Chapter 20
Media -
The Mainstay of Democracy the Media refers to
various means of communication that help in communicating to a large number of
people ame time. Radio, television,
cinema, newspapers, magazines and internet are all means of communication. Since they help in communicating messages to millions
of people at thie same time, they are called mass media. Today, it is difficult to imagine life
without them. INTERDEPENDENCE OF
TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA We live in fast changing times. Various developments in the field of
communication technology since the end of twentieth century, have left a deep
impact on us. The latest technologies
help media to reach out to the masses.
The impact of technology can be seen on the billboards, newspapers,
periodicals, CDs, DVDs, television programmes, films, etc. The print media has changed
tremendously. In earlier times, raised
and carved designs of seals were pressed on wet clay or wax for printing marks
to close agreements, record transactions, and authorize documents. Chinese influenced the development in the
field of printing to a large extent.
They invented paper. The hand -
copied and illustrated books by Buddhist monks, gave it a further thrust. The German printer Johannes Gutenberg is
credited with the invention of the first printing machine with a type mold
PRACIN Gutenberg brought out the first printed Bible in the mid - fifteenth
century. Today, computers control the
printing process where materials to be printed are fed into the memory of
printing machines to print newspapers, magazines and books, modern printing
machine 166)
LUL Central Station Communication Hub Local Station
Communication in electronic media, television is very important Aeronautical
Satellite for a number of reasons the amount of time mobile station that many
people spend watching it, its ability to bring together a sense of national
identity and its powerful role as a
source of information about various aspects of life. In present times, it is the prime source for
the public to know about the current affairs, sports games, progress of wars,
political situation in a country, etc.
Thus, it Local Station has a great impact on the public perception and
land mobile opinion. Station cable and
satellite network has improved the connectivity in rural, mountainous and urban
maritime mobile areas. Thus
communication technology has successfully ended 'narrowcasting (limited to a
country) and gone across international boundaries satellite transmission
process to create a' global culture '.
On one hand, technology has improved the efficiency of media and on the
other, media updates us on the advances in technology, whether it is a new form
of Internet connection or diet pills.
For example, media uses digital technology to provide improved quality
of sound and picture as well as influences our thinking. Moreover, media helps us to think on global
level, beyond the narrow boundaries of our country. But the media will have to take steps to
control the misuse of the means of mass communication to protect the public
interest. ROLE OF MONEY IN MEDIA Station
cameras, recorders, etc. Look at the
picture of a newsroom or studio of a television channel. Notice the expensive equipment, computers,
light transmitters, besides the newsreader, many people like director, editor,
producer, cameramen, lightmen and many others, are involved in the process of
telecasting the news to you. The studios
require constant upgradation of technology to provide quality service. All this needs a lot of investment. Hence, television channels and newspapers are
owned or are supported by big business houses.
TV newsroom 167
Media is a powerful tool in the hands of the rich. They are in media to make money and propagate
their class interest. The biggest source
of income is to advertise a wide range of products for skin creams to
cars. The viewer is exposed to a number
of advertisements each highlighting the wonders of its product. A feature film of two - hours duration is
stretched to four hours as one advertisement is followed by another, during
frequent 'breaks'. The condition during
a cricket match is similar where advertisements are squeezed in after every
'over'. Today along with Indian business
houses, many multi - national companies also own a big share of Indian
media. The programmes cut across national
and cultural boundaries and expose the viewers to a wide spectrum. Visual media MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY in a
democratic country like India, media plays an important role in creating aware
and enlightened citizens. Indian media
has been successful in creating public opinion about the bride burning issues
exposing scandals and building the confidence of the people. It also ensures that the political power
other parties and powerful groups do not step beyond their limits. Media is the main source of information. Interviews, speeches and panel discussions
make viewers aware of the opinions of different political parties, eminent
personalities from various fields and the hopes and aspirations of the general
public. The information helps the
citizens to form opinions, learn about the working plans and programmes that
the government is undertaking, their successful implementation or failure. Television and newspaper reporters are always
ready to cover rallies, protest marches or local body meetings with politicians
/ public officials to answer the querries and apprehensions of the people. The querries can be about the success or the
failure of plans and facilities promised at the time of elections. News Reporter 168
Critter rwanemieshi TROLLAT IL SITO 90 TWTIMOINSA Einand
Tasul DIM The print media also helps in building public Hindustan Times opinion
by providing information to the public.
Reports, editorials and letters published in the newspapers and
magazines, influence the public opinion, which the government cannot afford to
ignore. Print media is easily available
and has a MUMBAI ATTACKED lasting impact on the people. Its readership has VIJAYA TIMES increased
with effective and appealing pictures, MUMBAI ATTACKED cartoons, graphs, maps,
etc. Television and radio make the
rural, illiterate masses aware of the latest happenings in their TERROR BLASTS
region or the country on the whole.
