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The media is absolutely essential to the functioning of a democracy. It's not our job to cozy up to power. We're supposed to be the check and balance on government.

The media does play a vital role in our democracy, and if we cannot depend on journalistic ethics, the nation's in trouble.

A functional media is as important to democratic freedom as voting.

The state must protect the media. In a democracy, the role of media is very important. In the absence of a credible opposition party, you can rely on the media.

The task of the media in a democracy is not to ease the path of those who govern, but to make life difficult for them by constant vigilance as to how they exercise the power they only hold in trust from the people.

A free and truly independent press - fiercely independent when necessary - is the red beating heart of freedom and democracy.

You can't have a free democracy if you don't have a free media that can provide vital and independent information to the people.

I think it is absolutely essential in a democracy to have competition in the media, a lot of competition, and we seem to be moving away from that.

I myself have felt the wrath of the media, but that's part of what a good democracy is.

Even in an enlightened democracy, the media have to check themselves to make sure they are not contributing to an unnecessary mass hysteria.