Govinda Siwakoti-

Media Student

Thousands of years ago, people were curious to know-how human communication works and how communication becomes effective. The curiosity led people to develop various communication theories. One of the pioneering theorists of communication is Aristotle.

“Four Theories of the press” by three scholars: Frederick Siebert, Theodore Peterson and Wilbur Schramm are still acknowledged by many mass media researchers as the most proper categories to describe how different media systems operate in the world.
According to the writers of the “ Four Theories of the Press”, the oldest theory authoritarian theory requires direct government control of the mass media, here government control over the press, using such techniques as licensing, censorship and imprisonment.  This theory is still prevalent in the Latin America, Africa and Asia most of the non democratic countries.

Libertarian theory is the second theory of the “Four Theories of the press”  which was introduced by the philosophy of freedom in Eighteen century. In contrast to the authoritarian, the libertarian views that individual should be free to publish whatever s\he likes. Moreover there is no restriction on import or export of media messages for the purpose of making news. This press theory is partially found in democratic countries like USA.

Similarly third is Soviet Communist Theory which is run by communist party for the party, there is no chance of private press and media. All journalists are as the members of the party. But today, this theory is out of date. This theory has been collapsed along with the Soviet Union Block form 1990s.

An American initiative in the late forties brought forth the Social Responsibility theory. Realizing that the market had failed to fulfill the promises that press freedom would reveal the truth, accuracy, objectivity, and balance.” As opposed to the libertarian theory, the social responsibility principle is to provide an entrance to different mass media to minority groups. The journalist is accountable to his audience as well as to the government. Most media systems in Western Europe today come close to the social responsibility theory.

Thus in general level these theories are mostly used including all the media of mass communmication, such television, radio, and newspaper.