What is the Social Responsibility Theory?
Written by the Hutchins Commission on Freedom of the Press
May 18, 2009
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech so that the press can remain fully free, and the public can be fully informed. This freedom may sometimes be hindered by corporate pressures and government control. In countries without freedom of the press, messages are filtered through the government, allowing only what is considered acceptable information to be released to the public.
Social Responsibility Theory
To combat the pressures that threatened freedom of the press, this theory was first introduced in 1947 and was recommended by the Hutchins Commission on Freedom of the Press. It stated that the media should serve the public, and in order to do so, should remain free of government interference. It defined guidelines that the media should follow in order to fulfill its obligation of serving the public.
Ethics and the Media
The Social Responsibility Theory claimed that the media could be self-regulating by adhering to the following precepts:
- Media has obligations to fulfill to a democratic society in order to preserve freedom.
- Media should be self-regulated.
- Media should have high standards for professionalism and objectivity, as well as truth and accuracy.
- Media should reflect the diversity of the cultures they represent.
- The public has a right to expect professional performance. (The proponents of this theory had strong faith in the public’s ability to determine right and wrong, and take action to preserve the public good when necessary.)
The social responsibility does not only fall upon the reporters and producers of media. The responsibility also falls to the consumers to become media literate and maintain high, yet reasonable expectations of the media. In theory, if these things happen, there will be no need for government intervention.
The Social Responsibility Theory was set forth as the ideal way for the media to conduct business. Over the years since its introduction, this theory has met with much criticism as well as support. It has become the standard for United States media practices. It has also set the standards for much of the currently accepted media ethics.
Since the Hutchins Commission produced its famous theory, the United States has developed better educated journalists, seen a reduction in news sensationalism and enjoyed more accuracy in reporting. Many journalists are now also advocates for the public and for social issues and reform, getting their messages out through the media.
An informative study of the history of the Hutchins Commission on the Freedom of the Press, written by Annenberg Senior Fellow, Stephen Bates, can be found here.
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