. Man's aim is not to find truth but to satisfy his immediate needs and desires.
It is the press, therefore, that must be the "more alert element" and keep the public informed, for an informed populace is the cornerstone of democracy.
Today's large media conglomerates, however, may not function naturally as a public forum, where all ideas are shared and available. "The owners and managers of the press determine which persons, which facts, which versions of these facts, shall reach the public," writes the Commission.
In this same light, Siebert, Peterson and Schramm warn:
...the power and near monopoly position of the media impose on them an obligation to be socially responsible, to see that all sides are fairly presented and that the public has enough information to decide; and that if the media do not take on themselves such responsibility it may be necessary for some other agency of the public to enforce it.
The Canons of Journalism adopted by the American Society of Newspaper Editors addresses these same obligations when it calls on newspapers to practice responsibility to the general welfare, sincerity, truthfulness, impartiality, fair play, decency, and respect for the individual's privacy.
Siebert, Peterson and Schramm also note that "freedom of expression under the social responsibility theory is not an absolute right, as under pure libertarian theory....One's right to free expression must be balanced against the private rights of others and against vital social interests."
In this theory or society, the media is expected to play or perform some duties to live up to the norms or tenets of the theory. They are:
• Practiced in the US in the 20th century
• Purpose is to inform, entertain, sell, but also to raise conflict to the plane of discussion
• Ownership is private
(info from www.coolschool.k12.or.us/courses/190200/lessons/lesson3/fourtheories.html - 16k)
COMPARISON OF THEORIES
From the background information about both theories, some characteristics of both theories are similar or the same.
• The Social Responsibility theory is a derivative of the libertarian theory. This is to say that the Social Responsibility theory was an improvement of the earlier theory; the libertarian theory. Even in terms of the times of their introduction, this point is more clearly understood. The libertarian theory came up by the 17th century while the Social Responsibility theory came up in the 20th century.
• The media in both theories enjoy some form of freedom. The media within the libertarian theory or society enjoy uninterrupted freedom while the Social Responsibility theory enjoys limited freedom with the press laws and statutes of law that places some form of impediments in the way of the media for the free flow of information.
Unlike the United States of America that practices the libertarian theory under which the media operates to a large extent in a free manner, Ghana practices the social responsibility theory in which the media is regulated or controlled not by the government but by independent public institutions; one of which is the National Media Commission in terms of the quality and essence of the information given out by the country’s media houses.
CONTRAST OF THE THEORIES
In spite of the similarities that these two theories possess, they have their somewhat subtle differences that make them unique or stand out.
• The lib theory has the media operating freely devoid of any laws or statues hampering the flow if their duty unlike the social responsibility where media is not gagged but regulated in its flow of information. The regulation is not done in the government’s interest but to uphold the standards of the profession: - journalism. It has been argued that the regulation of the media by some public institutions is in itself some form of disguised censorship.
• The media in the lib theory are not coerced to publish anything but the media in the SRT are indirectly coerced to publish. I make this assumption because of the argument by some about the regulation in the SRT being censorship disguised. The liberal media report on anything- issues on the government, good or bad, the high or authoritative office holders. This usually leaves the liberal media agitating a civil war or community fracases. A typical example was the agitating of people in Rwanda. Rwanda was first colonized by Germany (from 1894 to 1916) and then by Belgium (from 1916 to 1962). Belgium occupied the region during World War I (1914-1918) and ruled under a mandate from the League of Nations and later the UN. Both Germany and Belgium chose to exercise their rule through Rwanda's existing social system of Tutsi aristocrats and Hutu clients. However, their reasons for doing so created tensions between these groups and helped lay the groundwork for Rwanda's later conflicts. The spark of the conflict was reported to have come from broadcasts of presenters of perceptions and personal opinions, falsehood or propaganda for a faction rather than the objective truth which resulted in the genocide (Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2008). It has been argued that if at that time, if there was a regulatory body that saw to the regulation in the flow of information such that presenters will be careful in their message delivery and word choice, this bloody genocide that saw Africa lose human resources could have been avoided.
• The social responsibility upholds the virtue of professionalism whereas the liberal media do not. One can look around and will find out more examples today. The media in Ghana today that ought to operate under the social responsibility theory are gradually shifting to the libertarian theory. This is seen today when comments made on the electronic media and write ups and reports in the print media seem to throw the ethical codes of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to the wind. Broadcasters and writers or reporters speak and write respectively just about everything giving no heed to the code of ethics of the GJA and loosening their grasp on professionalism that they are supposed to hold on to. A lot more of these unprofessional reports and comments were made in the electioneering year in Ghana (2008). Bias and defame potent reports were published in almost every newspaper one would find and comments one would hear aired on the electronic media. High public office holders and people of authority were given less or no respect at all by reporters in their reportage. An example fresh in my memory is that of Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Member of Parliament for Asokwa constituency. He has dragged some radio stations earlier this year to court for making and allowing people to defame him in the electioneering year.
Sources of information used:
McQuail’s “Mass Communication Theory
www.coolschool.k12.or.us/courses/190200/lessons/lesson3/fourtheories.html - 16k
The Ghana Journalists Association’s Code of Ethics
The 1992 Constitution of Ghana
www.myjoyonline.com
www.ghananewstoday.com
www.myskyyonline.com
