Soviet

Communist
Theory
and
Libertarian
Theory
 Soviet Communist Theory
This theory was commenced from
Marxist, Leninist, and Stalinist
ideologies with the combination
of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich
Hegel’s principle wherein the
government has the power to
control all media and
communication and its main
purpose is to educate a large
number of proletariat or social
working group and to promote a
positive thoughts that will
establish a motivated,
informative, edifying, and
mobilized society.
(https://www.communicationtheor
y.org/soviet-media-theory/)
This theory is also called the
“Normative Theories” of press. It
was originated in 16th century
due to individual needs of
freedom and expression. The
ideas of libertarianism opposed
to Authoritarian Theory wherein
the government has the supreme
power to control all forms of
media and communication.

(https://www.communicationtheor
y.org/libertarian-theory/)
 SOVIET COMMUNIST
Advantages THEORY
Elucidation
1. Proliferation of
fake news will
lessen.
2. It leads to stabilization of
government.
According to Carson (2018), “Fake news is now seen as one of the
greatest treats to democracy and it was also named 2017’s word of
the year which rising tensions between nations, and may lead to
regulation of social media. As related to the advantage of this theory,
it tries to ensure truthful information and not let the information get
manipulated by private media houses.
(https://www.businesstopia.net/mass-communication/communist-theory-
mass-communication
As the government controls all forms of media and
communication, they will prohibit private ownership of the press
and media that will help the government as well as the people
to be more secure and it also provides positive thoughts to
create a strong socialized society that will establish a
motivated, informative, edifying, and mobilized society. Soviet
media theory allows some restriction based on the nation
interest rather than personal so it will result to a more
stabilized country and government.
(https://www.communicationtheory.org/soviet-media-theory/
 SOVIET COMMUNIST
Advantages THEORY
Elucidation
3. There is one-party, one- One advantage of having one source of information is being
ideology system. politically stable (or better described as continuity), efficient
and will able to manoeuvre quickly and reorient different
policies.
https://www.e-ir.info/2008/07/09/%E2%80%98what-
were-the-operational-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-
the-soviet-one-party-one-ideology-order%E2%80%99/
Since the idea came from a single party or leadership, it will
prevent the public to hear or read confusing news.

4. It promotes public safety
and patriotism.
They used to publish all the good things about their country
and governance while not showing anything that could make
the people feel agitated about their own nation. They
promoted their own culture and traditions as the best.
https://www.businesstopia.net/mass-
communication/communist-theory-mass-communication
 SOVIET COMMUNIST
THEORYElucidation
Disadvantages
1. There is limited information. Since there is a limited information published
by government media, only propaganda
based information will be delivered to the
public that might be false or misleading
information.
https://www.businesstopia.net/mass-
communication/communist-theory-mass-
communication
2. The press might violate their ethics as “As a Professional Reporter you need to have
professional. an integrity which is to remain unbiased,
honest and ethical, as well as detached from
testimony. Should the subject matter be funny,
sad, ridiculous, you must show no emotion”.
(Schmitt, 2017). Since the government controls
the information released by the media, they
might violate some rules regarding their ethics
as professionals.
 SOVIET COMMUNIST THEORY
Disadvantages
3. People are just passive listeners.
4. Media will not able to perform their role
as a watchdog of government.
Elucidation
“Passive Listening is the act of hearing without making
comments or showing reactions while another person
speaks. ”
(csk.sagepub.com/reference/behavioralsciences/n1830.xm
l)
Therefore, when you are a passive listeners, you are just
listening and absorbing information since we believe that it
came from government media. Though, public feedback
was accepted, we don’t know if they take actions
immediately and honestly.
https://www.businesstopia.net/mass-
communication/communist-theory-mass-communication
“The mass media's influence on the ethics of public life, as
characterized by the press's watchdog role in monitoring
the conduct of government officials, is assumed to be vital
to democracy. The effectiveness of this watchdog role is less
clearly understood. Partial answers are found in the
evolving institutional history of the press, including its
control, ethics, laws, technology, organization, and the
content of news stories.” (Francke, 1995)
Because of the absolute power of government over media,
they will be restricted in practicing this role. And there is a
possibility that they will be punished if they go beyond their
restrictions.
 LIBERTARIAN THEORY
Advantages Elucidation
1. Freedom of Speech Jefferson (1787) stipulated that the right of the people to give
their opinion is the first subject. This theory believes in the
freedom of thought and individualism. Moreover, the
government has no right to control and suppress the media.

Jefferson T. (1787). Business

Topia.https://www.businesstopia.net/mass-
communication/libertarian-theory-mass-communication
2. Fair contribution of Boaz (1999) claimed that libertarianism proposed that
information individuals are free and people cam do anything they want.
Likewise, in spreading the information to the public is valid and
acceptable under the libertarian theory.

Boaz D. (1999). Key concepts of Libertarianism.

https://www.cato.org/publications/comm
entary/key-concepts-libertarianism
 LIBERTARIAN THEORY
Advantages Elucidation
3. Accessible information Wollacoat (2017) once said that libertarian press believe that
all people should be exposed to all information circulating
around the world. They also have the ability to choose the
information to believe or not to believe.
Wollacoat M. (2017). Bizfluent. https://bizfluent.com/info-
8109528-differences-social-responsibility-theories-press.html

4. Formulation of one stance According to Masse (2003), for Libertarians an opinion and
belief of an individual is permitted as long as it does not
interfere with other’s freedom and property. In light with this,
under the libertarian theory, an issue can opinionated as long
as it does not affect the life of other people.

Masse M. (2003).Five essential Libertarian Attitudes.

http://www.quebecoislibre.org/031108-2.htm
 LIBERTARIAN THEORY
Disadvantages Elucidation
1. Misuse of platforms One of the failures brought by libertarianism is the increased
abused reports about the utilization of social media platforms.
This dilemma is brought by the globally accepted freedom of
expression. People tend to surpass the limitation of using the
social media platforms and the so called freedom of
expression (Solomon, 2013)

Solomon (2013). Open Democracy, Free thinking for the World.

https://www.opendemocracy.net/wfd/brett-solomon/what-
can-social-media-platforms-do-for-human-rights
2. Misleading information According to findings, news were fabricated for profit. Stories
whose aimed the liberal audiences wants to go viral, that’s why
they choose to fabricate news (Healy, 2017).

Healy M. (2017). Why conservatives are more likely than

liberals to believe false information.
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-
conservative-believe-false-threats-20170202-story.html#
 LIBERTARIAN THEORY
Disadvantages Elucidation
3. Rampant fake news Since people are structured in Libertarian idea that everybody
has voice and free access to all forms of information, including
misinformation. Unsurprisingly, both creators and consumers of
journalism prefer fake news rather than real news. Thus, it
cause a number of fake news (Nicholas, 2016)

Nicholas L. (2016). Solving the problem of fake news.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/solving-the-
problem-of-fake-news
4. Biased news Libertarian theory enables people to give voice to the
voiceless. In this case, honest reporting is so critical. This is
because the government actually tolerates people to give
merely their opinion without prior investigation about a certain
issue. (Harris, 2011)

Harris P. (2011). Ron Paul exposes Media Bias.

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-
conservative-believe-false-threats-20170202-story.html#