Press In Developing Countries example essay topic

INTRODUCTION The Founder of Pakistan once said, "The press is a great force that can prove useful as well as harmful. If it works in the right direction, it can pave the way for public weal" 'Press' means any establishment of mass medium activity such as newspapers, magazines, periodicals, journals, pamphlets, news agencies, radio, television, motion pictures, pictures, films, cartoons, books, music, electronic publishing, plays and includes all media of mass communication. Journalism has become an industry, but that does not deprive it of its missionary character. The very existence of newspaper depends and shall always continue to depend upon popular approval; therefore, journalism could not possibly refrain from playing a missionary role. The issue of Freedom and Responsibility in relation to the press will forever contributes to be debated. Often the tendency is to emphasize one in isolation of the other.

The situation strive for is where the freedom is unrestrained but is exercised with full consciousness of its purpose-which is to serve the interests of the people and protect and promote the fundamental rights of individuals. In short, a journalist should work with a mission and help the people in their search for truth. AIM OF THE PRESS The aim of the press is not merely to record the current events and disseminate news. This is the age of revolutions and of radical changes in human life.

Today we are faced with a great many national and international problems that require greatness of character and maximum utilization of human capabilities for their solution. The People living in the state based on an ideology can accomplish their goal only if they can discharge responsibilities that lie in their shoulders. Our basic duty is not only to know the world, but we must let the world know what is our goal. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE READERS OF PRESS AND AUDIENCE OF ELECTRONIC Median important difference between the readership of the press on the one hand and the audience of radio and television on the other is that the reading public is relatively more conscious.

This is merely because of the fact that only those who have acquired sufficient knowledge of reading can read the newspaper while this qualification is not essential for the listener or the viewer. In turn, this difference gives larger audience to the first two media than the press and consequently a hold over a wider cross section. However, in the developing countries, where the opinion of the educated, because it is also more vocal, had a distinct edge over the opinion of uneducated. Thus the advantage of the radio and the television gained in terms of the number is offset to a degree by the newspapers because of the importance of its readership.

It is also due to the fact that the printed word carries somehow greater conviction and is of lasting nature than the spoken words. FUNCTIONS OF PRESS MEDIAThe three major functions that the Press should perform may be stated as under: It performs an amplifying function by magnifying the good actions of individuals to the point that they can be felt throughout the society, in the sense of transforming mere "man-sized" acts into "society-sized" acts. To a remarkable degree the difference between private and public affairs is determined by the extent to which acts of individuals are either amplified or ignored by the Press Media without a networks capable of enlarging and magnifying the works and choices of individuals there could be no politics capable of spanning a nation. The other function of Press Media should be to provide the essential basis for rationality. People can sensibly debate their collective actions only if they share a common fund of knowledge and information.

And only if they have some minimum appreciation of how others have been informed about the state of affairs can citizens decide upon the wisdom and the validity of the reasoning behind the actions of their leaders. It should also be used for projecting a desired future political configuration according to the aspirations of the people. If we carefully analyze these three major tasks, these would seem to concentrate at creating well-informed public opinion, which is one of the major indicators of political development. Also there is hidden assumption about the political process, which is viewed as tending towards democratic lines. PURPOSES OF THE PRESS Press stands for the pursuit of fundamental freedom, peace, democracy, justice, and equality and for the acceleration of social and economic development. Accordingly, press: a.

Gathers and disseminates news; b. Expresses opinions on various issues; c. Forwards criticisms on various issues. Participates in forming public opinion by employing various other methods. Undertakes other activities necessary for the accomplishment of its purposes. ROLE OF THE PRESS IN DEVELOPMENT The press is the only entity providing any sense of balance to the all powerful and monopolistic nature of government, and the USA founding father Thomas Jefferson's statement that he would rather have a free press without a government rather than a government without a free press speaks of why the press was made the fifth independent branch of a functioning government (after the constitution, legislative, judicial and executive branches), through its institution in the first amendment.

