Controlling the news
Governments have occasionally tried to control the media and, in some cases, have gone as far as to set up their own information outlets. Unsurprisingly, most attempts of this kind turned into a complete fiasco or a major political scandal.
However, the temptation for the political elites to control information remains strong.
That said, a country’s politicians and the state ought to make sure that news organizations are complying with the law and that they fulfil their bank, tax and social security obligations.
In the same context, determining the number of television licenses should be left to the free market. It is not something that can be decided by a government – a fact that appears to escape the government.
Sure, authorities must take steps to streamline the country’s media landscape but bringing some order is one thing and the desperate effort to manipulate the news is quite another.
