A classic argument for free speech, and specifically for a free press, is that we need it to govern ourselves well. We need it for democracy. The internet offers what can loosely be called a democratisation of communication, since so many more citizens can individually speak to others. However, both its technological affordances and its impact on the business models of traditional media have unintended negative consequences: fragmentation of the public sphere, strong echo chamber effects, amplification of fake news, opportunities for both disinformation and misinformation. What are the media we need for democracy and how can we ensure we don’t lose them?