po polsku
This role explains the frequent media interventions in cases where these rights and order are violated by the government or other institutions. I`ve already mentioned leading examples of pro-social media actions - the exposure of the Watergate scandal and the Pentagon Papers on the Vietnam War.
These interventions brought tangible results - due to the exposure of abuses, President Nixon resigned, and the war saw fewer American casualties. Unlike in other countries that are grandly called democratic, in the U.S., journalists cannot be arrested for telling the truth, nor can a newsroom be shut down for actively seeking the truth. On the other hand, the government cannot be defamed unless investigative journalists can prove that governmental statements or actions are directed with particular malice against American society.
However, U.S. media are not only about heroic journalists and reporters fighting for the people`s right to information on government actions. Many "business sharks" focus on their own interests and the profits of their corporations rather than the public good. And since violence and sex sell best these days, many Americans criticize the media - take, for example, Michael Moore, a prominent advocate for reducing crime coverage in the news. Those who have seen "Bowling for Columbine" know what I mean. His idea of driving consumption through fear has many supporters among lawmakers, who have long tried to change the popular belief that "nothing sells like a corpse on the cover."
To address citizens` demands and Congressional pressure, the four main television networks - ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox - established a system in 1993 to inform viewers of a program’s violent nature just before it begins. In 1996, commercial and cable networks went a step further, implementing a system that monitors "doses" of violence, sex, and vulgarity in their programming. Depending on the content, an appropriate symbol appears on the screen during the broadcast to indicate whether children and teenagers should watch the program (a similar system now exists in Poland).
Paradoxically, this system was deemed a violation of the First Amendment in the United States. Since 1998, technological solutions have been applied instead, with televisions now factory-equipped with a V-chip, allowing parents to block broadcasts of programs that children should not watch.
Read all articles in the series The Fourth Estate in America.
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New articles in section History of the media
The history of La Jornada. Lesson in independence from a mexican daily
Małgorzata Dwornik
It was created through the determination of journalists and the support of a Nobel laureate. Even students and the homeless contributed to the first issue. It survived earthquakes, financial crises, and political attacks. Today, the Mexican daily La Jornada is a strong, independent brand.
Dimmalætting. History of the oldest daily in the Faroe Islands
Małgorzata Dwornik
The oldest newspaper in the Faroe Islands survived fires, bankruptcies, and the British friendly occupation. Although its end was declared many times, Dimmalætting has reported on archipelago life for 148 years. This title became a symbol of the struggle for identity for the Faroese people.
Jamal Khashoggi. A media trap, illusion of freedom, and price of free speech
Małgorzata Dwornik
He knew Osama bin Laden personally and advised Saudi kings, only to eventually become their greatest critic. Jamal Khashoggi entered the consulate in Istanbul and vanished without a trace, shocking world public opinion. This is the story of a man who traveled the path from palace salons to exile, paying the ultimate price for the fight for freedom of speech.
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History of MTV. A Music Channel Where Music Once Disappeared
Małgorzata Dwornik
On August 1, 1981, at exactly 12:01 p.m. Eastern Time (USA and Canada), a new cable television channel launched: Music Television. John Lack welcomed MTV’s first viewers with the words: Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll! The first music video aired was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles.
Nexta, or Someone. History of an opposition title from Belarus
Małgorzata Dwornik
The very first rebellious post on the music channel Nexta, run by a seventeen-year-old, did not escape the attention of the Belarusian KGB. The next ones - describing events uncomfortable for the authorities - led to open conflict. Stsiapan Putsila and his Nexta became a target of the Minsk regime. And they have no intention of backing down.
Granma. History of the most communist newspaper in Cuba
Małgorzata Dwornik
As stated on the Spanish Wikipedia, the word GRANMA comes from the informal, graphic, and phonetic English term "grandma" (grandmother), which in American slang means "old lady". For Cubans of the 1950s and 1960s, however, it became a symbol of freedom and the Cuban Revolution.
Weekly News Of The World. History of success and downfall
Małgorzata Dwornik
The publication appeared on the market in 1843 and quickly gained popularity. In the 1930s, Winston Churchill contributed to its pages. Two decades later, it set a world record with 8.6 million copies, thriving on sensationalism and scandal. Crossing boundaries ultimately sealed the fate of News of The World. It disappeared in 2011 due to a massive phone-hacking scandal.
