Revolutionary Press Theory was proposed by William Hatchens in 1981 to describe media in countries undergoing revolution against their existing government or foreign domination. It defines revolutionary press as illegal and subversive communication through press and broadcasting with the goal of overthrowing the current government. Revolutionary press usually begins as underground press and is a short-term phenomenon that aims to overthrow the government but may not continue with the same goals once the revolution succeeds. Some countries that have witnessed revolutionary press include Russia, Poland, Iran, Pakistan, Yugoslavia, and Arab Spring states.

1. Revolutionary Press Theory
Revolutionary Press Theory 1

2. INTRODUCTION
oProposed by which theorist?
oYear
oDefinition
oMain postulates
Revolutionary Press Theory 2

3. William Hatchens (1981)
"In countries coping with revolutions against the
existing government or foreign domination, the media
appear to be in a transitional phase, divorced from
normal state-media relationships".
Source: Black. J & Roberts ..C (2011) Doing Ethics in
Source: Black. J & Roberts C (2011) Doing Ethics in
Media --Theories and Practical Applications
Media Theories and Practical Applications
Francis & Taylor
Francis & Taylor
Revolutionary Press Theory 3

4. Definition
Revolutionary Press Theory- This is a concept of
illegal and subversive communication utilizing the
press and broadcasting to overthrow the existing
government or to wrest control from alien or
unwanted rulers.
In other words, revolutionary press is the
"press of the people" who believe strongly the
government under which they live does not serve
their interests and should be overthrown.
SOURCE: Asante E. Clement Press Freedom and
SOURCE: Asante E. Clement Press Freedom and
Development (1997) Greenwood Publishing group
Development (1997) Greenwood Publishing group
Revolutionary Press Theory 4

5. Main Postulates:
- Usually
begins as underground press, a way to
overthrow the government.
-Illegal and subversive
-It is short term, once the revolution is over the
medi't continue with the same goal.
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6. Strengths and Weaknesses
Possible to what extent?
Apprehensions and drawbacks?
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7. Strengths Versus Weaknesses
Strengths Weaknesses
•Ends governments' •Tools of media can be
monopoly to information easily banned
•Builds an opposition to •Media alone guages the
tyrannical performance of the
regimes/despots/corrupt government
rulers
•It might be building an
•It can go as far as bringing unfair opinion about the
down the government government
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8. There is one norm that revolutionary media hopes to
upset, that is;
'authority's control over political discussion'
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9. Countries Witnessing
'Revolutionary Press'
•Russia
•Poland
•Iran
•Pakistan
•Yougosalavia
•Arab Spring States
Revolutionary Press Theory 9

10. Russia
•Samizdat - Vladimir Bukovsky defined it as
follows:
I myself create it,
•edit it,
•censor it,
•publish it,
•distribute it, and ...
•get imprisoned for it
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11. Polish Democracy Movement
• The media system of the country was
manipulated to overthrow the communist regime
in 1989.
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12. Iran
Iranian revolution - video cassette and photcopy
machine revolution
Ayatollah Khoumenie distributed the recordings of
his messages that were played in mosques in
place of Friday sermon
Revolutionary Press Theory 12

13. Yugoslavia
• Merger of many big media outlets in opposition
to its undemocratic Slobodan Milosevie
Revolutionary Press Theory 13

14. Arab Spring States
• Egypt- Tweets from Tahrir Square
• Tunisia- Facebook
• Irani Bloggers
• Libya
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15. Pakistan
• Pre-indpendence press used for building a sense
of nationalism among Muslims
• 2007 - Lawyers' movement to topple down
Musharraf regime
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16. CONTRAST WITH OTHER
NORMATIVE THEORIES
People and media use media to thwart or challenge existing
regimes.
The revolutionary press theory is not libertarian or authoritatrian,
but it can create stimulus for both.It is therefore, transitory in
nature.
It shares one commonality with Libertarian theory i.e it is privately
owned.
Developmental media shares characteristics with revolutionary
media, but the difference is that 'revolutinary model' is not a
sustainable concept.
Revolutionary Press Theory 16

17. Discussion
•If used for the right purpose and in the right
direction revolutionary press can serve the
interests of the masses
•However, the vague part is that how 'media'
guages the performance of governments and
builds public opinion in favour or against the
existing government.
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18. The transitory nature, doesn't confirm whether or
not media would be serving public interest in
future.
For instance, in Pakistan after 62 years of
independence the press/media played the
revolutionary role, although the country came into
existence through a revolutionary press that unified
Muslims.
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