“An independent and free media is essential to ensure democracy.” — Warren Christopher
The above statement rightly tells that the role that the media plays in the survival of democracy. It could also be said that media is supplementary to democracy. At the same time, it is important to ensure that media is independent and unbiased, and acts as a voice of the unheard rather than presenting itself as a mouthpiece of the government.
In the following article, we will try to first understand what media and democracy are, what their significance is, what issues are involved with them, and what happens if the media becomes biased. Finally, we’ll also explore some ways to tackle the challenges.
Media And Democracy
Media is perhaps the most effective way of communicating a message to the masses. Without media, no one would really know what is going on worldwide. Democracy, on the other hand, is a form of government elected by the people to address their concerns.
This is where free and independent media comes into play — to form public opinion, become the voice of the people, represent their concerns in front of their representative, and analyse if government initiatives have bore the fruit.
However, when the media is not free or has some vested interests, it becomes a threat to democracy. As this happens, the voice of the people goes unheard, freedom of speech and expression begin to seem worthless, and any dissent opinion gets suppressed, thereby hurting individuals’ right of freedom of speech and expression — a great gift given to humans — and rolling back the developmental path that the people had chosen to follow.
It’s time we understand deeply the role of media plays in a democracy.
Politically, free media can help form a public opinion by analysing past performances and initiatives taken by the earlier governments and thereby people deciding themselves who is best for them or who can address their concerns aptly. Also, the media can present various data regarding the criminalisation of political leaders, paving a clear path for voters to elect their representatives.
On the social front, media makes people aware of events and happenings all around the country and the world. It not only creates an aware mind but also opens one’s mind to sensitivity, shedding of our prejudices and stereotypes, and embrace the diversity of views, culture, religion and language.
Moreover, media can play an effective role in exposing various scams and scandals that may undertake in various dealing. If we dwell a little in past, we have instances like the coal scam, 2G scam, commonwealth scam, etc.
Thus, free and unbiased media is what a country requires. It ensures that all the voices in the country are heard and every community is treated equally. Hence, media helps to create a responsible citizen out of mere voters on which substantive democracy rests.
In contrast to independent media, biased media is one that has vested interests; it represents a particular political party or ideology, a certain class/community/etc. rather than present a viewpoint from a neutral perspective.
There can be various reasons for which media becomes biased.
Why Media Becomes Biased
First is the funding involved to run the media company. When these funds come from a political party, a community or class, media houses are then bound to be biased and represent a particular viewpoint. A similar concern arises if funds come from a corporate.
Moreover, media houses now have become more interested in “breaking news”. Everything they try to report as an insensitive issue gets mixed with some of their own ‘masala’.
Along with it, giving wide coverage to the news that has some sensational element in it by running it the entire day for television rating point (TRP) has become the order of the day. Recently, a TRP scam was witnessed in India where one of the journalists of an Indian news portal was booked by the Mumbai police.
Additionally, fake news propagation has become ordinary these days. Technology is a double-sided sword where just one click can spread misinformation at the speed of light. Sometimes, even news portals report such news that later comes out to be fake.
Also, there is a division among media houses that report in favour of one political party and those that represent another political party. Besides, there are cases of selective journalism whereby they favour one particular community or class by hiding reality.
It’s high time we start taking initiatives at an individual level as well as at the state level to tackle these challenges associated with media.
Firstly, the media should have the utmost freedom to report the truth without having any vested interests. This could also be helpful in improving the rank of the Indian press in the World Press Freedom Index. Secondly, there is a need to put an end to the corporatisation of media houses. The media should shed their prejudices and report and present facts and data independently.
The media should question everything. As once Barack Obama told the press in the White House, ‘
Media should not be sycophants, they need to question us and be a responsible pillar in a democracy.’
Coming to my final words, indeed it is true that biased media is a threat to democracy, be it India or anywhere else in the world. True and independent media can only serve as the fourth pillar of democracy, becoming the voice of the unheard, and truly making every voice count even if it is of dissent.
When the media becomes a sycophant of the government, then whom would people rely on for information and facts? Hence, it is essential we start cherishing the values of free media and enjoy its utmost freedom wherein free media, along with people, plays a positive role in letting the essence of democracy and progress of a nation survive.
Thanks and regards.