Reaching Within – The Role of Media
Media is the life line of a nation. Thomas Jefferson said: “If it were left on me to decide whether we should have a Government without newspapers or news papers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter” A democracy is the government of the people, for the people and by the people. Thus, the public opinion is an important aspect. The people in turn could hold the government accountable and change it, if they knew what it was doing. So, there is a need to inform the people of things around them so that there is a check on the government. And media is the one which informs them.
Creation of public opinion is the function of the media. A responsible media can make the people aware of what the community around them needs. It can arouse the passion for the community work and development.
In a democracy, where many are un-educated, public opinion has to be generated and some agency is requited to do work. An instrument of mass communication can serve the requirement of effective mobilization of national opinion. Thus is the only way democracy can survive.
Media has the huge responsibility of conveying the truth and relevant information to the common man. But somewhere this seems to be taking a back seat for media people as they are focusing more on commercialization.
If we just look around then we would find that there is no aspect of our life which is not touched and affected by media. Be it our work, relationships, education or entertainment, media is seen everywhere. And there is no denial that we can not live without media.
But media is not just confined to informing us what the world happenings and serving a means to connect with people, in fact, it also affect our thinking patterns as well. The way we think and perceive various issues about the world is also shaped up by the media. Today everyone, especially youth is growing so aware about his responsibilities towards society is because of media. Campaigns such an India against corruption and Human Rights Awareness undertaken by social groups have become national issues only because of media.
A focused column in the media can make people look within themselves, look beyond themselves and reach out to the humanity that needs help.