Four Press Theories

Four theories of Press: (1) Authoritarian, (2) Soviet-communist, (3) Libertarian, (4)
Social Responsibility, to explain the different media systems.

The role of media allows the citizens to understands the government and vice versa.
Mass media always takes on the form and coloration of the social and political
structures within which the media operate.

Authoritarian Theory

Authoritarian theory is developed in England during the 16th and 17th century (Teh,
2014). It is describe that the governing elite, authorities or influential bureaucrats
controls all form of communication of the ruling country.

What Fred S. Siebert (1956) said that:

For almost two hundred years after the spread of printing in the
western world, the authoritarian theory furnished the exclusive basis
for determining the function and relationship of the popular press to
contemporary society.
… in fact practically all western Europe… utilized the basic principles
of authoritarianism as the theoretical foundation for their systems of
press control.
Ownership of the printing medias are mainly private, however broadcast and cinema
are mainly under the control of the authorities. The primary role of the media is to
support and advances the policies implement by the authorities or government (Teh,
2014).

Since Mymmar has gained independence the media system has been under control
of the authoritarian government, led by the military general from 1962 to 2010 (Zaw,
2013). Before Mymmar showed signs of loosening up its control, the media has
always been portraying as a supporter towards the country’s military junta. Countries
that practice Authoritarian Theory has stiff censorship regulations, state controlled
newspapers usually are propaganda filled (Committee to Protect Journalist,2006).

Other countries that practice Authoritarian Theory include:

Zimbabwe

Syria

Soviet-Communist Theory

Soviet-Commuist theory orginiated from Soviet Union based on a theory from

Marxist, Leninst and Stalinist. The same theory was dveloped and folowed by Adolf
Hitler’s Nazi in Germany and Benito Mussolini in Italy. The practice is related to
the authoritarian thoery. Unlike authoritairanism, the state owns and controls all
form of mas media directly (Soviet Media Theory,n.d.).
Source: Korean Central News Agency
Countries that adopts Soviet-Communist theory only portrays news with positive
thoughts and negative thoughts towards democratic countries. For example, Soviet
media do not emphasize accidents like train wrecks and boat sinkings or natrual
disasters, as this will portrays negative thoughts towards the government.

Source: Rodong Sinmun

Soviet media will focuses on the success and continuance of the dictatorship of the
party (Teh, 2014). For example in the above source, North Korea tried to convince
his citizens that the policies implemented by Kim Jong Un was so great that even
Spain supported them.

Other Soviet-Communits countries include:

China

Cuba

Libertarian Theory

Libertarian Theory initially orginated from libertarian thought from the 16 th century
in Europe. Libeterainlism is against the thougths of authoritarianlism, hypothesis
believes in freedom of thoughts and lives (Libertarian Theory, n.d.).
Countries that adopts Libertarian Media system, the media is of an absolute freedom
of expression, and the media are mainly privately owned. It’s purpose is to inform,
entertain, sell and serve as the fourth estate – government’s watchdog (Teh, 2014).
Source: Freedom House
In 2014 Press Freedom Ranking by Freedom House, an organisation that promotes
freedom around the world, Sweden was ranked the top in Press Freedom. Sweden
was the first country that introduce constituitional law to abolish censorship and
guaranteed the freedom of press in its states (Censorship in Sweden, n.d.).

In this theory, the press distrust the government or state, and believe that the the
readers or citizens have the rights to information.

Other countries that adopts this theory include:

Costa Rica

Australia

Switzerland

Social Responsibility Theory

Most of the dveloping countries in the 20 th century has use social responsibility
theory of press. According to Four theories of Press (Siebert, Peterson and
Schramm,2002) its been stateexpressed that “pure libertarianism is antiquated, out
dated and obsolete.” that set the transition from the libertarian theory to the social
responsibility theory
Social responsibility is a theory between both authoritharian and libertarian.
Ownership of media is usually private and practice self-reugation, while on the other
hand, it is tied to a form of government based on the Constitution and The Bill of
Rights.

The role of media is to serve the public (Teh, 2014), it allows everyone to have say
and express their opinion about the media.

Source: IIP Digital

The Social Responsible media system should stay free of government influence to
fulfill the role of serving the public. Theoretically, it is only morally right for the
media to provide enough relevant information for citizens to make educated
decisions (Jennifer Ostini,n.d.). The media is to be professional, accurate and truthful
in dissipating information, but only to the extent at which disclosure to public is
healthy.

Other countries that adopts this theory include:

Japan
Philippines

India

Summary:
Source: Teh, 2014

Reference:

Censorship in Sweden. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2015,

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Sweden
Committee to Protect Journalists (2006). North Korea tops CPJ’s list of “10 Most
Censored Countries”. Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 31 December
2014, from http://cpj.org/reports/2006/05/10-most-censored-countries.php
Jennifer Ostini (n.d). Beyond the Four Theories of the Press: A New Model of
National Media Systems. Retrieved on 20 December 2014,
from http://courses.essex.ac.uk/gv/gv905/W06%20Readings/ostini_beyond_four_t
heories.pdf
Libertarian Theory. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2015,
from http://communicationtheory.org/libertarian-theory/
Press Freedom Rankings. (2014, January 1). Retrieved January 12, 2015,
from https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press-2014/press-freedom-
rankings#.VLPqWMZ2Q2w
Siebert, F. (1956). The Authoritarian Theory of the Press. In Four theories of the
press: The authoritarian, libertarian, social responsibility, and Soviet communist
concepts of what the press should be and do (p. 9). Urbana: University of Illinois
Press.
SIEBERT, F., PETERSON, T., SCHRAMM, W., & MERRILL, J. C. (2002). Classic
Books Revisited The Four Theories of the Press Four and a Half Decades Later: a
retrospective. Journalism Studies, 3(1), 133-136.
Soviet Media Theory. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2015,
from http://communicationtheory.org/soviet-media-theory/
Teh, C. (Director) (2014, November 11). Freedom of Speech & Four Press Theories.
Lecture conducted from School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Singapore.

Zaw, T. (2013, January 1). Covering Fragile Days The Role of the Media in Post-
Authoritarian Regimes: A Case Study of Myanmar. Retrieved January 12, 2015,
from https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Covering Fragile
Days – The Role of the Media in Post-Authoritarian Regimes A Case Study of
Myanmar.pdf