Why the media is important

Media is the main channel for communication to create awareness among people. We have 3 media channels which have a reach. 

• Social media
• ‘Anti-social media’ or paid media
• Other media, supposed to be free and neutral.

Scope and choices are limited. It is very hard to ignore.

Why should we pay so much focus or attention to the media when all others failed? Media is the chief player for checks and balances provided by the constitution. When anyone fails it has to bring out the truth. Are they playing that constructive role or remain a chief spoiler?

Media has a wide reach both in terms of area and subjects. No one or no issue is excluded from their purview with very few exceptions. They have the freedom to collect, analyse, investigate, verify, present their information, news and views without limitations. Are they doing it?

When the media is paid or committed to promote or support a party you have no alternative but to ignore or wait for them to lose their relevance. However, there is a need to counter them effectively in every way possible. They do leave many gaps in their ‘adventurous journey’.

Social media has its limitations. In a way, it is truly a mass media. While other mass media is created by a few individuals, experts, intellectuals collectively for mass consumption, entertainment, enlightenment, the social media is created more by the masses for the masses.

The social media has no practically exercisable control over the contents circulated, though post facto some of its freedom may be contained or curtailed. The absence of control on quality and veracity reflects on acceptability and reliability of its contents by the people.

Social media do make messages viral but it cuts both ways. It is more like mass reactions. It may help create a wave and may not be a storm by itself. All mass reactions or waves may not be right. It may lack logic and reasoning. The waves were also seen in 2014 and later.

We can still count on social media to be constructive and productive as it can improve the perception of the people. Even uneducated rely on intuition to segregate lies and truth. But that can happen only if it is more organised in presentation and circulation on a mass scale.

When the media is unable to control quality and contents with limited personnel under their disposal, how open, free social media where information is generated, distributed by the masses, can control them. Social media cannot have so much focus to create a social revolution.

Limiting the damages

The damages caused by the media and the cost the nation and people are paying for it is grossly underestimated. So most of us ignore their failures. One specific reason could be that they are not politicians. But anyone affecting society and people are practically in politics.

Whether it is paid media, or free media or social media, when we make an opinion, criticism, analysis, circulating them we become part of politics though we may or may not take sides openly or maybe truly non-partisan. They do influence people but the effect and reach vary.

We have to keep in mind that there are many uncertainties with unethical rulers who are unmindful of any consequences of the damages to the country, its people, helped by weak bureaucrats, judiciary, media and so-called intellectuals having an anti-congress stand and mindset.

There is an immediate need to create awareness among people; to spread,  percolate the truth sooner before it becomes too late. It can be easily done if the media does its professional job. But unfortunately, they are not creating awareness but adding to confusions. 

We need media, cannot divorce

What is the alternative available before us? The opposition politicians have to carry the truth to the people and earn their trust to break this fascist regime decisively. Great leaders, thinkers do not emerge so quickly and suddenly. It may still happen, but are we to wait? 

Whether the mission of educating and enlightening people is accomplished by leaders, thinkers, opinion-makers, politicians or anyone for that matter, it is still to happen largely through the media. We cannot simply ignore them despite their inadequacies and inefficiencies.

Media persons do reflect the weakness of our society as such. It is not a surprise if they exhibit the herd mentality, have confusions, lack professionalism in their approach. If we criticise, expose to correct their weakness it is not lopsided or unfair but a duty and necessity.

A silent majority of free media is correctable, repairable if messages, solutions emanate from the right quarters with due emphasis. 

Why should we give up on such possibilities? We are not going to replace the entire media. We cannot divorce but have to rectify their errors.