Media as a Tool for Strengthening Democracy
Major news outlets and portals have a democratic responsibility to provide accurate, balanced news coverage. But they also need to survive in the marketplace.This pressure to attract “news consumers” and maximize profits has contributed to the fact that violence and triviality often trump coverage of more meaningful stories..because it sells. Fortunately many independent and other media outlets are filling the gap with quality news that explores a wider range of critical isssues and serves to strengthen our democracy.
Making Democracy WorkDemocracy Now! is a national, daily, independent, award-winning news program hosted by journalists Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, who believe that for true democracy to work, people need easy access to independent, diverse sources of news and information. Read more.
Read the Democracy Now! essay: "Media: A Tool for Strengthening Democracy"
Endnotes & References
Diversify where you get your news. Look for and support those outlets that are public interest and solutions focused.
Some places to start: Democracy Now!, Commondreams.org, ProPublica, the Indypendant, Yes! Magazine, the Nation ...
Q. What if CNN.com and other major and local online news portals (Yahoo, Google, etc.) significantly reduced their coverage of violence and fluff and replaced it with stories that affect our future?
A. We’d be a much more literate society and ready to address the issues that matter.