BRIEFING THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN DEMOCRACIES: WHAT IS IT, AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?

It provides an arena for the exchange of information and opinion, a source of accountability, and a means for politicians to communicate with the public. [...] It provides a channel of communication between politicians and the public, allowing politicians to communicate their beliefs and proposals, giving the public the information that they need in order to participate, and allowing the voices of the public to be heard by politicians. [...] However, concerns about the extent of media concentration in the UK persist, especially with respect to the press. [...] Presently, three companies – DMG Media (publishers of the Daily Mail, Metro and i), News UK (the Sun and the Times) and Reach (Daily Mirror, Daily Express, Daily Star) – own 90% of national newspapers, with the overall right-wing slant of the national press widely recognised. [...] For its part, the media needs to recognise the impact that it can have on public life, and the responsibility that this entails.