When we describe how a media system should function in conformity with ideal values, it is labelled as:

Correct option is B

Normative theory describes how media systems ought to operate according to ideal values and societal expectations. It focuses on the roles and responsibilities of the media, setting standards for ethical and professional conduct. This theory examines what media should do in the interest of public welfare rather than how they actually function. It serves as a guide for evaluating media systems and their alignment with democratic principles and cultural norms.
Information Booster: · Normative theories often include principles like freedom of the press, social responsibility, and public interest.
· They emphasize media’s accountability to society and ethical standards.
· Examples include the Social Responsibility Theory, Libertarian Theory, and Authoritarian Theory of the press.
· These theories differ based on cultural, political, and economic contexts.
· Normative theories provide benchmarks for evaluating media practices in democratic and non-democratic societies.
Additional Knowledge: · (a) Social theory: A broad category encompassing various theories like functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism to explain societal behaviors and relationships. It does not focus specifically on media systems.
· (c) Comparative theory: Focuses on analyzing differences and similarities between media systems, not their ideal functions.
· (d) Analytical theory: Involves explaining and understanding phenomena, often empirically, without prescribing ideal roles or functions.