A free and impartial media is a key pillar of any democracy. Media, both print and electronic, has rapidly moved from a few national houses that attracted elite and mature journalists to massively distributed reporting houses with keen reporters wanting to ’make it big’ rapidly. Advanced technologies and youth with an ‘Indiana Jones’ attitude bring to light, regionally and nationally, important news such as misuse of project funds, scandals, kickbacks, and other every-day stories, mandating immediate response in the process. The power of media over the human psyche and its reach is immense and hence it needs to be wielded wisely. Newspapers, television, radio, and various web-based media can advocate environmental, business, and social concerns and act as a news-cum-education channel in remote corners of the nation, be a link between government and the public, act as a government watchdog to check malpractices and corruption and be used as a tool for socialization by addressing our habits, relationships, values, religious and racial apprehensions, etc. The role of media in disaster relief is also significant.
However, with the reduction in the cost of technology and advertisements bringing in large revenues, the tendency to pander to the basest emotions by providing pornographic, habit forming (drugs, smoke and alcohol), and violent contents at the expense of well-thought out programming, is increasing. Many studies point towards the increase in the role of media as a creator of news rather than remaining a neutral observer and reporter. The media needs to remember its social responsibility, power and reach, and exercise control. At the same time, it is important for the consumers to select and process what they consume without disturbing their personalities physically (by reacting), psychologically (by becoming unstable), or socially (by instigating).
November 21st is World Television Day and 25th is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. November 6th is International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in war and armed conflict, 16th is International Day of Tolerance and 20th is Universal Children’s Day, all of which highlight issues that can benefit tremendously from the media.
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