In a self-governed democratic country, if media outlets and sources of news are owned by politicians and big business, then the people will be simply guided and controlled by the propaganda they are fed.
The people will be under the illusion that they are ‘self governed’ when in reality they are living in a corporate fascist police state.
External sources of news, independent media, and news from other countries will be marginalized and criticized. This would ensure that citizens look mostly or exclusively to government/corporate sanctioned and programmed media.
This is why having independent news sources is so important for a self-governed nation.
A Government of the People 