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The Role of Media in Improving Democratic Governance
institutions such as coherent political parties and
efficient and independent justice systems. In this regard,
progress has been more disappointing. It seems rather
stagnant, and has included some setbacks.”
3
Thus, Latin America has in countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador,
Colombia or Mexico a combination that has proved to be extremely
volatile: a more proactive media, more technical and with a global
reach, coexisting with a democratically elected government whose
performance is usually characterized by omission, negligence or the
abuse of power.
Within this dynamic of coexistence, mass media faces repression and
censure, directly or indirectly, from government and non-government
agents, particularly from organized crime, which in some regions of the
continent has even developed into parallel or
de facto
governments.
4
However, in the exercise of traditional journalism, which seeks to
depict and describe as many faces of the truth as possible, it is necessary
to acknowledge that the media (notwithstanding its challenges) has
an opportunity to consolidate itself as a promoter and auditor of
democratic governance in Latin America through the professional and
ethical use of freedom of press and speech.
A Difficult Coexistence
According to political philosopher Robert Dahl, freedom of speech*
and access to alternative sources of information
†
are two of the six basic
requirements for the existence of a “polyarchic democracy,” or modern
representative democracy with universal suffrage.
5
The other four pre-
requisites are: Elected representatives; free, fair and frequent elections;
alternative autonomy; and inclusive citizenship.
* Dahl defines freedom of speech as, “citizens’ right to express themselves, without having the risk of
a severe punishment, upon political matters, widely defined, including the criticism to public office,
government, political regime, socio-economical order and the prevailing ideology.”
† Defined as, “citizen’s right to request alternative and independent information sources from other
citizens, pundits, newspapers, magazines, books, telecommunications and the like.”
