An ominous relationship: media freedom and economic forces
The relationship between the media in general and economic interests is obvious, however it differs from one country or market to another depending on the degree of democratic practices and transparency. From North Korea to Sweden, along the wide spectrum of governance colours, there is definitely a relationship between the media and economic interests, and this relationship will always be until the world as we understand it changes. This may now, however, be the case in the near future.
We should ask ourselves two seemingly naïve questions: Can a journalist working for a state-run media outlet receive her/his monthly salary in the currency of national hugs? Would a journalist in a private, or ›independent‹, media outlet accept her/his pay cheque in the form of Koshary (a popular Egyptian street food) coupons from advertisers? The answer to both questions is, not surprisingly, no.