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The Role of Media in Improving Democratic Governance
In 1996 only 25 percent said family and friends were their main source
of information on public issues, while in 2000 this number was up to
44 percent.
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Why are citizens distancing themselves from media as a source of
information on the domestic operations of democracy? And, what
impact could this have on governance? The answer to both these
questions can also be found in trust. Since 2004, the Organization
of American States’ (OAS) rapporteur for freedom of speech has
warned of the incompatibility between monopoly and oligopoly in the
ownership of media and the development of a democratic society that
enjoys freedom of speech. The report concluded:
“The continuous complaints received by the Office of
the Special Rapporteur in relation to monopolistic and
oligopolistic practices in mass media ownership in the
region indicate that there is grave concern in several
sectors of civil society with respect to the impact that
concentration of media ownership may represent where it
comes to ensuring pluralism as an essential element of the
freedom of expression.”
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Complementing this report, researcher Giselle A. Deiró studied the
increasingly influential role that large media groups have on the
continent. She explained:
“In a market where entry costs for new players are high and
where there is a natural tendency towards concentration,
the number of broadcasters becomes limited, which then
results in less pluralism. This in turn threatens citizens’
freedom of speech and the right to be informed, given
that the market of ideas will only have a few gathered
voices: Those with enough capital to expose their ideas and
opinions.”
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