MIDIA E DEMOCRACIA:O QUARTO VERSUS O QUINTO PODER

Abstract

The paper is structured into three interrelated parts. The first part brings awareness about media, showing how we live, today, in a mediated society and in a mediated culture. Mass media built up the reality, adds values to it, create the discussion agenda, and influences powerfully in the construction of our subjectivity. In a second step, the relation between media and democracy is discussed. It is shown what is understood by democracy and which the shortcomings are in order to affirm that we have a truly democratic media. Finally, in the third part, suggestions are presented if one wants to democratize media. The importance of structuring a fifth power, through the organization of the civil society that possibly can help in the construction of a democratic media is presented.