Stories and Business Line in RUSH - HOUR discussions about the wrong
practices of village heads and money lenders have attracted the Dainik Bhaskar
45 attention of the government as well as the public. Mumbai Dahl Los Angeles Times BOMBED, NOT
BOWED Media also brings out the defects in the governance and administration. Indian cinema has also played an important
role Obodo * FUS in creating awareness about social evils, political
DEOCANERALI wow wow 7 do cards malpractices, economic exploitation and the fast
changing Indian society and its value system.
Our films in Hindi, English and all the vernacular languages have a
huge following in India and the How THE ASIAN AGE world. Some films impart important messages and have
great impact on us. The ever -
increasing hunger of the viewers for information has led to an increase in many
newspapers Hindi and English television channels along with a number of
regional channels. They Do You
Know? reminds the politicians about
their unfulfilled promises and their responsibilities towards the film Lage
Raho Munna Bhai was exempted their constituency and the nation. During the from entertainment tax by the
government elections, they help the people, especially as it taught the lesson
of non-violent protest, the illiterates, in electing the right persons to even
though in a 'filmi' style. power. ains clamp Mumbai vodom TRAIN TERROR KILUS
107 169
not favor a class / person or an organization media should
give an unbiased balanced report covering but it is very important that the
information provided by media is 'balanced and impartial' It show A2Z BUT
PARAAN RE INTY CHANEL People UNON NEWS ENS 0 time SAMADA SAMARE GALAMA SAMARA SAMARA points of views and then
leave it to ABN VASHIAN the viewers or readers to make - up NEWS nane usic
their minds. EADLINE: FI 2 123 What do
you do when you look TODAY at a news item?
Do you believe it WISE MAHAA immediately or look at it critically NEWS
and think about the other side of the story?
Do you ever wonder if it NOW RAJ Rad RKAN NEWS AVEC the media is
impartial and gives you truth and the truth alone? You will find it surprising television
channels that in 1857 the British passed the 'Gagging Act', which empowered the
government to ban the circulation of any newspaper book or other printed
material that could weaken the authority of the British government after
independence, on 26 January 1950 Our
Constitution safeguarded the 'Freedom of Press' as a Fundamental Right under
Freedom of Speech and Expression with certain limitations in the interests of
the public. In recent times, the role
and importance of media is changing at a rapii speed due to globalization,
privatisation and increasing use of communication satellites. Indian media is free. But sometimes, the government can ban the
media from broadcasting or publishing certain items to protect the interest of
our country or some religious / cultural group This is known as
censorship. Do you know? In one of the movements known as MKSS, the
Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan the common people asked for copies of bills,
vouchers and names of persons who have been paid wages in the construction of
schools, dispensaries, small dams and community centers. Documents showed that the projects were
complete but it was a common knowledge that funds were misused. The roofless school buildings, dispensaries
without walls, incomplete dams and community centers having no doors and
windows were a proof of the people's demand.
RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI) ACT OF 2005 In a democracy the government
must share the power with the humblest if it wants to empower the weakest. It is precisely because of this reason that
the Right to Information (RTI) 170
as RIGHT INFO to FON Act of 2005 was passed. This right is closely linked with our basic
rights, such Freedom of Speech and Expression and Right to Education. This was passed due to the demands of various
MY RIGHT, MY MIGHT, organizations and movements THE RIGHT TO KNOW for attaining
this right. Under the KEEPING GOV'T
ACCOUNTABLE provisions of Right to Information Act, any citizen may request
information from a 'public authority', which is required to reply within thirty
days. The Right to Information has
enabled the citizens to access the information that is under the control of a
public authority. This right has
promoted transparency and accountability in the working of different
departments. Media is like a watchdog in
a democracy that keeps the government active and the public involved. From the position of being a medium of
information, it has become a powerful force in our daily life. The selection and the extent media coverage
by a television channel or a newspaper has set objectives behind it. It is important to make a critical appraisal
of media before accepting or rejecting the news or the views. Let us hope that the media brings important
issues to the forefront, that are otherwise ignored. It must always draw the attention of the
public and the government towards issues like scarcity of clean drinking water,
lack of health facilities, crime and violence, illiteracy, female infanticide,
etc. cracy without a free media is like
a car without wheels. "Keywords
accountability: taking responsibility for one's action / decisions. Gagging: to
prevent someone from expressing / speaking freely. Infanticide: death of
infants / children too young, public perception: the way general people think
about some issue. Transparency: visible to all
or not hiding the facts. unbiased: not favoring someone / not being
unfair watchdog: the one who makes sure that people in authority do not misuse
their power. 171
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