The function of the press is essential for a civil society. It is simply impossible to have a civil society without a functioning press. What is less simple is for countries that do not have a proper press to develop such a press. A simple answer of 'just free up the press' will simply not work in most cases and in a competitive power-politic international environment. The problem stems from transition issues that countries, which started with a free press, do not face. Countries that have always had a free press have developed organically and in tandem with other public institutions that together with the public at large have provided the needed mechanisms to keep each other in check.

This process takes time to develop without creating great imbalances, and is organic in its development. So what is the problem with developing countries not suddenly freeing their press (those that have not done so). The problem is that such a decision is not taken in a vacuum. The reality is that there are political power struggles in every corner of the earth, and the super powers or the neighboring countries are quick to use the powerful role of the press for political purposes to destabilize the country. Why freeing the press suddenly would / may not work in a developing country is that the citizens have not acquired the needed skills and education of dealing with the press as they have not had such practice and because of lack of institutions (present in civil societies but not developing societies) that provide a buffer against the press and because of a lack of professionalism in the press where these few press outlets are outlets for governments or frequently owned by foreign entities with suspicious motives and inclinations or where these entities attempt to influence or interfere in the operation of the press in an inappropriate manner as even in the USA, the land of absolute press freedom (with minor judicial qualifications), there are laws on the ownership of media. So the governments in developing countries are reluctant to free their less-than-developed press.

But also a great concern against freeing the press is that it is usually an internal press that is not practiced in the 'responsibility of the press. ' This is because they tend to have extreme views on issues since they have been sheltered (being a government entity) from reflecting the concerns of citizens and by the reporters / editors having views that are not tempered by the example of the society they live in, as those 'developing citizens' themselves have not acquired a good balance of social rights and responsibilities in the different arenas, the press being one of them. So the press tends to blow hot and cold and tends to give more heat than light as its internal dynamics demands so, since a normal press is a commercial entity seeking to attract an audience. While a mature and stable society can handle and deal with lots of heat in the press, a developing and fragile society may not be able to and becomes easy prey to all kinds of very serious social problems. It is not difficult to create mayhem in an underdeveloped society by the sinister use of the press, whereas a stable society would be totally unaffected. The same facts relating to a particular public issue can be debated and presented for discussion to produce good results as the aim of 'the participants in the discussion' is an attempt to find a solution or produce consensus, while these very same facts when debated in the hands of others can be directed for no other purpose than sowing trouble and disunity.

So how do we transition and maintain stability and prevent ethnic or social strife? The answer is three-pronged. Governmental institutions should be civilized, homegrown civic organizations should be developed (in all fields) and be strengthened, and the public should be educated (by demonstration as in our story on public problem solving) to learn to assimilate and use information and develop expectations of how social problems should be solved. All these things need to happen and grow organically and as such, the freedom of the press would be increased. The press in developing countries has yet to show interest that they can do proper investigative and educational reports on nonpolitical issues.

These issues involve more than 90% of the issues relating to citizens lives, be it in the 'performance' of government, commercial or civic organizations that need to be investigated, or products and services that citizens consume, and special features that educate in economics, health, education, etc... The press in developing countries already has an enormous role that it should use to participate and 'do journalism and reporting' on almost every aspect of life. One would want in a free press environment a government, social organizations, and citizens all able to use the media and capable of dealing with it. Any weak link is an indication of an undeveloped society and is a likely source of instability. The government, citizens, the press, and civic organizations should all be capable participants in the cross-action debates of public issues and public policies. A balanced system (formal or informal) of 'rights and responsibilities's should be the goal for each of the participants.

'The stronger any one of these participants becomes, the stronger the others need to be. ' That is the formula! And it uses variables that officials can use to guide their gradual opening of the press. These issues we presented do not relate to developed countries with a highly educated citizenry, superb civic organizations, infinite sources of press outlets and a government most adept at navigating and projecting itself on crucial issues in these kinds of environments. The development of the press sector is one of the most important tasks for any country. The press in a normal society provides the data needed for decision-making by citizens.

