Question

Explain the difference between common carriers, broadcasters, and publishers with regard to court decisions covering freedom of speech and control of content.

Answer 1

Common Barriers: These are the media of communication that have the least freedom and most control when it comes to information transmission. For example, Telephone, Telegraph, and Postal System, etc. This can be understood by the fact that each and every phone call can be tapped and almost each and every post can be intercepted and can be interpreted as per the intentions of the authority.

Broadcast: These are the media of communicating the information to the masses. It is one of the most important pillars of any democracy but it enjoys a balanced amount of freedom from the authority and is strictly regulated by the authority as well. For example, television, radio, etc. There have been instances when the authority has tried to use these broadcast media to their own benefits.

Publishers: These are the media of communication that enjoy the maximum amount of freedom and least control from the authority. For example, newspapers, magazines, books, etc. They enjoy the freedom of critical assessment and critical writing. This is also a very historically significant mode of communicating the information to the masses. It has been a part of almost all major revolutions that have taken place in history.

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