Theories of Mass Media

. Link between the political society and mass media was first explained by the authors:

1. Siebert 2. Peterson

3. Schramm

The Authoritarian Theory

. Direct governmental control of mass media

. Media are not allowed to print or broadcast anything, which could undermine, the established authority, and offense to the existing political values is avoided.

. The Government may go to the step of punishing anyone who questions the state’s ideology.

. It says that government is infallible.

. Media professionals are therefore not allowed any independence with the media organisation.

The Libertarian Theory

This theory is also called free press theory

This was the contrast which rests on the idea that the individual should be free to publish whatever he or she likes.

In 17th century’s thinker John Milton, who asserted that human beings inevitably choose the best ideas and values.

The attack on the governments are fully accepted and even encouraged.

No restriction on import or export of media messages across the national frontiers.

Journalists and media professionals ought to have full autonomy within the media organisation.

The Soviet Theory

Theory linked with socialist countries in a communist ideology.

The origins of the socialistic thought in 1917 Russian revolution based on the concepts evolved by Marx and Engels.

There is no private ownership of media organization under this system. Responsible to serve the interest of working class.

This theory apparently similar to the authoritarian theory.

The element of self regulatory mechanism and character of responsibility makes different of the authoritarian.

after the fall of the soviet union we can find the best example of this model in China where television, radio and newspapers are under total control of the communist regime.

The Social Responsibility Theory

This is the American initiative in the late forties.In this model media assigned to perform some obligation towards society. Obligation:- - Informativeness - Truth - Accuracy - Objectivity and balance

Media cannot function in a vacuum. It has connectivity with the political system and people subjected to it.

Media and society are independent and mutually influential

Media shapes the society and gets shaped by society.

In a democratic society, media has definite prime objective to inform people and act as an opinian leader. More practical and relevant in democratic world