media good or bad?

Essay Writing – Role of Media in Democracy

August 21, 2012 by My English Master

Democracy is at the same time a form of government and a way of life. Abraham Lincoln defined Democracy as the government of the people, for the people and by the people. It is a system in which the sovereignty lies in the hands of the people as their elected representatives rule and run the country.

Articles 19-22 of our constitution give to the citizens the Right to Freedom as one of the Fundamental Rights. The right to freedom of expression enshrined therein gives the media not only a primary role but also a paramount responsibility of expressing public opinion in an through a written word. The media has been made the essential instrument for ensuring openness in society in an attempt to polish, develop and civilize it by the process of analysis, discussion and synthesis. The role of media in a democracy assumes even greater significance when we recognize the fact that in society where an overwhelming majority of people are silent listeners, or spectators access to forum that constantly reaches others has to be viewed as a trust on their behalf for their progress and prosperity. The power of the media has been recognized for many centuries. This is evident from the fact that there have been attempts to control it from the time of the British rule over India.

The first Indian newspaper – Hickey’s Bengal Gazette of 1781 was banned by Warren Hastings. Fearing that the press may present his intrigues to the public, the Governor- General imposed government censorship on Indian papers which continued strictly till 1835 when Lord Metcalf brought in some liberation. In the year 1788, Warren Hastings was impeached by the British Parliament under the advocacy of famous political scientist and writer Edmund Burke. Hastings was acquitted in the impeachment because the judges were British and the sufferers at the hand of Hastings were Indians. The fact that Hastings was morally deprived and against the freedom of the press highlights the fact that the media has power to challenge and expose the mightiest. History tells us that State interference with the press did not disappear at any stage of the British rule. During the period of the partition of Bengal and Boycott and Swadeshi Movement there were severe restrictions on the media.

The oppression of the popular opinion and the restrictions on the media, in fact, go together. This is why the worst form of control of media was found in Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.

Importance Of Newspapers

July 10, 2012July 8, 2012 by My English Master

Newspapers are not just a scroll of paper that is dropped into our houses every morning. They have been of great significance ever since they were started. At the time of British rule, newspapers were a medium of spreading news about the happenings in the country or to initiate an agitation or revolt. Newspapers were one revolutionary medium of making important announcements. That purpose is still fulfilled by them.

Today, we have many national dailies and many other local and regional newspapers read all over the country by almost all sections of the society. We have newspapers in almost all main languages like English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Kannada that are circulated in our country. Today newspapers contain articles of various genres besides the daily news to suit the various tastes of the varied readership. Many newspapers even have weekly magazines to add interest to them.

Newspapers hold a lot of importance in our lives. They make us aware of latest happenings, developments and information about various global and national issues. This helps us gain knowledge about all cultural, economic, political, entertainment and social issues all over the world. Many organizations and companies use newspapers and print media to make announcements to the public about job vacancies and other important details. Endorsements and commercial advertisements that are printed in the newspaper help us know about the products launched in the market. Newspaper thus provides an industry-consumer interface and helps develop a healthy relationship between the two. Newspapers these days have an editorial section where the readers are allowed to voice their opinions about any issue. This thus provides us with a huge platform to express our views, exchange ideas and build up interactions.

The entertainment section carries news about the film industry, sports events and television industry. It often contains interviews of people from the entertainment and media industry thus providing a medium for the masses to know about some famous people. Newspapers often contain games and quizzes like crosswords, Sudoku etc. which provide us with a healthy means of recreation. Many of the dailies often contain information about upcoming examinations, tips for studying and last minute preparation which helps the students. Newspapers are thus one necessary commodity that is needed by all sections of our society.

IMPORTANCE OF FILMS

July 10, 2012July 7, 2012 by My English Master

Films are one effective method of reaching out to the masses and to spread our views among them. Started off as a new venture for the purpose of entertaining people, films have now affected almost all parts of our lives by depicting almost all social, economic, political and socio-cultural issues. While some of them have an educative value attached to them, some are entertaining, and some others are documentaries which depict realities about certain sensitive issues and aim at solving out the matters by reaching out to the masses and the authorities responsible.

The films made for a commercial purpose of entertainment all over the world now form an integral part of most of the peoples’ lives and their leisure activities. Films belonging to various genres like drama, comedy, action are made every year which attracts numerous viewers from different sections of the society. Every year there are award functions to felicitate such movies and appreciate them for their work. Oscar awards are one such prestigious academy awards.

Documentaries are one category of films which are pictured with the motive of bringing out the reality about various day to day issues and depicting them to the masses with the aim of finding a solution to those problems. Such films are non-commercial and non-profit productions.

Films which have an educative value attached to them are produced to add meaning to the media industry. There have been many films made on matters of environmental concern, or creating a social awareness, or creating cultural or economic awareness among the masses. Not just the content of the movies, even the entire process of making a film and releasing it for public viewing is quite enthralling and interesting. The amount of researches and studies done about a matter is in itself a learning experience for its makers.

Films have many other benefits. They bring together people from different sections of the society and different walks of life. Being an integral part of the media industry, they provide us with a platform or interface to exhibit our talent and interest too. Films are also a matter of national pride when they are recognized and viewed worldwide. They are thus a complete entertainment and educational package with many other values attached to it.

ADVANCEMENT IN TECHNOLOGY : BOON OR BANE

July 6, 2012 by My English Master

Technology is a term coined for defining all applications of science and knowledge to practical life. From the invention of wheel and fire to the manufacture of new big machines; everything is a contribution of technological inventions and advancements. Man, being the most intelligent animal keeps searching for new possibilities of scientific discoveries and keeps applying them to his life thus advancing with time.

