Presented here are four major theories behind the functioning of the world's presses: (1) the Authoritarian theory, which developed in the late Renaissance and was based on the idea that truth is the product of a few wise men; (2) the Libertarian theory, which arose from the works of men like Milton, Locke, Mill, and Jefferson and avowed that the search for truth is one of man's natural rights; (3) the Social Responsibility theory of the modern day: equal radio and television time for political candidates, the obligations of the newspaper in a one-paper town, etc.; (4) the Soviet Communist theory, an expanded and more positive version of the old Authoritarian theory.
Wilbur Lang Schramm Books
Wilbur Schramm is considered the 'father of communication studies,' profoundly shaping the field's development in the United States and the establishment of academic departments dedicated to it. His early academic pursuits delved into the economic contexts of literary publication and audience reception to poetic forms. During wartime, Schramm investigated the nature of propaganda, employing methodologies rooted in behaviorism. His seminal 1964 work, published with UNESCO, established a critical link between the diffusion of communication technologies and socio-economic progress, catalyzing extensive research in this area.
