Thoughts on Development Journalism

To start off, I understand what Lerner and other members of the world were trying to do when this theory was developed and promoted. This theory was supposed to be more Western-friendly, so that possibly the U.S. and England would rejoin UNESCO and help with the global dilemma. It definitely seems like a better idea than having regulations on the media, however, I don't like this theory either. When we wrote down the first goal in class today instantly my head reeled with skepticism. The goal was: "Media can promote 'good values' of the modern world and help traditional societies to become democracies.' Good values? Whose good values are we looking at? For some (probably most) peripheral states, the values that the West perceives as good- technological freedom, freedom of expression and so on- may be perceived as the values which lead to the corrosion of a traditional moral social order. Not even that, but as we talked in class, journalists can't just write good things about the government; that can lead to propaganda and unfair governments hidden from the public eye. How would journalists even go about reporting on humanitarian issues when if they found a spark of indignation, a strike, or general criticism, they would not be able to use it? It'd be next to impossible. I think this theory attempted to work out a global issue but really journalists should never have to forfeit their duty as watchdogs of the government.