Webster's analysis of Habermas' Public Sphere

The University of Oxford. "Professor Frank Webster." No date. Oxford Internet Institute. 14 Jan 2008. <http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/people/visitors.cfm>.

In Theories of the Information Society, Webster defines Habermas' public sphere as:

"An arena, independent of government and also enjoying autonomy from partisan economic forces."

Furthermore, Webster writes that the public sphere is:

"dedicated to rational debate (i.e. to debate and discussion which is not 'interested,' 'disguised,' or 'manipulated').

Finally, Webster states that the Habermas defines the public sphere as:

"Both accessible to entry and open to inspection by the citizenry."

Webster claims, ultimately, that Habermas defines the public sphere as the place "where public opinion is formed."

"Information is at the core of this public sphere, the presumption being that within it, "actors make clear their positions, [which] are [...] made available to the wider public, so that it may have full access to the procedure."

Webster, Frank. Theories of the Information Society. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Routledge, 2002; p.163).