Beyond clickbait and commerce

Denis Muller
A public right to an honest basis of fact for its news as concomitant
with the phrase ‘freedom of the press’: this is a touchstone upon
which the ensuing decades of practice and the development
of professional ethical norms have been built. And it is on that
foundation that other, more specific functions, were identified by
the commission and have remained relevant to this day:
• provision of a truthful and contextually meaningful account of
contemporary events;
• provision of a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions;
• the holding up of a mirror to society;
• presenting and clarifying society’s goals, and
• giving a full account of the important things that are going
on.
To these may be added the function of providing the basis for a
shared conversation among citizens, and the general public-interest
function of providing information necessary to the general public
welfare.
It is the fulfilment of these functions that provides the basis for
upholding press freedom and for giving recognition to the media’s
claim to the status of a ‘fourth estate’, that of holding to account
others in society who wield power.
A moral and material existence
Throughout history, media outlets have largely been private property.
In the eighteenth century, after the licensing system in England had
lapsed, privately owned newspapers multiplied, most enduringly
The Times, which began life as the Universal Daily Register in 1785.
It was conceived as an advertising sheet augmented by news with
a largely commercial focus and was supported by the printing
business of its proprietor, John Walter.
This was the template for other newspapers: journalism supported
by commercial activities that were, on the whole, distinguishable
from the editorial processes. The model was especially evident in
the Anglophone democracies where the experience of England’s
oppressive press licensing system had left an imprint on the political
DNA. This was manifested in suspicion of government ownership
or control of the press, and the placing of a high value on freedom
of a press that was privately owned. This ideal was exemplified in
the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and was
reflected too in the common law jurisdictions that had their roots
in England (Hallam 1884).
But the necessity to generate revenue in order to sustain the
journalism and return a profit to the owners had the effect of
100 Copyright 2016-2/3. Ethical Space: The International Journal of Communication Ethics. All rights reserved. Vol 13, No 2/3 2016