Safwat Zargar
Media is among the most powerful institutions of any democratic setup. Its primary function is to serve people by providing them fair, true and accurate information about issues and events. Media with the help of public opinion has the power to directly exert pressure on government to streamline efforts and works in the interests of public. It has to act as a watchdog of government functions and also to keep an eye on the issues and events prevailing in the society.
In a broader sense, media and democracy are basis for a state of equality, honour and justice. In a democracy like India, media helps in according due rights and facilitating delivery of justice to its citizens, thus making its role more imperative.
Every media organisation all over the world works under the assertion of a certain agenda or an ideology, their functioning in due accordance with that agenda. The agenda followed must be a charter of responsibility, integrity and impartiality, and should reflect that the basic premise of it is incorporated with the notions and principles of morality, ethics and truth.
However, as far as the Indian media are concerned, these principles exist only in text books and not in practice.
During past few decades, the major part of Indian media has acted as a mute spectator about certain issues like Naxalites, growing discomfort among minorities and public problems. It has been continuously turning a blind eye towards many issues and events happening in the country. No such opinion is given space, which contradicts with the pro-ideological agenda of these organisations. However, it must be noted that there are always some exceptions, ironically, their number being very small although with a strong impact.
‘Globalisation’
The rapid globalisation, growing influences of monopolistic corporates and powerful say-so of the pressure groups on media has resulted in utmost cynicism and smothering of grassroots opinion and their problems. Media consolidation has overpowered the values and principles of journalistic conduct. The recent trends in Indian media only know aggression in glamorising and exaggeration of trivial issues regarding personal lives of politicians, celebrities and other famed people, while a person whose son has died in a hospital due to the negligence of doctors, doesn’t even get more than 20 seconds of coverage.
The major function of media is to discuss issues and problems of society, which has to be facilitated by appreciating debate and dialogue. But, most of our national media seems to be adamant on spending hours on chattering and clamouring about futile issues.
Social networking websites like Twitter and Facebook came up with a purpose of providing free and unbounded space for interaction. Its primary purpose was to entail individuals for a productive social dialogue. But, the limitless freedom provided by this medium also had some other things in its package. It has acted as a catalyst in bringing the, otherwise smothered, public opinion in its proper dimension and forefront. It played an immense role in mobilising
public, disseminating news and organizing protests during the recent Egyptain revolution, in Tunisia and in overall Arab world.
During the, 2008Amarnath land row in Kashmir, the state government clamped down on local media and simultaneously SMS services were banned (stands till now), in order to halt the communication among public to break the uprising. But, the social media networks like Facebook, proved to be as a blessing for the people of Kashmir to remain updated with the news and events happening during the anti-India agitation.
It also became a platform for the people of Kashmir, particularly youth to discuss and connect with the outside world to make the later know, what is happening in Kashmir.
‘Meaningful’
Although, social media is a virtual world of free cyber space, where anyone could join and make himself heard, its impact and results are very much visible in real world. Perhaps, that is why state authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have begun setting up cyber police stations to keep a vigil on the activities on Social media. It is significant to mention here that some Facebook pages were hacked and several local youth were arrested by the J&K police early this year, for their alleged ‘anti-state’ activities on Social media.
The only reason for the impactful results of social media is the boundary-less unity among people from all over the world, who have been deprived of their expression and views by the traditional media. It has emerged as a pivotal tool in formulating a proper public discourse parallel to that of traditional media. The issues about which traditional media talks less or gives less or no space, for whatever reasons, remain the centre fold of discussions and debates on social media. Social media has now not remained a sphere restricted only to inter-regional or inter-cultural interactions rather, it has become a widespread domain of expressing dissent, anger and original rhetoric of every society to the outside world. People have turned to Social media to make themselves heard and seen, after getting overshadowed by the operations of
consolidated media.
Smothering public opinion, suppressing dissent, embedded media and deterring criticism of government, truly does not represent the assets of a true democracy.
Democracy exists only when every opinion is given due weight and proper consideration. It ceases to exist if it does not encourage two-way communication which in turn will facilitate proper decision and policy making. Media should self-introspect about its functioning and responsibilities. Otherwise, social media is there to make the public opinion much more vocal and distant to wider circles of the world.
(The author is a student of convergent journalism, Central University of Kashmir)
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