Think about the changing landscape of media finance and how it has impacted journalism in the twenty-first century.

Media Financing
Student’s Name
(Institution)
Media Financing
Media plays a central role in informing people about what happens in the world. Media firms sometimes receive funds from the government, politicians, corporations and other groups for their operations. Mostly, there is no transparency in media financing from public funds, and this allows for corrupt activities. Those with power know that media influence is crucial for manipulation and this undermines democracy. Proprietors of media organizations use them for their advantages, and they also control what the media can publicize. Therefore, I think media houses are not truly free because these proprietors will always want to control the content they deliver to the public.
I believe that media can be free from external influences through formal and informal ways. First, in many states, the constitution lays down rules regarding the independence of media through acts and regulatory provisions (Karppinen & Moe, 2016). These laws if followed can free media from external influences. Moreover, these laws also stipulate how funding and external supervision can be carried out. Secondly, the media can be free from external influences through self-regulation (Karppinen & Moe, 2016). Journalists can be free by following professional and ethical guidelines which ensure that they don’t compromise the freedom of media.
Media funding can have both negative and positive implications. First, the funds these organizations receive from the government and other institutions are used to produce quality and timely information to media consumers.

Media firms are also able to achieve operational efficiency because they don’t lack the capital required to fund their daily operations. However, media funding also undermines democracy. If there is interference by the government or politicians, then the media is not able to deliver true information to consumers. Similarly, if they favor a particular party or agenda, then they will convey altered information. The press acts as an outsider and is a transparency tool between the government and the public, but if it doesn’t uphold this principle, then democracy is undermined. Therefore, media funding is good, but these firms should work towards freedom from their proprietors to serve their sole purpose.
Reference
Karppinen, K., & Moe, H. (2016). What We Talk About When Talk About “Media Independence.” Journal Of The European Institute For Communication And Culture, 23(2).