Second, the role of the media is to expose scandals, particularly corruption cases that are related to government officials, so as to promote democratic progress and defend social justice. To curb the crime rate, media should play its role in condemning all that is evil and praising all that is good.

Take the United States for example. The American economy blossomed after the Civil War. During the period from late 19th to early 20th century, Americans became increasingly richer. With huge amounts of wealth, they entered the golden age. Due to dramatic changes in the process of industrialization and urbanization, there was a violent shift in the social structure. On one hand, people became richer, while conversely cruel labor exploitation, prevailing corruption and fraud, as well as fake products disrupted the economic order and triggered social turmoil. More significantly, abuses of power, backdoor trading, and major scandals, from Congress level to municipal governments, continuously emerged. In addition to the yawning gap between the rich and the poor, morality was destroyed and faith lost. On the eve of the social crisis, the American media launched a campaign to uncover a number of scandals, saving Americans from a crisis, and urging government to find new solutions, such as the public finance system, to curb crime.

"Free" media help strengthen and support democratic progress. This is true of Chinese media in exposing social problems in the areas of environmental pollution, forced removals, confiscation of land, illegal labor and damage to cultural relics. Through these reports, the social system has been greatly enhanced with new institutions established.

Third, media can serve as a public tool to promote social progress. In a long period of the past, due to a highly controlled planned economy, abuse of power often challenged social justice. The situation has changed as a result of the emerging market economy. Acting as a government watchdog, media are instrumental in disseminating necessary information on safeguarding property rights, growth of nongovernmental organizations, prevention of AIDS, care for carriers of the Hepatitis B virus, and village democracy. Media are a platform for free expression, whether praise or criticism and the free flow of information is vital for human creativity.

Media responsibility, government accountability

In an economic society, different interest groups vary in their demands and express their concerns via the media. The media provide the government a channel to release information and should therefore be a communication tool between the public and the government for enhancing mutual trust.

It is wrong for some local officials to see the media as factors that undermine social stability. A more open governance and transparent reporting are called for, particularly at the time of transformation to a civil society.

The government should respect media and refrain from interfering in reporting activities. Concerns should be attached to social problems and opinions should be solicited and analyzed before giving final solutions or making policies.

Fundamentally, democracy enables individual rights to be guaranteed. Thus electoral procedures should be improved in order to install a responsible government, who listens attentively to its people.

As reform deepens, and society becomes more diverse, more and more different voices will be heard. The government should not represent a specific interest group, but should be a coordinator to balance between all. Without the right to have a voice in decision-making, injustice can result.

China has now come to the crossroad of transformation, meaning the media need to play a bigger role to activate more people to join in the policymaking process through dialogues and consultation.