In reality, the role of the media is never entirely neutral – no published text is ever wholly neutral – so that the media can only strive towards what can be called an objective, factual presentation of different points of view.
What we have seen in the last few decades, however, is a notable, qualitative shift in how the media play their role. The quest for balance and objectivity has to some extent been set to one side in favour of a much more partial, impact-driven form of presentation.
The way in which comment is mixed with reportage, the growing reliance on emotive language, the personalisation of issues, the omission of voices that do not support the narrative of the media are all palpable and bear out the argument that media have undergone a transformation that takes their role some distance away from the democratic ideal.
In this case, however, the legitimacy of media power necessarily depreciates, something that the media resolutely refuse to accept. Indeed, despite the sea-change, the media continue to legitimate their power by reference to the freedom of speech and, though less explicitly, to the intermediating function, even while both have declined in quality and quantity.
This development raises a number of questions.
[1] Do the media still deserve their privileged status within democratic systems, when they play their supposed role only intermittently, at best?
[2] Do other political actors have the right to demand that the media, as a primary intermediator, give them voice, when the content of the message in question may be regarded by the media as unsuitable?
[3] Who should have the right to determine the criteria by which the media determine what is worth publishing and what is not?
[4] Do the media have a responsibility towards the society in which they operate?
[5] What should be the relationship between the media and the democratically elected government?
[6] Who should have the last word in determining the nature, form and content of the public good, the bonum publicum, the media or the elected government?
