7 - Journalistic Ideals

Summary

Journalistic practice and ideals can reflect or be critiqued from the perspective of a particular conception of democracy. Here I examine journalism's dominant professional paradigm and the most influential current alternative. These examinations first identify the conception(s) of democracy implicit in each. Then, because I consider complex democracy most appealing – an admittedly disputable judgment – I also consider each paradigm's adequacy from this democratic perspective.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

The Hutchins Commission's report, A Free and Responsible Press, provides the most influential modern American account of the goals of journalistic performance. Media scholars observe that this report, or even more its restatement in the Cold War classic, Four Theories of the Press, is virtually “the official Western view,” has had “startling power and longevity,” and is at the point of becoming “the unique, universal model for journalism practice and theory all around the world.” Published shortly after the end of World War II, the report describes a “social responsibility model” of the press. The Hutchins Commission identified five responsibilities, the fulfillment of which could serve as a measure of press performance. The press should (1) provide “a truthful, comprehensive, and intelligent account of the day's events in a context which gives them meaning,” a commitment evidenced in part by “objective reporting”; (2) be “a forum for the exchange of comment and criticism,” meaning in part that papers should be “common carriers” of public discussion, at least in the limited sense of carrying views contrary to their own; (3) project “a representative picture of the constituent groups in the society”; (4) “present[] and clarify[] the goals and values of the society”; and (5) provide “full access to the day's intelligence,” thereby serving the public's right to be informed.