In a democracy, the media is a powerful tool – for both good and bad
According to the EIU Democracy Index, only 45 per cent of the world’s population lives in a democracy, 40 per cent under authoritarian rule, and 15 per cent in “hybrid regimes” such as Hungary. Since 2006, the deterioration of democracy in the world has progressed faster than its positive development. Even the United States, which has long been called the “leader of the free world”, has fallen into the flawed democracies category in democracy measurements.
The media is a powerful tool – for both good and bad. From the point of view of democratic development, the most destructive social media impact is crafted by authoritarian administrations around the world. Restricting press freedom is at the forefront of their methods. According to the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) annual press freedom index, less than one per cent of the world’s population lives in a country with good press freedom. Only the Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark were among these countries in the RSF’s 2025 index.
Instead of fact-based information, various parties offer disinformation with the aim of causing societal polarisation and nourishing distrust in institutions and between people. With strong emotions and differentiation from others being emphasised on social media, disinformation spreads quickly without questioning the information.
Video: Hungary is dismantling press freedom
From the point of view of the free dissemination of information, the options for democracy are bleak. The video shows how an authoritarian leader dismantles democracy, using Hungary and Viktor Orban of the Fidesz party as examples. Suppressing press freedom is at the top of the list of tools: journalism is not only about reporting on current events from a different perspective, but also the investigation of matters for which no press conferences are organised.
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Slideshow: Press freedom is integral to democracy
- Free access to information is a human right
- Journalism monitors the realisation of the separation of powers
- Dictatorship and authoritarianism are the alternative
- Democracy can accommodate different views
In-depth text on which the slideshow is based
Infographic: Case Axl Smith – legal process and news coverage
People are interested in suspicions of crimes and legal proceedings involving a public figure. When reporting on news, journalists are guided by the laws of Finland and the Journalist’s Guidelines. In this infographic, news events and the Finnish legal process are presented side by side.
Case report: Journalistic independence vs. privacy protection – Journalist Seija Selistö as a precedent
In a democratic society, privacy protection and the public’s right to information can sometimes come into conflict. An example of this is the treatment of journalist Seija Selistö (1941–2022), which became a precedent for freedom of expression and the independence of journalism in society.
Independent task S2.1: Who is in control: you or your cognitive biases?
Team task S2.2 (whole teaching group): Now we need a break – let’s have a Timeout!
Independent task S2.3: I am a journalist and I am allowed to do my job?
S2 Task slides
Precise sources for teaching about the relationship between the media and democracy
The state of democracy and press freedom is measured in many different ways
The state of democracy is not stable in the world and requires constant monitoring. Learn more about the different indicators on the Demo Finland website, for example. Demo Finland is a joint organisation of all Finnish parliamentary parties that supports dialogue between the parties. The Ministry of Justice has also compiled a number of key democracy indicators that reflect the realisation of both direct and representative democracy. Here, you can find comparison information on the development of voting activity and citizen activity, for example. Reporters Without Borders annually publishes the World Press Freedom Index. The International Press Institute monitors the state of press freedom on all continents, and its website provides country-specific up-to-date information.
The media and democratic development are intertwined
Democracy only functions if people have trust in each other, social institutions and decision-makers – also in a digitalised world. Until spring 2026, Sitra will run the Digital Power and Democracy project, and its website contains various materials on the intertwining of media and democracy development.
Awarded the State Award for Public Information, Tiellä sananvapauteen is a website that compiles the history of independent Finland’s freedom of expression and censorship from the start of independence to the internet era.
Research-based approach to politics in lay terms
The Politiikasta online journal deals with current political phenomena from the perspective of political research and social sciences, but explains them in lay terms. It features series of articles, podcasts and long-form analyses. One of the series of articles is based on lectures on democracy research by Tampere University’s democracy research network. The Politiikasta website offers lower and upper secondary schools the opportunity to invite a researcher to discuss current topics that the students want to hear about. You can apply for free visits for the spring semester at the end of the year, and for the autumn semester in August.