Press Freedom and Globalisation - International Press Institute

Press Freedom and Globalisation
organised crime, and pornography have been reasons for implementing stronger
international control mechanisms towards that new medium. 144 However, these attempts to
restrict press freedom have not sparked off great debates.
Second is how the development agenda connects media with globalisation. These
debates concern mass media’s support to development in accordance with Western donors’
interests, and alliances between media and other development actors. Recent changes in
development theories has also changed thinking about relations between media and
development. Authorities used to decide issues and development journalism was supposed
to support the authorities’ efforts. The change is that emphasis is on solutions and priorities
emanating from people, and media were key to this change of attitude regarding
development. 145
On behalf of Western donors, the World Bank ties political conditions to aid. 146 The
purpose is to develop democracies. However, the World Bank’s definiton of ‘democracy’,
including ‘free market’, ‘privatisation’, and ‘civil society’ is a model that benefits global
economic interests dominated by Western companies. ‘Free media’ is expected to
contribute to better democracy. The bank says that a new mind-set will emerge where
governments will understand that it is an agent for its own citizens. India is pointed out as
evidence from the World Bank, because that country has not had any famine since
independence even if there has been poverty and drought. The explanation is given to be
the media’s freedom and role in good governance in India. 147 Uganda is mentioned as a
successful example of the World Bank’s policy of development. As a force to build the
144
Loader, Brian D., The Governance of Cyberspace : Politics, Technology and Global Restructuring
(London: Routledge, 1997), pp. 209-212.
145
Hydén, Göran and Leslie, Michael, “Communications and Democratization in Africa” in Hydén, Göran,
Leslie, Michael and Ogundimu, Folu F., Media and Democracy in Africa (New Jersey: Transaction
Publishers, 2002), pp. 4-5.
146
Browne, Stephen, Beyond Aid : From Patronage to Partnership (Aldershot: Ashgate, 1999), pp. 5, 19-27
and 169.
147
Stiglitz, “Transparency in Government”, p. 39 (mind-set); and Besley, Burgess and Prat, “Mass Media and
Political Accountability”, p. 53 (India); and Godbole, Madhav, “Good Governance: A Distant Dream” in
Economic and Political Weekly (Mumbai: Sameeksha Trust, 2004), 13 th March, 2004, pp. 1106.
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