UK journalism played an attackdog
,"
rather"than"a"watchdog,"
role."
This
"
is"unhealthy"from"a"democratic"point"of"view"and"poses"
serious" ethical" questions" as" to" the" role" of" the" media" in" a" democracy
,"
especially" when" it"
concerns"the"legitimate"contestation"of"the"Government"of"the"day
."
"
"
When"a"democracy"cannot"rely"on"its"press"to"provide"its"citizens"with"information"about"
political"parties"that"meets"the"basic"standards"of"fairness,"then"we"can"expec
t"a"political"
process"that"is"equally"unbalanced."Recent"events"may"have"provided"broader"evidence"of"
this"disturbing"trend."
"
"
NICK"COULDRY,"HEAD,"DEPARTMENT"OF"MEDIA"AND"COMMUNICATIONS
"
BART"CAMMAERTS,"DEPARTMENT"OF"MEDIA"AND"COMMUNICATIONS
"
"
1"July"2016
