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Seeking Free and Responsible Media global issues Seeking Free & Responsible Media An Electronic Journal of the U.S. Department of State • Volume 8, Number 1, February 2003 “Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States fundamental axiom of democracy is that citizens must have information and Aknowledge. People must be informed if they are to play an active role in the life of their country. Free and responsible media are critical sources of informa- tion for citizens who want to choose the best leaders for their country and make sound decisions about the issues in their nation and in their individual commu- nities. The information the media provide is just as critical for intelligent economic and personal decisions as for good political choices. There is a strong relationship between open media and free and effective economies. In fact, recent studies conducted by the World Bank have shown that free media are essential for suc- cessful economic progress in developing countries. It has long been the policy of the U.S. government to support the development of open and responsible media abroad and to assist in building the infrastruc- ture needed for a free press to operate — legislative infrastructure, financial independence, transparency in government, and journalists trained in objective and fair reporting. Achieving a free and responsible media is a constant, chal- lenging, vital, and ongoing activity. We must continue to work at it, adapting to new conditions and challenges. We must keep in sight the ultimate objective — a citizenry able to make informed decisions that shape their lives. The Editors 2 global issues An Electronic Journal of the U.S. Department of State February 2003 Volume 8, Number 1 table of contents Seeking Free & Responsible Media ❏ FOCUS Promoting Free and Responsible Media: An Integral Part of America’s Foreign Policy . .5 The U.S. government promotes and assists development of responsible media abroad. By Lorne W. Craner, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Independent Media’s Role in Building Democracy . .8 The U.S. government sponsors a variety of programs to nurture the development of media organizations that will serve their publics. By Frederick W. Schieck, Deputy Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development ❏ COMMENTARY Legal Foundations of Press Freedom in the United States . .11 A nation must provide a strong legal foundation for media to operate independently and without harassment. By Jane E. Kirtley, Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Minnesota Steps to a Free, Financially Viable Media . .16 Media in transitional countries are increasingly recognized as contributors to improved government account- ability, more efficient markets, and more information-rich societies. By Tim Carrington and Mark Nelson, World Bank Institute Anarchy Is Not a Business Plan: Practical Pointers on the Business of Media . .20 Three overseas media business advisors who have worked extensively in transitional nations discuss how media outlets struggle to establish their financial independence, serve their audiences, and report responsibly. The panel includes William Siemering, a broadcast trainer in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia; David Simonson, a newspaper business consultant to Eastern European publications; and Rachel Thompson, a media management trainer in Eastern Europe. Journalism and Serving the Public Trust . .26 3 Journalism schools need to be places where students learn to serve the public trust through the independent presen- tation of news. William F. Woo, Lorry I. Lokey Visiting Professor of Professional Journalism, Stanford University Broadcast Journalists Need Training to Meet Intense Demands . .30 Broadcast journalists want further refinement of their skills throughout their careers, but finding training can be challenging. Deborah Potter, Director of NewsLab, a research and training center for television journalists ❏ ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Bibliography . .33 Books, documents, and articles on media issues. Internet Sites . .35 A list of Internet sites offering further information on global media. The Office of International Information Programs of the U.S. Department of State provides products and services that explain U.S. policies, society, and global issues values to foreign audiences. The Office publishes five electronic journals An Electronic Journal of the U.S. Department of State that examine major issues facing the United States and the international community. The journals—Economic Perspectives, Global Issues, Issues of [email protected] Democracy, U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda, and U.S. Society and Values—pro- vide statements of U.S. policy together with analysis, commentary, and back- ground information in their respective thematic areas. Publisher . Judith S. Siegel All issues appear in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish language ver- Editor. William Peters sions, and selected issues also appear in Arabic and Russian. English-lan- Managing Editor . Ellen F. Toomey guage issues appear at approximately a one-month interval. Translated ver- Asst. Managing Editor . Jim Fuller sions normally follow the English original by two to four weeks. Text Editor . Charlene Porter The opinions expressed in the journals do not necessarily reflect the views or Internet Editor . Tim Brown policies of the U.S. government. The U.S. Department of State assumes no Associate Editors . Jenifer Bochner responsibility for the content and continued accessibility of Internet sites linked to herein; such responsibility resides solely with the publishers of . Thomas Fladland those sites. Articles may be reproduced and translated outside the United . Wayne Hall States unless the articles carry explicit copyright restrictions on such use. Potential users of credited photos are obliged to clear such use with said . Rosalie Targonski source. Reference and Research . Lynne Scheib . Joan Taylor Current or back issues of the journals, and the roster of upcoming journals, can be found on the Office of International Information Programs’ Art Director. Chloe Ellis International Home Page on the World Wide Web at Graphics Assistant . Sylvia Scott http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/journals.htm. They are available in several electronic formats to facilitate viewing online, transferring, downloading, and Editorial Board. James L. Bullock printing. Comments are welcome at your local U.S. Embassy or at the edito- . George Clack rial offices: . Judith S. Siegel Editor, Global Issues & Communications Office of International Information Porgrams IIP/T/GIC Original Cover Art . Geoffrey Moss U.S. Department of State 301 4th Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20547 United States of America. E-mail: [email protected] 4 FOCUS Promoting Free and Responsible Media: An Integral Part of America’s Foreign Policy By Lorne W. Craner Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor This spring, independent newspapers in Kyrgyzstan can look forward to the delivery of a new color printing press. In a program designed to promote free and dynamic media in the country, the U.S. Department of State has provided funding for that press and for training courses for Kyrgyz journalists. The project is a concrete demonstration of how the promotion of open media is an important component of U.S. foreign policy. “Freedom of the press is not an end The right of the press to freely publish, editorialize, in itself but a means to the end critique, and inform is a fundamental principle of American democracy. In fact, the form of government Americans enjoy today would not have been possible of achieving a free society.” without a great compromise known as the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The first amendment declares that “Congress shall make no Former U.S. Supreme Court law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” Justice Felix Frankfuter Freedom of the press exists not merely because it is codified in law. It exists and flourishes today because the American people cherish it. They do so because the free press has had an important role to play in forging our great nation and in elevating it to the position of world leader in democracy and human rights. While freedom of the press prospers in American today, it is far from a uniquely American institution. Free and responsible media can have a positive influence in any country, including those that are newly emerging 5 democracies. Free press is essential Likewise, without protections, in achieving stable, democratic governments can coerce private government, like that enjoyed by Promoting media into publishing or not Americans. publishing vital information. In freedom of the short, free media ensure that Promoting freedom of the press is governments will represent the really about promoting human interests of their citizens and that freedom. For people to play an press is really citizens can hold their governments active role in the politics of their accountable. In public discourse, a country, they must be informed. free press allows the expression of Even something as simple as voting about promot- many editorial opinions and can be difficult without enough commercial advertisements. This information. A free press transmits ing human environment is a “marketplace of to the people information about ideas” where citizens and consumers their leaders, the policies of other choose
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