The proper press development occurs in conjunction with the development of civil governmental institutions, an abundance of civil organizations, and a citizenry that is educated enough to be able to use the press and not be used by it. In the achievement of the national goals the press has very important role to play. We must try to know what are our real problems. We have committed one mistake after another. It is important that the Press must play its full part in diagnosing the disease and prescribing real remedies. The press makes a positive contribution to the development of political awareness.

It assists public understanding of national and community problems and promotes public co-operation both of which are essential for social progress. Through the media, leaders can lead, people can speak back to leaders, and the government and governed can become partners in progress. By providing the link between the people and authorities, the press becomes part of the system of modern government and an essential public service. Volumes have been written about the role of the mass media in a democracy. The danger in all this examination is to submerge the subject under sludge of platitudes.

The issue of whether a free press is the best communications solution in a democracy is much too important at the close of this century and needs to be examined dispassionately. OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESS To inform and educate academic and library decision-makers about the importance of newspapers and to persuade them to allocate resources to solve some of the access problems. O To clarify and communicate decision-making processes about newspapers preservation. O To ensure the inclusion of archiving and preserving of electronic formats in preservation plans.

O To evaluate current levels of coverage in newspaper collections. To evaluate the mechanisms by which we disseminate information about holdings and preservation decisions. O To develop an action agenda that describes how the North American research library community can work toward comprehensive collection coverage, ensure adequate preservation programs; guarantee the availability of retrospective files through archiving and maintenance of library collections. This should be a model of a program for coordinated acquisitions and access. THE JOURNALISTS' CODE OF CONDUCT Respect for the truth and correct information of the public are supreme imperatives of the press; O News and information destined to be published as texts and images shall be carefully verified as required by circumstances. Their true sense shall not be altered, falsified by formulation, by the titles or by commenting the images.

The documents shall remain faithful to their sense. Unverified news, rumors and hypotheses shall be presented under the necessary reserve, and mentioned as such. Subtitles shall explain, during the presentation of symbolic photographs, that it is not the case of documentary photographs. O News published or statements that prove to be false, shall be immediately rectified under an adequate form by the press organ that has made them public, O The use of incorrect methods in order to provide news, information and photographic or video images shall be prohibited. O The confidential character, adopted during a meeting, with a view to gathering information of synthesis, shall be respected, O Each person that works in the press shall have to keep the professional secret. It shall benefit of the right to deny making any references as to the sources and to reveal the identity of those who have provided the information, O Responsibility of the press to the public involves the fact that the articles of the editorial staff shall not fall under the influence of personal or commercial interests of third parties.

Editors and publishers shall ensure the clear separation of the texts from advertising. Advertising texts, images and drawings shall visibly carry this mention. O The press shall respect the intimacy and the privacy of the individual. If the private behavior of a person injures the public interests, the press shall be allowed to use such information. First, it shall be proved that publishing such information shall not violate personal rights of third parties. O Publication of unfounded accusations, especially those that may be prejudicial to a person, is against the journalist conduct.

O Publishing as texts or images likely to damage the religious conscience or feelings of a group of persons shall infringe the responsibilities of press; O The display of violence, brutality and morals in the mass -media shall view the emotional protection of youth; O Nobody has to stand discrimination and insults on grounds of sex, handicaps, pertaining to a social, religious group, race or nationality; O Coverage of police procedures or of legal procedures shall be made such as not to be prejudicial for either part involved. This is why the press shall avoid, before or during such procedure, standing for either side, in articles or in titles that may prove prejudicial to justice. An individual shall not be portrayed as guilty before his being qualified as such by court. O As for the juvenile delinquency, it is suggested that citing names and identifying persons from photographs shall be avoided, taking into account the future of the young people involved; O In the articles dedicated to medical subjects, any sensational presentation that might raise fear or hope in the readers shall be avoided. Scientific discoveries at an experimental stage shall be presented as such; O Acceptance and granting of any kind of advantages, by anyone, able to confine of influence the editor's freedom of decision shall be prohibited.

