试论西方新闻自由的两面性

Brief Comment on the Dual Nature of the West News Freedom

由于新闻报道的社会责任与功能所决定,新闻自由自初始以来,就有两面性,就存在着执政当局或国家对新闻报道不同程度的控制,决不是一味泛滥的自由。当然,我们必须承认,新闻自由是必不可少的,倘若没有一定的新闻自由,媒体就无法发挥它监督政府、引导舆论、服务社会的功能。但是我们必须清醒地认识到,世界上没有绝对的新闻自由,更没有不受限制的新闻自由,即使是在号称新闻自由的西方国家也概莫能外。

Because of the social responsibility and the function of the news report, from the very beginning the news freedom has had a dual nature and there has been to some extent control of the news report by the ruling authorities and the state, and it is by no means a rampant freedom. However, we have to admit that then news freedom is necessity and without the freedom the media cannot carry out their function of supervising the government, leading the pubic opinion and serving the society. But we must understand clearly that there is neither absolutely news freedom in the world nor news freedom without restriction, and this is true to the news freedom even if in the Western countries.