Political Science

To promote genuine democracy in a country, it is important for its governance to be the rule of the people because one of the core ideas of democracy is that governments ought to do what their citizens want them to do (Page, 1996, p.1). In a democratic country, the primary function of elected officials is to serve the public who gave them the authority to govern. Democracy is shaped by the opinions and preferences of the public. Therefore, if the preferences of the public are placed with high considerations, it is important to note how public opinion is greatly influenced by mass media. Democracy and mass media have a direct relationship with each other because their main functions and actions are consistently linked with each other.

Getting information from the media has already become a necessity of everyday life. The media is actively taking part in the process of democratization by shaping the orientations and actions of other participants (Voltmer, 2006, p. 6). Most of the citizens are dependent on whatever information is conveyed to them by mass media. The people determine most of their participation and opinions in a democratic setting based on what they gain from becoming exposed to mass media.

According to Voltmer (2006) the quality of democratic decision-making is closely linked to the quality of information provided by the media which means that the effectiveness of mass media in providing complete and credible information is crucial in determining the health of democracy in the country (p. 5). Mass media is considered a very essential tool of democracy because the range of its influence has a big impact to the public. To inform is one of medias most important function in the society and because of this, mass media has become the main source where citizens can obtain the information they need to take part in public life (Voltmer, 2006, p. 5).  People get what they know from what is presented to them by the mass media. This gives media the power and responsibility to protect the truth and to educate the people to uphold democratic practices. Mass media ensures that citizens make responsible, informed choices rather that acting out of ignorance or misinformation (CDG, 1999, p.3).

Mass media also serves as a mediating body between the state and the citizens of the country because the media had become the major arena of mass communication and message proliferation in the society. Also, the role of media as the watchdog of the government helps democracy through its checking function by ensuring that elected representatives uphold their oaths of office (CDG, 1999).

In the democratic setting, mass media is also known as the fourth state of the government because it becomes a regulatory body that monitors the legislative, executive, and judiciary functions of a government. Mass media helps promote fairness and justice in the government and they are also capable, through the freedom of speech and press that is promoted by a democratic government, of public investigation for possible abuses of political power.  This strengthens the democracy in the country by letting the people know every important thing about their elected officials.

Because of media, the people become informed and educated. This gives them the capability to participate effectively and meaningfully to the affairs of their government. Mass media helps promote democracy by helping provide all the needed elements of fair governance that revolves around the principle of a country that is ruled for and by the people. It is not easy to justify the participation of the public in a government. But the power of mass media serves as the bridge of people in reaching their officials and in making sure that their government is governed in a manner that will be beneficial to the country and to all of its citizens.