Arguably, the society today is becoming too dynamic. In that, technological inventions and innovations have various impacts in the activities of human beings. Media is one of the ways in which media has influenced the democracy. As a matter of fact, media have several main roles in democracy. Accessibility of information is one of the essential factors to the establishment of a health democratic arena. Information is always a weapon that empowers the public on various issues namely political, social, as well as economic. The invention of media has changed democratic issues and perspectives in the entire world. In fact, the only differences that dictate the role of democracy in various nations is how widespread is media. In developed nations, such as United States, media are at its advanced level, meaning that people are well informed. Generally, in modern society media plays tremendous roles in influencing democracy and democratic process.
Certainly, the media serve as the lifeline of every society. Its role is not only to inform individuals on issues that affect them daily, but it also informs on features pertaining international and national developments. Democracy is always a government that is meant for the people, and managed by the people. Hence, in a democratic state the opinion of the public matters a lot. Media in a democracy informs people on the performance of the government on various issues (Zhao, 2002). Information will help the public in holding the government accountable and change it if it is not acting upon the expectations of the community. In this perspective, media play a role of informing the public so as to check on how the government is performing. Generally, media are an informer in a democratic state. It supplies unbiased and tru form of information to the public, and gives them a chance to choose the best options.
Another main role played by media in democracy is to create public opinion. In this case, there are many nations whose population is uneducated. Therefore, the uneducated democracy is not in a position to generate public opinion. Media then becomes the agency and an instrument of creating the opinion of the citizens. Media plays the role of mobilizing masses in the society, especially on issues of democracy (Agner, 2004). In such environment, democracy will only survive because of the media. The health of democracy depends on the role played by the media. In fact, scholars assert that media is the pillar and the backbone of democracy. For example, in countries led by dictatorships, media have been fully paralyzed. Media creates awareness in democracy on social, economic and political activities. With media, the paralyzed truth and realities about life are publicized.
Over many decades, media have undergone a lot of changes. In a democracy, people expect the government and the politicians to deliver on the promises. When they fail to do so, media take the responsibility of reminding the politician of their promises, especially the unfulfilled ones. The media cover a lot of information on democracy and how it operates. In the 21st century, competitive media information and story framework play a role in hampering the potentiality of a democratic system to work on social internal issues. Moreover, democracy come as a result of peoples participation, in this case, media play a role by supplying the public with political information that will help them base their decisions (Bondebjerg & Madsen, 2008).
In a democracy, the media act as a watchdog and a tool of realizing the loopholes. Perhaps, media play the role of exposing loopholes that exist in a democracy, of which it ultimately help a democratic system to fill up the vacuums. In addition, the move will endure that democracy is responsive, citizen friendly, and accountable. Hence, media are the wheel in the democratic system of government (Jenkins & Thorburn, 2004). Education and educating the illiterate individuals in society is crucial for a development of a good system of democracy. Media in one way or another has made noteworthy achievement in educating them on their rights using the best language they understand. For example, the coverage of malpractices that are exploitative strengthens the democracy and government attention.
Independent and free media are critical to a democratic society. Hence, the role of media is to ensure that the democratic system and constitution functions as according to the public will. As a matter of fact, an independent media are the backbone of entire functioning of a democracy. For example, there are situations whereby the government intends to make changes that will be unfavorable to the public. But, with the presence of media the public gets information on these intentions. On the realization of these intentions, the public will contest and go to the streets to prevent the intention. On a different perspective, media endures that the existing democracy are true and fair. This implies that it is not possible to enjoy a true democracy in a country without independent and free media. Therefore, media endures that the democratic system in existence are true and works for the people (Zhao, 2002).
In addition, media play a role of a constitution in any democracy. This is because it ensures that people enjoy its freedoms, and more so exercise their freedom and right to speech. Media explains to the public their freedom in a democracy without any favor or fear. Media in a democracy provides a checkpoint for government and politicians to account for credibility, actions, as well as policies. Undeniably, the media play a legitimate role in the democratic nation. In fact, media puts much pressure on the government to elaborate on issues that have contentions in the public domain, and account for each one of it. For example, in a democratic state, media have exposed and listed the leaders in government who perform a lot of malpractices (Jenkins & Thorburn, 2004).
The roles of media in a democratic society have positive and negative impacts in relation to democratization. Perhaps, media can encourage, resist, prevent, as well as accelerate democracy. In political history, media have become the first to criticize and analyze fault elections. In some countries, there are leaders who want to gain or retain power using power, by forgoing the peoples will. In a democratic society, the media has been in the frontline in criticizing and shaming such leaders. In fact, media elaborates on why the election was not fair and free (Bondebjerg & Madsen, 2008). Conversably, media role in democracy is to maintain and establish new forms of democracy. For example, in authoritarian nations, media have been in the forefront in opposing dictatorship policies, despite the difficulties they face, so as to necessitate democracy. In the long run, it has been proven that media establishes new democracies.
In the age of technology, the public has been bombarded with various forms of information that drives them towards democratization. Leaders and leadership has been made transparent by the media, whereby accountability and fairness dominates the management of a nation. Media has done tremendous role in democracy and democratization. In fact, many countries are now expressing the need of being democratic. As a matter of fact, media as made people in democratic nations have a say in running their country politically and economically. Media has also endured that leaders who do not go by the polices advocated for by the public have no position in the democratic nation. Media has taken over authority, and continues to be a prominent factor in a democratic nation (Agner, 2004).
Democracy signifies an equitable distribution of power, socio-political pluralism, as well as the existence of balances and checks on various issues. Commercialization understate validation of media may simply increase an interdependence between power and money. Media is increasingly becoming popular in the midst of the public in the entire globe. In fact, this move is having a lot of influence in the citizens. Media need to play its roles in a democratic nation without biasness, doubt, and neutrality. Nevertheless, in other to be more influential the media should not pass information that may cause disharmony in the country.
Conclusively, media have various roles in democracy, which include informing the public, airing public opinions, watchdog, and scrutinizing leadership. When media undertake its roles well, then democracy will always function well and continue to exist. On the other hand, if media includes biasness and favors in its work it may prove to be very dangerous in the democracy. Hence, media occupy a crucial position in establishing and maintaining a democratic environment. Scholars believe that media will remain the most influential factor in a democratic society. The media advocate for democracy because it is the best and responsive way of governance. Media roles in democracy are crucial, and will always be public informer, watchdog, tool of publicizing the opinion of the citizens, as well as scrutinizing media.
Agner, F. (2004). The Supposed and the Real Role of Mass Media in Modern Democracy.
Bondebjerg, I & Madsen, P. (2008). Media, Democracy and European Culture. New York:
Springer
Jenkins, H & Thorburn, D. (2004). Democracy and New Media. London: Wiley
Zhao, Y. (2002). Media, Market, and Democracy in China, Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