The one who accepts pay in order to make public or to hold information from the public, shall act against the professional conduct and shall be duly sanctioned. READER'S CONTRIBUTIONReader's contribution to newspapers can be a useful outlet for ventilating public opinion and providing feed back of information to the government. This is one of the important functions of the press in socialist countries such as the Soviet, where suggestions and complains are made and advice sought through the letter columns of newspaper at all levels. By developing a lively 'Letters to the Editors' feature, newspapers in national affairs.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRESS Freedom without responsibility is the law of the jungle. The freedom of the press is sacrosanct and it must be in sacrosanct hands they can direct or divert the attention of the people from main problems. They can misguide people or they can create problems and generate chaos in society. Such a course will lead nowhere but to destruction. The most moderate way is one that leads to reformation and the building up of a good peaceful and developing society. Responsibility of any kind, may not be held on a journalist if, while respecting the presumption of innocence in his work, he has shown true facts, events that are beyond doubt or proven deeds that took place and determined or might have determined damage upon public interest, notwithstanding the fact that the court has or has not ruled a final and irrevocable judgment upon the person that the journalist has referred to in his work.

Ensuring the Lawfulness of the Contents of Press Products Every press has the duty to ensure that any press product it circulates is free from any content that can give rise to criminal and civil liability. Without prejudice to the generality, any press shall have the duty to ensure that any press product it issues or circulates is free from: a. Any criminal offence against the safety of the State or of the administration established in accordance with the Charter or of the national defense force; b. Any defamation or false accusation against any individual nation / nationality, people or organization; c. Any criminal instigation of one nationality against another or incitement of conflict between peoples. d. Any agitation for war.

Responsibility for carrying out the duties specified are as follows: a. In the case of a periodical press such as a newspaper, magazine or journal, on the concerned editor, journalists or publisher; b. In the case of press other than those specified under this sub-article 3 (a), on the publisher; c. In the case any press product disseminated by radio or television, on the concerned journalist and program editor. Keeping a Record of Authors Any press shall keep a record of the name and address of the author or editor of every press product. Where the author or editor of any press product uses a pen name, this shall be indicated in a prominent place in the press product itself.

Responsibilities of the Journalist The journalist is free to express his opinions on the basis of a correct, objective and unbiased information and documentation. In this sense, the journalist is entitled, in order to exercise his professional duties, to: Request and receive information of a public interest from any kind of institutions and organizations - be they private or public - to legal persons and citizens, without being subject to pressure, threatening, intimidation or conditioning. Access to information on the activity of the public authorities - parliament, presidency, government, central public administration in the respective field, local public administration and other public institutions. Personally attend, for free and without restrictions or conditioning to events and gatherings of a public character, including the artistic, cultural and sports ones. For the artistic, cultural and sports events journalists may attend for free only if the respective written press means keeps a special column where it usually refers to such events and only if they have previously been authorized by the organizer of the event. Benefit from the support and protection of the public order forces, when the conditions and the exercising of their professional activity may request it.

Use in their activity professional recording or broadcasting means. While exercising their profession, the journalist is entitled to confidentiality of the information sources. The latter may only be revealed upon request of the prosecutor applied to the court or directly to the judge, during court investigation, in case the life or the integrity of a natural person or a group of persons is or has been in danger. In order to keep the professional secret, the documents, notebooks, tapes, films, photographs or any other means for information, as well as professional equipment pertaining to the journalist, shall not be violated. Searching the journalist, his home or office may be only performed under the provisions of the law. The journalist that travels abroad for documentation or in order to accompany Romanian delegations through official visits or in order to participate in various international activities of any nature, is considered to be working in the interest of his employer and, therefore, shall benefit of service passport, released on the basis of the press card, according to the law, at the request of the editorial staff he is part of.

Any telephone, fax or other kind of transmission of information, including postal messages, sent by a journalist in the interest of his work, shall benefit a 50% reduction in cost, irrespective of the hour and the day it is made in. The travel means pertaining to the journalist or to the press organ he represents may carry a distinctive sign, proven on the basis of a delegation or an accreditation, whenever used for travel in the interest of his work. The public competent authorities in the field shall facilitate the operational circulation of the transport means by which the journalist travels in the interest of his work, as well as parking facilities or placement facilities. Journalists shall benefit of preferential treatment in hospitals and other recovering units of the Health Ministry, in order to treat professional diseases and affections.

