Editing Freedom of the press (section)

=== Democratic states ===
A free and independent press has been theorized to be a key mechanism of a functioning, healthy [[democracy]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last1=Ambrey|first1=Christopher L.|last2=Fleming|first2=Christopher M.|last3=Manning|first3=Matthew|last4=Smith|first4=Christine|date=2015-08-04|title=On the Confluence of Freedom of the Press, Control of Corruption and Societal Welfare|journal=Social Indicators Research|volume=128|issue=2|pages=859–880|doi=10.1007/s11205-015-1060-0|s2cid=153582103|issn=0303-8300}}</ref> In the absence of [[censorship]], journalism exists as a [[Watchdog journalism|watchdog]] of private and government action, providing information to maintain an informed citizenry of voters.<ref name=":3" /> In this perspective, "government efforts to influence published or broadcasted news content, either via media control or by inducing [[self-censorship]], represent a threat to the access of important and necessary information to the public and affect the quality of democracy".<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Solis|first1=Jonathan A.|last2=Antenangeli|first2=Leonardo|date=September 2017|title=Corruption Is Bad News for a Free Press: Reassessing the Relationship Between Media Freedom and Corruption: Corruption Is Bad News for a Free Press|journal=Social Science Quarterly|volume=98|issue=3|pages=1112–1137|doi=10.1111/ssqu.12438}}</ref> An independent press "serves to increase political knowledge, participation, and [[voter turnout]]",<ref name=":3" /> acting as an essential driver of civic participation.