The ideological function of media is to support a free and open democracy. The media's job is to inform. Citizens in a democracy need access to information about the issues and important topics of the day. Informed citizens are empowered to make decisions that are consistent with their self-interest and/or values. Citizens need to be well-informed in order to know, for example, which policies to advocate for, or which political candidates to support.
The media also serves to ensure transparency and to prevent undemocratic abuses of power. Investigative journalism is a powerful tool in an open society, as it uncovers a range of issues and problems that would be difficult, if not impossible, to learn about otherwise.
The media also serves to facilitate communication between elected officials and their constituencies. For example, it allows political candidates to share their platform of issues with people in a streamlined and accessible manner. Because it does so much to support and ensure an open society, media is often called the fourth branch of government.
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