Abstract

Abstract of the Article “Presses and Democracies.”

The Article “Presses and Democracies” by Overholser and Hall Jamieson (Oxford/ New York 2005) talks about how media news differs around the globe and changes along the time. The authors mention about Globalization and its effects, which turned journalism into a popular, often common culture in most of the countries.

The text proposes identification of the main Media Systems in the Western World. It details the three main models in Western Media. Firstly, the authors talk about the Liberal Model, together with its three similar characteristics, being first the commercial newspapers. Then its state intervention and lastly centering that journalism should be impartial, neutral, replacing, then, the concept of political parallelism. After that, it is mentioned the Polarized and Pluralist Model. It states that it first evolved across the Mediterranean parts in Europe. Southern European countries were more willing to divulgate the arts, such as music and literature, rather than for profit. It finally arrives at the Democratic Corporatist Model. When this model came in, public opinion was mainly influenced due to how prior systems have developed.

After the overview of the models, it is taught about the Convergence of Media Systems. It is said that the divergences among the models was reduced about the end of the last century. It argues that the main cause to this was the so-called secularization of European society, which can be supported by a denial of people in separating religious and ideological faiths linked to those systems.

On the last part, the authors associate the development of Media Systems with enhancements for society, such as turning public causes like democracy, and other subjects with controversial contents. At conclusion, questions are set in the atmosphere, making one to wonder what futures await for the Media. Moreover, the authors imagine of what kind of concerns will be brought up and how can the logic of the current models not be contradicted due by its own rules.