Module 6: Supporting Freedom of the Press

[To see the complete module for Freedom of the Press, please click here:

 

Freedom of the press is a right of every society, but one that also bears great responsibility. 

 

This module, created during the 2010 Salzburg Academy for Media and Global Change, is designed to serve as the starting point for inquiring and learning about freedom of the press and the relationship between media and the rule of law.

 

Moreover, this module examines issues of press freedom around the world and the role and responsibilities of informed citizens and media in society. 

 

The module is created in eight different parts, some of them inevitably overlapping to some degree. The abstract is the summary definition of the module, itself. The theory overview is the introduction to the module and the starting point for the investigation into freedom of the press. The overview is also a general review of the theory of press freedom and related theories.

The bulk of the module exists in the section with key questions. In this section, participants examined eight key issues surrounding freedom of the press. The questions ranged from defining the concept of freedom of the press to the analysis of threats to press freedom worldwide. The social map contains quick reference points for issues surrounding freedom of the press, including biographies of key figures who spoke or wrote about press freedom, key documents, history, ideas and concepts, institutions, law, technology and theory. There is also a glossary of terms. 

 

The seventh section of the module are four "public service announcements" (PSAs) designed and produced by the participants to illustrate various issues surrounding freedom of the press. The essential point here was to tell a story about press freedom in a creative and striking way. Following these PSAs are exercises that classes or individuals can complete to gain a better understanding of press freedom and its implications for civic society.