They are also entitled to retiring after 25 years of activity for women and 30 years for men, with an integral pension, irrespective of age but not under the ages of 50 for women and 55 for men. Journalists who wish to remain employed for the same press organ or for another one after being retired, according to specialization. Persons employed under the conditions provided by the previous paragraph, shall benefit of integral salary, corresponding to the position, of a supplement for continuity in work as well as retiring rights. Upon cease of activity, these persons are entitled to a recalculation of the pension, according to the total years of activity and to the salary received upon reemployment. In editing any material, the journalist is due to avoid allegations or accusations that are not sustainable by certain arguments or facts, labelling's or expressions that may damage a person's dignity or that, by the violence of language are contrary to morals. This obligation shall not to the journalist in the cases of types of editorial material that do not contain nominations or direct elements of identification, while not using a suburban language.

Insult, slander, threat, blackmail, hitting or any other violence which may cause pain or injury, destruction or degradation of documents, notebooks, tapes, cassettes, films or photographs or damaging the equipment used for or during documentation, intended against the journalist in order to intimidate or to determine him to give up documentation, contacting the information sources or publishing some data, facts, names or documents, constitute aggravating circumstances for the one responsible for any of the above-mentioned deeds. Criminal charges shall devolve upon forwarding the complaint by the journalist or the editorial staff, except for the cases where it is made automatically Infringement of the present law provisions shall attract criminal, civil, disciplinary or offence responsibility. The following deeds shall constitute infringements if not perpetrated in circumstances such as to allow their being considered as crimes, according to the criminal law: Invoking, without legal ground, the state or work secret, or engaging in actions or lack of actions in view of preventing a journalist's documentation or access to information that refer to possible breaking of the law or to other deeds that are contrary to national or public interest. Preferential or selective information by one of the units provided under art. 16, of a media means, in such a way that this deed might lead to unfair competition among press means. The deliberate provision of false information, blackmailing or exercising pressures that might expose the journalist to civil or criminal responsibility, after publication. Infringement of the provisions or art. 17 and 18 of the present law.

Journalists shall be forbidden to publish information, photographs, articles or any other material that may be prejudicial to the dignity, honor or privacy of a person or that is prejudicial to the minor's protection or to the national security. This prohibition shall not apply to the persons that have infringed other persons' rights or freedom, public order or morals as well as to a public person that by its deeds damaged the interests of the community or if it is closely linked to the person's position or duties, on condition that such information do not violate third parties' personal rights. Any information coming from a source that may not be held responsible must first be checked or verified with the natural or legal person to whom it refers. If the news is regarded as holding a special interest to the public and the delay of its publication or broadcasting does not allow it to be checked or verified, the information may be released under obligation of the editor to mention that it comes from an uncertain source. This mention exonerates the journalist or the media from any responsibility in the incorrect information of the public, while keeping the obligation to make the necessary corrections in the respective media, at a successive time. Participant Rights and ResponsibilitiesO You have the right to ask someone to stop taking a picture of you, recording your image or recording your voice in any way.

However, keep in mind the nature of radical self-expression, capturing expression is a form of self-expression. O You have the right to know what someone plans to do with your image. O If a photographer or plans to use your image or images of your artwork for commercial purposes, you can allow her or him to do so by signing a model release or license form. (FYI: In certain circumstances, the publishing of images of a participant may not require a signed model release, e. g., news and some editorial articles). O All video cameras and film cameras must be tagged. If you see someone using a camera or recording device of any kind without a tag, request the or filmmaker to get a tag at Playa Information if he or she is recording for personal use; or, if a member of the media or commercial filmmaker, at Media Mecca.

