Encyclopaedia of Journalism, Democracy and Free Press (Media Literacy)

Importance of Access to Information

Access to information is essential to the health of democracy for at least two reasons. First, it ensures that citizens make responsible, informed choices rather than acting out of ignorance or misinformation. Second, information serves a "checking function" by ensuring that elected representatives uphold their oaths of office and carry out the wishes of those who elected them.

In some societies, an antagonistic relationship between media and government represents a vital and healthy element of fully functioning democracies. In post-conflict or ethnically homogenous societies, such a conflictual, tension-ridden relationship may not be appropriate, but the role of the press to disseminate information as a way of media sector supportive of democracy would be the state and all facets of civil society remains critical.

A media sector supportive of democracy would be one that has a degree of editorial independence, is financially viable, has diverse views, and serves the public interest. It is defined as representing a plurality of voices both through a greater number of outlets and through the diversity of views and voices reflected within one outlet.

These volumes will quench the thirst of knowledge in the field of journalism and mass media is the sincere hope of the author. If it proves to be of little value to the readers, all efforts and hardships of the author will amply be rewarded.