Western Media Systems

摘要

The future of the media and their role in democratic societies are recurring issues. During 2009, for instance, there were rumours that the British newspaper The Independent would close its doors. Across Europe the tax case against the Turkish media conglomerate Dogan Yayin was widely seen as an attempt by the Ankara government to silence critical journalists. Meanwhile the state of the Italian media landscape is an element of recurrent debates, given Prime Minister Berlusconi's endless gaffes. Since the 1980s, Berlusconi has owned most major commercial channels and, most controversially, in his current political capacity he is even able to control the public broadcaster RAI.