The US media has a wider and freer role than the press in other countries. But American society, being large, rich and stable, is strong enough to endure the potential damage of having a media that does not always live up to its ideals of being judicious, fair and independant.
The US has 'built-in stability' There can be fringe lunatic behavior, but mainstrean Americans are sensible and rational, and extremeist sentiment will not threaten the very fabric of society.
In many developeing society's however, the glue holding society together is not as strong and these societies can easily rupture along tribal, ethnic, and relgious lines.
In the case of China,(and many other countries), racial and religious fault lines can be easily exploited.
Given these differances, my point is that what works for the US-its media and American-style democracy- may not easily be transposed elsewhere.
The US system will impose costs which large , rich country like the US can afford: the cost is too high for many other places.

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CHILCUTT~
The secret to a long life. Is knowing when it is time to leave.