Freedom of Non-Accountability. Self – Regulation in the Media in Slovenia

This study does not aim to be either a manual or a textbook on self-regulation. It was prompted by prejudices arising primarily from the lack of knowledge about self-regulation in the media which is a practice widely spread across the world as well as in Slovenia.

In this study the author presents self-regulation as a part of a wider subject, that is, freedom of speech, arguing that self-regulation does not intrude on this freedom beyond the limits set by democracy, and that, compared to legislative solution, it is a much more friendly way of implementing the principle that one person’s freedom is limited by another person’s freedom. What is important is that the media are aware of the power they enjoy. The author gives several examples that illustrate where abuse of that unruly power can lead and argues that it is much better if media themselves hold it at bay and thus avert state’s interference with an intention of compelling them to do so.