Another way Quote by Neal Ascherson
“Who should regulate the media? Who should control the press? The commentariat agonises, as if the choice was between state control through some autocratic press law or a new Press Complaints Commission redecorated with false teeth. But there is another way. Let journalists regulate themselves… Let's have a little democracy in the media. Even in the Murdoch papers, the number of journalists who are irretrievably lawless and callous is quite small. Most of the disasters at the News of the World happened because its editors treated their staff in the style of Muammar Gaddafi.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Media Regulation Debate, 1990s, UK
Advocates self‑regulation for journalists as a democratic alternative to state or corporate control, arguing that most media professionals act responsibly.
In simple terms: Journalists should police themselves rather than be ruled by the state or a biased commission.
Key Takeaway
Promote internal standards and accountability within newsrooms.
Themes
media ethics
democracy
self‑regulation
journalism
power
control
Mood
concerned
optimistic
Type
analytical
prescriptive
When to use this quote
- newsroom policy development
- media law reform
- public trust building
- editorial training
- ethical guidelines
Key Concepts
press freedom
responsibility
institutional design
Questions to Reflect On
- How can journalists ensure accountability without external oversight?
- What safeguards prevent self‑regulation from becoming a façade?
A Different Perspective
Self‑regulation may lack enforcement power and could be undermined by corporate interests.
![“The reality is that the media are probably the most powerful of all our institutions today and they, or rather we [journalists], too often are squandering our power and ignoring our obligations. The consequence of our abdication of responsibility is the ugly spectacle of idiot culture!” quote by Carl Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/86a/carl-bernstein-10988_abdication_the-reality-is-that-the-media-are-probab_59464.jpg)
