Seeking Free & Responsible Media

"Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press."

First Amendment
to the Constitution of the United States

A fundamental axiom of democracy is that citizens must have information and knowledge. People must be informed if they are to play an active role in the life of their country. Free and responsible media are critical sources of information for citizens who want to choose the best leaders for their country and make sound decisions about the issues in their nation and in their individual communities.

The information the media provide is just as critical for intelligent economic and personal decisions as for good political choices. There is a strong relationship between open media and free and effective economies. In fact, recent studies conducted by the World Bank have shown that free media are essential for successful economic progress in developing countries.

It has long been the policy of the U.S. government to support the development of open and responsible media abroad and to assist in building the infrastructure needed for a free press to operate -- legislative infrastructure, financial independence, transparency in government, and journalists trained in objective and fair reporting. Achieving a free and responsible media is a constant, challenging, vital, and ongoing activity. We must continue to work at it, adapting to new conditions and challenges. We must keep in sight the ultimate objective -- a citizenry able to make informed decisions that shape their lives.

The Editors

Promoting Free and Responsible Media:
An Integral Part of America's Foreign Policy
The U.S. government promotes and assists development
of responsible media abroad.
By Lorne W. Craner, Assistant Secretary of State
for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

Independent Media's Role in Building Democracy
The U.S. government sponsors a variety of programs to nurture the development of media organizations that will serve their publics.
By Frederick W. Schieck, Deputy Administrator,
U.S. Agency for International Development

Legal Foundations of Press Freedom in the United States
A nation must provide a strong legal foundation for media to operate independently and without harassment.
By Jane E. Kirtley, Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law
at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication,
University of Minnesota

Steps to a Free, Financially Viable Media
Media in transitional countries are increasingly recognized as contributors to improved government accountability, more efficient markets, and more information-rich societies.
By Tim Carrington and Mark Nelson, World Bank Institute

Anarchy Is Not a Business Plan:
Practical Pointers on the Business of Media
Three overseas media business advisors who have worked extensively in transitional nations discuss how media outlets struggle to establish their financial independence, serve their audiences, and report responsibly.
The panel includes William Siemering, a broadcast trainer in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia; David Simonson, a newspaper business consultant to Eastern European publications; and Rachel Thompson, a media management trainer in Eastern Europe.

Journalism and Serving the Public Trust
Journalism schools need to be places where students learn to serve the public trust through the independent presentation of news.
William F. Woo, Lorry I. Lokey Visiting Professor of
Professional Journalism, Stanford University

Broadcast Journalists Need Training to Meet Intense Demands
Broadcast journalists want further refinement of their skills throughout their careers, but finding training can be challenging.
Deborah Potter, Director of NewsLab, a research and
training center for television journalists

Bibliography
Books, documents, and articles on media issues.

Internet Sites
A list of Internet sites offering further information on global media.

Global Issues
An Electronic Journal of the U.S. Department of State
ejglobal@pd.state.gov

Publisher Judith S. Siegel; Editor William Peters; Managing Editor Ellen F. Toomey; Asst. Managing Editor Jim Fuller; Text Editor Charlene Porter; Internet Editor Tim Brown; Associate Editors Jenifer Bochner, Thomas Fladland, Wayne Hall, Rosalie Targonski; Reference and Research Lynne Scheib, Joan Taylor; Art Director Chloe Ellis;
Graphics Assistant Sylvia Scott; Editorial Board Jim Bullock,
George Clack, Judith S. Siegel

Original Cover Art Geoffrey Moss

The Office of International Information Programs of the U.S. Department of State provides products and services that explain U.S. policies, society, and values to foreign audiences. The Office publishes five electronic journals that examine major issues facing the United States and the international community. The journals -- Economic Perspectives, Global Issues, Issues of Democracy, U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda, and U.S. Society and Values -- provide statements of U.S. policy together with analysis, commentary, and background information in their respective thematic areas.

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Editor, Global Issues & Communications
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IIP/T/GIC
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United States of America
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