The modern age is generally considered to be the age of representative democracy, and the mass media are an informal but an essential component of that representative democratic polity. Equally important is the fact that a democratic polity is an institutional guarantee of a free, fair and fearless media. The importance and influence of media is really noteworthy. Excessive coverage or hype of sensitive news has led to communal riots at times. The illiterates are more prone to provocations than the literates. Constant repetition of the news, especially sensational news, breeds apathy and insensitivity.<\/p>\n
For instance, In Dhananjoy Chatterjee case, the overloaded hype led to death of quite a few children who imitated the hanging procedure which was repeatedly shown in most of the T.V. news channels. There is a plethora of such negative impacts. Media should take utmost care in airing or publishing such sensational news.Under the garb of speech and expression, media is now omnipresent, it has invaded upon all the facets of life of an individual.<\/p>\n
This fact is not only applicable to the Indian soils, but is global. Not only this, the media has become so powerful that it can make or break the government by influencing the people. The public also heavily depends on the media to secure information. In this scenario the question of the accountability of powerful media arises. Here we need to understand that We \u201cPublic\u201d are the active\u00a0 participant, we are require to shape the role of media because this commanding instrument can use as a boon or as bane too.<\/p>\n
In a democratic country like India the media has following duties:<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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- To equip the citizen with unbiased information. Media shall not taint the facts; they shall present them as they are.<\/li>\n
- To play vital role in broadening the thinking of citizens, by empoweringthem with knowledge. In a country like India where there is significant rate of illiteracy, it is the duty of media to impart knowledge and broaden their views.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Media was a mission before independence grew as a profession after independence now it is being criticized for becoming a business without ethics and without any social responsibility. It is because the owners of private media organizations. They are the owners of either a business establishment or an Industrial house or a financial institution. News, naturally in the hands of these businessmen became a commodity. News, which shall be a bare fact is now angled or slanted to make it marketable news. Media wanted stories in place of plain news based on facts.<\/p>\n
Priyanka Sarkar<\/strong>
\nAssistant Professor<\/strong>
\nSchool of Journalism & Mass Communication, SFI, Noida<\/strong>
\nMob: 9716662558<\/strong>
\nEmail: priyank.skr@gmail.com<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n