ABSTRACT

It is widely thought that there are significant problems with the quality of the public debate in relation to human rights, with the media often being seen as a key factor in this. While no doubt this analysis contains some truth, it also risks over-simplifying – idealizing the role of the media and exaggerating its influence based on a lack of understanding about cause and effect. This chapter aims to put the nexus between media and human rights in the context of concepts and theories developed in the field of media studies. It does this through reference to knowledge and research around media production, media effects and media-state relations. It explains how scapegoating the media can stem from specific ideological understandings of the media’s role in liberal democracy and may overlook some of the complexities in creating ‘the news’ in a sector facing a number of challenges. It also explores the significance of internet-based communication technologies and the ways new phenomena like ‘citizen journalism’ have, and will, impact upon the question of human rights and the media.