Press Freedom and Globalisation - International Press Institute

Press Freedom and Globalisation
homogenises pleasure. In that way commercial interests have determined the logic of mass
media because they provide the mass media’s income. That process includes more than
commercials and advertisements. The whole underlying ideology imparted through the
editorial content, the programs, films, and music, will together influence the public’s
feelings of needs as consumers. Simultaneously, these media have offered a perfect
occasion for its advertisers’ messages. In that way, the mass media create a consumer
ideology that creates markets and supports the advertisers commercial interests far beyond
the actual advertisement, claim these critics. 63
Economic globalisation include spreading of democracy including press freedom.
The economic interests behind globalisation expect the democracy to not only be good for
its citizens, but also to give commercial business the best conditions possible. Regarding
the public, the idea is that economic growth will provide everyone with improved welfare.
That is the theory, the practical experience gives another record where the gap between
rich and poor is widening. However, due to such a philosophy, spreading democracy
means advancing the interests of those behind economic globalisation. 64 It is here where
press freedom comes in. The dilemma is that spreading of press freedom conducted by the
interests behind globalisation is similar to spreading of business freedom. That is not
identical with press freedom in terms of social responsibility.
Jürgen Habermas is concerned with media and global aspects of democracy. He is
Professor Eremitus at the University of Frankfurt, and Professor of Philosophy at
Northwestern University in the United States. He emphasises the contradiction between
democracy limited to state borders, when the economic and cultural forces work globally.
His theory on ‘radical democracy’ says that state borders are obstacles for democratic
63 Joyrich, Re-Viewing Reception, pp. 22-26 and 33.
64 Islam, “Into the Looking Glass”, pp. 21-22.
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