Press Freedom and Globalisation - International Press Institute

Press Freedom and Globalisation
another view would emerge in another newspaper. That fits in with the Associate Justice of
the United States’ Supreme Court, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.’s, concept of ‘marketplace
of ideas’ where competing ideas would result in a public discourse where the best idea
would receive support. 13 Such an approach has strong support in Scandinavia and is an
important reason for politics which stimulate a wide range of different media. 14
Second are formalised codes of conduct that support a self-regulating regime where
“media rule media”. These are based on the assumption that if the media behave
responsibly, and in accordance with the ideals of social responsibility, government would
not need to interfere with media operations. Sweden, in 1874, was the first country in the
world to forge a system of formalised codes of conduct within the press, 15 and founded a
media council in 1916. 16 Norway followed by 1929. 17 In Denmark, this Scandinavian style
of self-regulation is organised within a legal framework for a responsible press including
provisions for judicial action. However, Sweden and Norway do not have such laws. 18
Media’s role in societies, and hence the purpose of press freedom, has got its
Scandinavian notion. A feature of Scandinavian democracies has been extensive welfare
systems. In Sweden this philosophy is termed ‘the people’s home’. Such a system has been
based on high level of union memberships and myriads of other organisations taking care
of people’s interests in a highly organised civil society. A culture of collective interests has
been dominant. In this way citizens have had a power base towards economic elites.
Scandinavian media reflect these power structures. Patterns in civil society and collective
interests have given the pattern in media which then have given the prevailing opinion of
13
Eggen, Ytringsfrihet, pp. 58-60.
14
Eide, Den redigerende makt, pp. 116-118.
15
Herbert, John, Practising Global Journalism, pp. 68-69.
16
Ahuja, Theory and Practice of Journalism, p. 231.
17
Eide, Den redigerende makt, p. 78.
18
Statens Forvaltningstjeneste, Norges offentlige utredninger : NOU 1996:12 : Medieombud, sections 3.1
and 3.3.1.
61