A comparison and contrast between the authoritarian and libertarian theories

A contrast and comparison between the authoritrain and libertarian theories of the mass media

Frederick Seibert propounded the libertarian and authoritarian theories in his ‘Four theories of the press’. The term “press” in Siebert”s work refers to the media of mass communication, namely, radio, television and newspapers.

According to Seibert, the media in an authoritarian system requires government control. In this theory, the assumption is that not all men are endowed with wisdom and as such, only the wise few (government) should direct the affairs of the people.. it also assumes that these wise men are infallible.

The system prohibits the publishing of any material that the government deems to undermine the security of the state, or its social or moral values. The authoritarian practice controls the media by granting licenses and sometimes censorship. The governments do these with the aim of protecting the collective interests of the public; or that is what they believe.

Ghana at one time also did its fair suppression of the media. This authoritarian

“it is part of our revolutionary credo that within the competitive system of capitalism, the press cannot function in accordance with a strict regard for the sacredness of facts and the press, therefore, should not remain in private hands”

On another occasion, he stated, “the truly African press does not exist for the purpose of enriching its proprietors or entertaining its readers. It is an integral part of our society…must carry out our revolutionary purpose”.

The control of the media was reinforced with legislation. A Criminal Code (Amendment) Act was passed requiring “newspapers and other publications of matters calculated to prejudice public order or safety” to be submitted for scrutiny before publication.(Audrey Gadzekpo)

According to Gadzekpo, “the final overt policy… was the passing of the newspaper licensing law (PNDC Law 211) in1989that revoked the registration of all newspapers.

Seibert graphically describes the relationship of the media and authoritarian systems as such:

Government

Media

The libertarian or free pres theory contrasts with the authoritarian theory. It rests on the idea that the individual had the right to publish what he or she likes regardless of whether it was true or not. It advocates for a free marketplace of ideas where each one would choose from among various ideas, which one was true. Even attacks on the government are accepted. The government does not intervene or censor the media in this system’s material.

The First amendment of the United States constitution prevents any law from being passed that blocks the freedom of the press.

Seibert illustrates it thus:

Media Government

This illustration does not suggest any link between the media and government

All this not withstanding, the authoritarian and libertarian systems do share some things in common. The media in both systems are understood to wield tremendous power. Both systems recognize the vital role that the media plays or can play. It is how they manipulate the knowledge that differs in both instances. In Audrey Gadzekpo’s Ghana case study, she cited Joyce Aryee, as giving a clue into the PNDC government’s communication policy when she said:

I do not see the press as laying outside of the political institutions that we have…People ought to realize the role of the media differs from country to country. In a situation like ours when we need to conscientise people and where we have an illiteracy problem, you use institutions like the media to do the conscientisation”(African Contemporary Report,1983-84).

The conscientisation effort meant that private newspapers were randomly banned for “distorting news”…and also for distorting the ideals of the 31^st December Revolution. (Asante, 1996)

In addition both systems have a level of restriction. There is no absolute freedom in either system. This is because the constitution has provision for the protection of citizens against libel and slander by media houses. Any citizen who feels aggrieved can petition any law court against a media house. This acts as a check on the freedom of the press although the check may not come from government.

The law of contempt also curtails the right off the media to publish even what is true... The Sunday Times of London was found guilty of publishing below a picture of Michael Malik, who was then awaiting a retrial for an offense, ‘he took to politicks after an unedifying career as a brothel keeper, procurer, then a property racketeer”

It would also amount to contempt if an accused person’s confession statement is published however true it might be.

In contrast, each system is inclined towards the few in the society (the rulers) or the majority. The authoritarian theory is a tool in the hands of the government or the select few. The libertarian theory on the other hand puts much power in the hands of the people since owning and operating a media could be done by anyone, in the absence of strict regulations.

REFERENCES:

Gadzekpo, Audrey. Communications policy of civilian and military regimes; a case study of Ghana.

Terje, Steinulfsson Skjerdaly: Seibert’s Four Theories of the Media; A Critique.