Media is considered to be the fourth pillar of democracy after legislature, executive, and the judiciary. The duty of the media is to create pathways for giving a voice to the voiceless. Media has immense power and influence to change people’s perception, by continuously shoving one’s opinion. It feeds you not just what you must think of, but also, how you must think of it.
Media coverage can erupt major people movements, if you remember Lokpal Andolan of 2011 led by Anna Hazare, the media played an important role in making that movement huge. Nobody thought that this Andolan would create such a big outrage. Also, specific cases seeped deep into the root of the country due to its impeccable coverage. What we see on television, we think and talk about it, creating a big mass-movement.
News Channels Can Either Blind You Or Enlighten You
But in recent scenarios, the media is engaged in competition with TRPs, but a major question arises here, why do people like to see ‘breaking news’ which is creating false notions in people’s minds? If you see a particular news channel is getting the highest TRP, have you ever asked why? People don’t want to see real news about the economy, agriculture, COVID-19, violence, and unemployment, amongst others; would they even ‘receive’ real news?
Dictating the same news, again and again, does not make it right. It misguides people. Media’s duty is to show both the paths but it is up to the people of India, which road do they want to take.