Journalism: Public Enlightenment or Private Interest?

Abstract

Journalism in America occupies a unique posi tion because it is protected by the First Amendment to the Con stitution, which by implication gives it a public responsibility. The dilemma of the publisher, however, is that he is also a pri vate businessman who must make a profit to survive, and in the conflict between public enlightenment and private interest, he is found too often on the side of the conservative business interests which sustain his newspaper and whose viewpoints he usually shares. Advertising and public relations have come to dominate the output of the press, in many respects. In gov ernment, newspapers have become particularly the willing part ners of the image-makers. Advertising dominates the maga zine business even more completely, while broadcasting has government regulation to contend with as well. In sum, the public interest and the responsibility of the media have been the victims of economic pressures which have made the private interest paramount. In spite of some advances, the outlook is not hopeful.