A Case Study Analysis of Freedom of Press in Western Countries

Thabang Gloria Mohale

Abstract: Purpose: Freedom of press serves a useful rationale in advancing public interest through publishing facts as well as opinions without which a democratic electorate cannot make accountable judgments. It is an integral part of the inner strength and dynamism of democracy. Therefore, the focal aim of this paper is to examine the role of the freedom of the press on government effectiveness using case studies from Western countries. Methodology: The study uses a case study approach to analyze the role of the freedom of the press on government effectiveness. The paper uses secondary data from peer-reviewed journals, newspapers, books, among others. Also, the study sourced information from the Pew Research Center. Findings of Study: The paper found that press freedom had a positive effect on government effectiveness drawing from case studies of press freedom in Western countries. Additionally, the study realized that institutions and political characteristics are some of the factors that determine the level of government effectiveness. Implications: The results of the study indicate that for freedom of the press to be effective, there is a need for regulatory laws to govern the operations of media in Western countries.

Keywords: Press Freedom, Media, Government Effectiveness, Soviet theory, Libertarian Theory, Censorship