PUBLIC

1
Lippmann on the PUBLIC and its obligations
PUBLIC
state
elects
policy
private interests in crisis
shapes
Media
policy
policy
private interests
policy
policy
private interests
policy
Since the PUBLIC is only commonly interested in
maintaining a regime of order, it should only pay
attention when disagreements among interested
parties are irresolvable and when they also
threaten that order. This is a crisis. The
PUBLICs role is quite limited in this vision.
2
Lippmann on the PUBLIC and its obligations
PUBLIC
private interests
private interests in crisis
purviewregime of order
purview
purview
private interests
private interests
purview
purview
3
Dewey on the PUBLIC
PUBLIC
private interests
purview effects that extend beyond actors
immediately involved
purview
private interests
private interests
purview
purview
Since the PUBLIC is concerned with any action
whose effects extend beyond the actors
immediately involved, its scope is expansive.
The common interest is determined by our
ability to affect others outside of our immediate
spheres of action.
4
Dewey on the PUBLICs relationship with officials
PUBLIC
private interests
officials
purview
purview
The PUBLIC must appoint officials to represent
its interests when the effects of private groups
encroach on collective lives. Thus, wherever
there are officials present, there is a public.
The officials, collectively, make up the state.
5
For Lippmann, public discourse, in order to be
responsible, must accurately identify a crisis,
locate the interested parties, and ensure that
proposed solutions are clearly stated, amendable,
and will be put into effect on a set date. Since
the PUBLICs role is limited, so is the role of
PUBLIC discourse, and (presumably) the
responsibility of the media. For Dewey, the
PUBLICs role is much more expansive, its purview
is much greater. How does Deweys depiction of
the PUBLIC change Lippmanns criteria for
responsible PUBLIC debate? What should the media
do differently if we accept Deweys vision of the
PUBLIC?