Also, please point out to a Ranger the person who is filming or recording without a tag on their camera. O If someone is disrespectfully using a camera or recording device of any kind, get the tag number and tell a Ranger. Artist Rights and ResponsibilitiesO You have the right to protect the image of your artwork or performance. O You have the right to ask someone to stop taking images of your art or performance if you don't approve. O You have the right to be credited for authorship of your artwork in any commercial use of your work, and perhaps to receive a payment. O You have the right to enforce copyright and trademark ownership of your unique work.

To have the greatest legal protection, artists should apply for a copyright. O Photographers and should obtain your signature on a release or license in order to make any use of images of your work for commercial purposes. Images used in editorial works (e. g., news or editorial articles) may not require a signed release. However, any image that contains identifying features of Burning Man (e. g., the Man, lampposts, street signs, other art, etc., or where Burning Man has funded the work of art), must also receive permission from Burning Man and / or affected people and artists. O In cases of editorial use, such as news or editorial magazine articles, Burning Man encourages the media to credit specific artists.

Burning Man Rights and ResponsibilitiesO The name 'Burning Man' and all images of the Man, city layout, lampposts, street signs and commissioned theme artwork are protected under copyright and intellectual property laws, and cannot be used for commercial purposes without written permission of Burning Man. O We will respond to reasonable, timely media inquiries made in the spirit of good journalism and Black Rock citizenship. O Burning Man has the responsibility to create an environment for the citizens of Black Rock City that does not tolerate rude or irresponsible use of photographic or video recording equipment. Persons who cannot respect the rights and wishes of others with respect to photographs, video, or recordings of any kind will be asked to leave. O Burning Man reserves the right to disallow the use of Burning Man-related imagery and recordings of any kind for commercial or unapproved editorial use, particularly if we determine that such use (s) may undermine the personal expression and privacy of participants or the integrity of the event. ESSENTIAL SERVICES OF THE MEDIAThe essential service the media can perform for a developing country, in the following way.

The Mass Media Can Widen Horizons They are a liberating force, which breaks the bonds of distance and isolation. By bringing what is distant near and making what is strange understandable, the media can help bridge the transition between traditional and modern society. The Media Can Focus Attention. The newspaper, radio, magazine, serving as watchman on the hill, must decide what to report back.

This act of choice choosing whom to write about, whom to focus the camera on, whom to quote, what events to record - determines in large degree what people know and talk about. This is a significant matter for the developing countries because it means that public attention can be directed to a new custom, a new behavior, a new health or agricultural practice, a reward to be gained by modernizing, or something that needs to be changed. The Mass Media Can Raise Aspirations. The building of national aspirations in one of the first uses that most new nations find for their radio and press without stimulating people to strive for a better life and for national growth, development is unlikely ever to occur.

CONCLUSION Lastly we, the members of the group, wish to point out that the press can make a worthwhile contribution to the further unfolding and development of the processes which are transforming life in the under developed countries if it possess a balanced idea of what it can contribute and if it has the will to play a meaningful role. It is obvious at the same time, however, that the press is not an absolutely free agent and that it can be helped or hindered in the performance of its role by power wielding elites. Be that as it may, the press must do its bit to contribute to the success of the struggle to enable vast masses of the people to move towards fuller living both materially and culturally and thus attain a higher measure of happiness. We, in the press, owe this to the people, whose striving for betterment the medium must support in the spirit of dedications. But an essential requirement is to confess to a feeling of inadequacy in regard to what we have hitherto made of our opportunity to serve this great causeREFERENCEO web for copyright forms and information from the federal government.

O Afro-Asian Journalism by K anwar Muhammad Dil shad. O O india together. or gO "An Unfettered Press Rights and Responsibilities" by Robert H. Estabrook O "Understand role of press to increase development pace" 2004-06-23 10: 47: 46 by Nsuduki Lim be, PST, Tabor aO web "Press" by Tim Miller Brody, Jeffrey H. and Robert G. Picard. The Newspaper Publishing Industry. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1997. O Cowen, Marlene Stone. 'History of the Newspaper in Education Program.

' American Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. ERIC Digest, Washington DC. 1978.