mediadev library

Sadia Jamil, Glenn W. Muschert

In: Agenda for Social Justice 2020: Solutions for 2020

Glenn W. Muschert, Kristen M. Budd, Robert Perrucci (eds.)

Bristol: Bristol University Press (2020), pp. 135-142

"Media freedom is primarily the freedom of diverse forms of media and sources of communication. Traditionally, freedom of the press is conceptualized as the freedom to publish; however, the notion of media freedom is much broader as it encompasses the freedom both to publish and to broadcast, emphas ... izing the idea that media in information societies consist of more than print sources (e.g. newspapers and magazines) and incorporates electronic sources of communication as well, such as radio, television, and the Internet. Hence, freedom of the media is indispensable for democratic societies given that the media are an outlet for public discussion and opinion and basically operate to seek the truth, educate the public, and serve as a watchdog over government. Threats to journalists and attacks on media freedom undermine the proper functioning of the United States as a democratic society, as the ability of journalists to investigate and report on controversial topics becomes threatened by the government and pressure groups such as criminal gangs, terrorists, and corporate giants. In the U.S., as elsewhere, freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, and a precondition for many other democratic rights. According to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: Restrictions on freedom of expression can be direct (such as stringent laws) and in direct (such as censorship pressure from the government and military), and vary relative to social contexts. In democratic systems, media organizations and journalists have been the lifeline of freedom of expression and public accountability. The existence of free and pluralistic media is indispensable to democratic governance, and media freedom is vital to the practice of journalism. Media professionals and journalists need the freedom to perform their jobs without undue constraints. Journalists report on issues of public interest, including government policies, and have a key role to play in democracies by revealing truth and disseminating information indispensable to sustainable knowledge societies. Threats and violence against journalists and media professionals can stop the public from exercising their fundamental right to seek, receive, and impart information." (Abstract) more

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Theorizing Digital Divides

Massimo Ragnedda, Glenn W. Muschert (eds.)

London: Routledge (2018), vi, 211 pp.

"Although discussion of the digital divide is a relatively new phenomenon, social inequality is a deeply entrenched part of our current social world and is now reproduced in the digital sphere. Such inequalities have been described in multiple traditions of social thought and theoretical approaches. ... more

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The Digital Divide: The Internet and Social Inequality in International Perspective

Massimo Ragnedda, Glenn W. Muschert (eds.)

London: Routledge (2013), 324 pp.

"This book provides an in-depth comparative analysis of inequality and the stratification of the digital sphere. Grounded in classical sociological theories of inequality, as well as empirical evidence, this book defines “the digital divide” as the unequal access and utility of internet communic ... more

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U.S. and Finnish Journalists: A Comparative Study of Roles, Responsibilities, and Emotional Reactions to School Shootings

Klas Backholm, Marguerite Moritz, Kaj Björkqvist

In: School Shootings: Mediatized Violence in a Global Age

Glenn W. Muschert, Johanna Sumiala (eds.)

Leeds: Emerald Publishing (2012), pp. 141-160

"In the chapter, journalistic work ethics on the scene during school shootings and journalists’ psychological stress reactions after such work is studied. Approach: Findings are based on several qualitative studies carried out separately at different time periods, spanning over a decade. Included ... more

Risks to journalists’ safety and the vulnerability of media freedom in the U.S.

Theorizing Digital Divides

The Digital Divide: The Internet and Social Inequality in International Perspective

U.S. and Finnish Journalists: A Comparative Study of Roles, Responsibilities, and Emotional Reactions to School Shootings