Technology has made human survival much more convenient and simple and has added many luxuries to our lives. It has made many things possible which could not even be imagined once upon a time. It has made round-the-earth sea voyages possible and has even helped man to reach out to the most distant celestial bodies of the universe. It has also made producing tons of goods in a very less time possible. Almost every other thing we do or use in our day is a technological contribution. We can say that if we remove technology from our lives, we may have to live like other animals roaming around on the earth.

On one hand if technology has made our existence simpler, it has also added a lot of disadvantages to it. Due to the numerous luxuries and comforts it has provided us, it has made us completely dependent on machines and has made our lives sedentary and unhealthy. Since all the work can now be done on the press of a button or sometimes even by verbal commands to machines, man has stopped working mechanically and relies on machines for the simplest errands. This has led to many diseases like obesity, diabetes, lethargy, fatigue and much more. Man has become a slave of machines and the time is not far when machines shall start ruling over humans.

We call this era to be the machine age because of the miraculous machines that have been invented and are being used. But we should not depend on them completely as this is known that machines and scientific advancements are a product of human intelligence and we should not let that overtake us completely as it tends to deteriorate the quality of our lives if not used judiciously and wisely.

Technology is definitely an asset if used wisely and sustainably keeping in mind the quality of our lives. It is upon us if we use it as a boon or a bane.

The Influence of Television on youth

July 2, 2012July 2, 2012 by My English Master

The influence of TV on the life of today’s youth is unbeatable. The variety of programs being telecast is it regional or international is mind boggling. Television is an extraordinary medium that brings the entire world into your living room. Its accessibility makes it more powerful-it is there at the touch of a button. It is a 24/7 medium. Its visual impact leaves a lasting impression on the young minds which are susceptible. TV is the windows to their world since magazines or cinema certainly do not exert the same impact as TV on them.

The content of TV programs leaves a lot to be desired. Hence to expect it to instill moral, ethical or positive values is asking for too much. It is appalling to note that even gruesome scenes do not elicit much of a response from the young viewers whose mind seems to be attuned to it; having had an overdose of it. Their way of dressing, eating, conversing and even the music they listen to is largely influenced by the English serials and sitcoms and music channels they tend to watch.

There is an overdose of violence, sex and glorification of things that appeal to the youth. The content of violence can be influenced by the children and as well as the youth. And there is a tendency to imitate by both the youth and children, what they have seen in the cinemas. And they must try to do in real in some situations of life from the false knowledge by cinemas. And there should be a tendency to grow the intrusion in the society also a problem. The effect of serials made the youth to become addicted to the TV. And the overdoses of the sex in some channels like fashion channels must affect badly in the youth. At times it is also due to a false sense of moving ahead with the times that makes them follow this culture.

Sports and news programs however do not corrupt the mind. But too much of sports is definitely harmful. TV viewing in excess making many among the youth of today into couch potatoes.

Parent restrictions on TV viewing by children have brought out little outcome as anything on which sometime some kind of strict control is imposed is liable to set in a negative impact. It is the responsibility of the grown up in the household to generate a sense of discretion in TV viewing to be selective in watching programs brought out by various channel operators.

The Electronic Media

July 2, 2012 by My English Master

Nowadays, a very popular means of social interaction and propagation that has emerged along with the print media is the rise of Electronic media. The birth of electronic media took place with the invention of radio when single voice miles away thrilled millions across the continents who marveled at this miraculous hearing of a voice. People wondered and were over-joyed with this great invention. It was the beginning of an entirely new era. Science was hailed as the mistress of all knowledge because it had made the impossible happen-a voice travelled and reached every nook and corner of the world. Owning a radio became a symbol of pride and social status.

When the voice got a face through Television, the people were left aghast. How could they see a person sitting miles away? And that hear him? So clearly so closely? It was the miracles of miracles wonder of wonders. Science is pack of magical things television is revolution in itself. The whole world got shrunk into that one room of the house then on September 15, 1959. Dooradarshan was inaugurated in India.

These also reflect upon the social impact that television has. With the introduction of Cable Television in 1993, electronic media has emerged as a greater social force than ever. Gone are the days when television was a monopoly of a few rich. ‘Now the idiot box’ as it has been called by many is found in every home, shop and office. Television now has invaded not only every home, but every sphere of life, in fact, in some way or other television now-a-days dictates our life. It has invaded and cut short our social life. People preferred to watch television instead of visiting people or socializing. It has severed all homely conversations.

But blaming television for all this solely would be an utter foolishness. Such things happen when human beings are enslaved by technology, when they let such things guide their lives and master them. If used judiciously, the electronic media can prove to be very useful educationally as well as socially, politically and economically. TV can in fact, be used as a powerful medium to spread social awareness among the illiterate masses against various social evils. Discussions on various topics can help the educated masses increase their intellectual abilities and widen their horizons. The various news channels keep the vigilant citizens updated. Channels like Discovery and National Geographic keep the inquisitive mind busy and satisfy every intellectual query of a mind. Alone with these are endless number of entertainment channels is solely there amuse and tickle the audience. Now even a number of kid’s channels have come to cater to this special section of the society.

Internet is another electronic media which is fast growing and extremely popular. And internet can help popularize technology internationalize and universalize our outlook. Thus electronic media can play a great constructive role in helping build up the social and cultural infrastructure of the nation if used wisely within the limits of decency and intellectuality.