When a journalist fulfills his/her duty of informing the people, there is always a reaction to what is reported. Without providing a public forum, where people can express their responses and ideas, a journalist can inform the public, but cannot guarantee freedom and self-government. Information alone does not make one free. Freedom and self-governing comes with voice and action, and that is what a public forum provides citizens. Without a “marketplace of ideas," the people's ability to voice their opinions is limited. With a public forum, however, they are enabled to act rather than being acted upon. Soon, the citizen’s role becomes less passive and more active. The world needs more involved citizens, and that is what public forums encourage.

 

Public forums do have some downsides. Because they are so easy for anyone to access, discussions turn into debates and unproductive arguing. Part of the role of a journalist, when providing a public forum, is to monitor the forum. A good and beneficial forum is factual, diverse, and truthful. The journalist has the role of a mediator which means they must stay unbiased and encourage compromise.

CreateDebate  is an example of a public forum that is probably more of a debate room than it is a sophisticated discussion. People are encouraged to ask controversial questions and everyone digs into it. VTdigger is a better example of a beneficial forum. They have factual news and places to leave comments.