"The media is the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make innocent guilty and to make guilty innocent and that's the power. Because they control minds of the people."
- Malcom X
This statement was made years ago but it reflects current Indian scenario like never before. Today kanhaiya kumar got interim bail in JNU sedition case and also forensic report confirmed that some of the videos were doctored.But damage has been done already. Media coverage of JNU case has once again confirmed irresponsible and unethical behavior on the part of Indian media. Doctored videos were played 24/7 and aggressive reporting(without cross checking facts) has aroused public sentiments across the country. A premier institute like JNU -which gave number of notable personalities to nation in fields like army, bureaucracy, politics etc - is labelled as den of anti nationals by certain sections of media. Now as truth is out will media apologize to nation as whole and particularly to JNU students?? This is perhaps lowest point in history of journalism but we have history of very rich and courageous journalism too. To analyse this degradation of ethics in journalism we first need to take look at role of press in Indian struggle.
From Bal tilak to Mahatma Gandhi, many freedom fighters actively owned newspapers and wrote on variety of subjects of national importance extensively. Newspapers at that time helped to create awareness among masses about injustice done to them by Britishers. It was largely used to communicate thoughts of leaders to general public. Hence, many restrictions were put on press by govt to muzzle their voices. but still at that time, Gandhi understood the power of pen and cautioned us about its misuse and asked press to be more responsible.
See what Mahatma wants to say,"In
the very first month of Indian Opinion, I realized that the sole aim of
journalism should be service. The newspaper press is a great power, but just as
an unchained torrent of water submerges whole countryside and devastates crops,
even so an uncontrolled pen serves but to destroy."
At that time journalism was not considered as a profession but was considered as a service to society. Even after independence, this trend continued as we have seen at the time of emergency, many newspapers refused to buckle under pressure of govt censorship. But slowly and steadily things started to move in another direction, many newspaper started working for profit and in that process compromised with their values. Drastic changes occurred with the advent of LPG phenomenon-due to opening of economy and advancement in ICT and satellite communication- electronic media sector has seen magnificent growth in last decade. Corporatization of media started to take place and even today this process is still continue with greater intensity. Cross media ownership, paid news, lobbying etc are some of the serious issues. As media houses are themselves shareholders of many companies, How can one expects truthful coverage related to matters concerning that companies? why we don't see prime time debates on issues such as tax demand of Rs. 4.18 lakh cr pending from corporates ? Why we don't see anchors on TV venting their anger about Rs 1.14 lakh cr of bad debt written off? Anchors usually bash politicians for siphoning off public resources but why they go soft on big industrialist who misappropriate public wealth by dubious methods usually with the help of politicians?? Why struggles of disadvantaged sections of society against mighty industrial empires never find much media space it needed? Heard about Niyamgiri struggle and latest killing of a tribal boy? It never came in mainstream media as a news. This is because media houses are there to protect corporate interest. Nowadays media is used as propaganda tool while newspapers are merely reduced to viewspapers. They help in creating public opinion for or against any issue.
Look what Noam chomsky want to say about media and propaganda-
"You
don’t have any other society where the educated classes are so effectively
indoctrinated and controlled by a subtle propaganda system – a private system
including media, intellectual opinion forming magazines.to
set up and maintain a system of doctrines and beliefs which will undermine
independent thought and prevent a proper understanding and analysis of national
and global institutions, issues, and policies."
This is the reason we are seeing many highly educated people are also getting indoctrinated because of constant bombardment of misinformation through electronic, social media etc. To protect from manipulation, citizens should be aware enough to make democracy meaningful otherwise it would be reduced to mobocracy.
Duty of Media:
It is duty of media to show different perspective of any event to general public and give voice to oppressed and ask tough questions to the people in power. Media should always challenge dominant perspective but in JNU case what happened is that most of the media instead of questioning State sponsored perspective of nationalism chose to fall in line with it due to its conformist approach. Media also has a duty to educate general public about law of the land and constitutional values which make the basis of idea of India. In JNU case what we have seen is that "you are guilty unless proven innocent and its your job to prove to us(media) about your innocence". This types of increasing media trials are heavily compromising rule of law. "Investigative journalism" is a rare breed today and what we have is "Instigative" journalism. Media responsibility and ethical journalism are words found only in dictionary. But still in this dark period there is a ray of hope, print media are doing there job with much responsibility and we can find well researched information only in newspapers not in electronic media.
As we all know media is 4th pillar of democracy and free media is must for healthy democracy, what we need today is not "conformist" media but we need "confrontist" media which will act as a check on arbitrary power of state. For this, media should not be merely considered as industry but should be treated and nurtured like a institution vital for survival of democracy.
