Question 2: US has a liberal model of the media? What is it and how does it differ from the other two?

Question 1

Key dimensions of media systems

Answer 1

• Emergence of the mass-circulation press
• Government involvement in the media
• Degree of “political parallelism”: alignment with political parties, social groups and interests
• Degree of journalistic professionalism: standards, norms, autonomy and serving the public good

Question 2

Liberal Model (ex: United States, Britain, Canada)

Answer 2

• The emergence of mass-circulation press in a liberal model occurred early. In the United States this occurred around the 1830s.
• Government involvement in the media is limited
• The degree to which the media is aligned with political parties and interests is low
• Degree of professionalism is high

Question 3

Polarized Pluralist (ex: Italy, France, Spain)

Answer 3

• Emergence of mass-circulation occurred in the mid to late 1900s.
• The government plays an active role in the media
• The degree to which the media is aligned with political parties and interests is high
• Degree of journalistic professionalism is low

Question 4

Democratic Corporatist (ex: Sweden, Germany, Belgium)

Answer 4

• Mass-circulation occurred in the late 1700s and early 1800s
• Level of government involvement in the media is moderate
• The degree to which the media is aligned with political parties and interest is high
• Degree of journalistic professionalism is high

Question 5

Evidence for the liberal model in the US

Answer 5

• Patterson and Donsbach examined the correlation between journalists’ partisan belief and their new outlet’s editorial position
• Examined 5 countries and found that in the United States and Britain the correlation was low. In Sweden and Germany there was a stronger correlation. And Italy had the strongest correlation.