In a simplified language, media can be defined as means of mass communication for the purpose of interacting with a large audience.
Earlier, it remained limited to the traditional modes of communication such as radio and newspaper but as time passed and technological advancements ushered in, ‘media’ now encompasses a wide range of sources of information.
Some of the components of media include publishing, print media, photography, the news media, broadcasting (television and radio), cinema, social media, advertising and many more.
Some of the components of media include publishing, print media, photography, the news media, broadcasting (television and radio), cinema, social media, advertising and many more.
Each one has a unique and distinct style of communicating with their clientele and putting forth several bits of information that should reach the public.
In the current context, India has 350 news channels in 5 types of languages, 17,160 daily newspapers and 1,18,239 publications, arranged in descending order of popularity and level of viewership.
In the current context, India has 350 news channels in 5 types of languages, 17,160 daily newspapers and 1,18,239 publications, arranged in descending order of popularity and level of viewership.
So from these statistics we can clearly decipher that television holds the title of being the most preferred type of media.
The Quality of Content Being Shown to Us Through Televised Media
Since the televised mode of media captures the maximum number of audience, it becomes all the more important to analyze whether it has achieved success when it comes to fulfilling its prescribed responsibilities that is, dissemination of authentic, honest, unbiased and most importantly, factually correct information.
Sadly, the answer to the question that has been raised above is no.
The Quality of Content Being Shown to Us Through Televised Media
Since the televised mode of media captures the maximum number of audience, it becomes all the more important to analyze whether it has achieved success when it comes to fulfilling its prescribed responsibilities that is, dissemination of authentic, honest, unbiased and most importantly, factually correct information.
Sadly, the answer to the question that has been raised above is no.
Despite growing into a massive economic giant, with a business turnover exceeding one percent of the entire country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and matching the size of some individual industries in India, the credibility of Indian media is undergoing a crisis.
The first and foremost issue which plagues the television media is the lack of diversity and quality which depicts an increasing level of disconnect with the most important issues and real lives of people.
The first and foremost issue which plagues the television media is the lack of diversity and quality which depicts an increasing level of disconnect with the most important issues and real lives of people.
We have witnessed a sheer failure on the part of broadcasting media with respect to effectively highlighting and evaluating grave issues of utmost importance.
Over the past several months this country has seen extreme predicament on various fronts like the COVID crisis, economic downfall followed by recession and farmers protests to name a few.
Over the past several months this country has seen extreme predicament on various fronts like the COVID crisis, economic downfall followed by recession and farmers protests to name a few.
However, these matters of contention barely received any attention or screen space. Instead, the public was served with sensationalized celebrity news.
The Reason Behind This Impasse
All the news channels which are privately owned constantly compete for public attention. The more their viewership, the higher will be the channel rating which in turn leads to greater ad revenue. This cycle aides the creation of what is called an ‘Attention Economy’.
It has been repeatedly proven that catching hold of attention is easily possible through misinformation and extreme opinions.
The Reason Behind This Impasse
All the news channels which are privately owned constantly compete for public attention. The more their viewership, the higher will be the channel rating which in turn leads to greater ad revenue. This cycle aides the creation of what is called an ‘Attention Economy’.
It has been repeatedly proven that catching hold of attention is easily possible through misinformation and extreme opinions.
A study has also established that fake news spreads 6 times faster than the truth. Therefore, unethical methods like communalization of news have become a commonplace in the sphere of media.
Apart from the above mentioned problem, another major issue which needs to be highlighted is the fact that many of the media houses are either funded or owned by political parties or its affiliates.
Apart from the above mentioned problem, another major issue which needs to be highlighted is the fact that many of the media houses are either funded or owned by political parties or its affiliates.
Mechanisms like flooding the channels with sensational news items are used so that news that has the potential to harm the party stays off the radar.
The media no longer performs crucial functions like questioning the political processes, providing a platform for a legitimate debate and fulfilling the role of being the fourth pillar of democracy by acting like the peoples’ watchdog.
The media no longer performs crucial functions like questioning the political processes, providing a platform for a legitimate debate and fulfilling the role of being the fourth pillar of democracy by acting like the peoples’ watchdog.
Instead, it aims to float its own agenda and shows biasness in order to shield a particular politically influential group.
How Can This Be Fixed
Our job as citizens doesn’t end at voting. For a democracy to effectively and actively function, the leaders need to realize that they are being watched by the people through a vigilant and proactive media. Hence, it becomes extremely imperative for us, as responsible citizens, to ask relevant questions.
The public has to stop being consumers of sensationalized news, this will compel the media houses to change their ways of reporting and adopt a more responsible attitude towards journalism. Instead of televised news people should switch to print media and other sources of authentic news.
This is the only possible remedy to an otherwise contaminated media. It would be in our as well as the country’s best interest if the media is adequately able to hold the ruling government under scrutiny and the era of fake news is brought to an end.
How Can This Be Fixed
Our job as citizens doesn’t end at voting. For a democracy to effectively and actively function, the leaders need to realize that they are being watched by the people through a vigilant and proactive media. Hence, it becomes extremely imperative for us, as responsible citizens, to ask relevant questions.
The public has to stop being consumers of sensationalized news, this will compel the media houses to change their ways of reporting and adopt a more responsible attitude towards journalism. Instead of televised news people should switch to print media and other sources of authentic news.
This is the only possible remedy to an otherwise contaminated media. It would be in our as well as the country’s best interest if the media is adequately able to hold the ruling government under scrutiny and the era of fake news is brought to an end.
Because ultimately, good quality journalism plays a pivotal role in the making of what we call a ‘modern India’.
Hopefully, we will live to see a day where the media acts in a responsible manner and caters to its viewers in a meaningful way but for now, all we know is that’s not the case and for the time being, the masses have to be more cognizant and attentive just to avoid being influenced by unreliable sources of information.
Written by - Isha Singh
Edited by - Sandhya R
Hopefully, we will live to see a day where the media acts in a responsible manner and caters to its viewers in a meaningful way but for now, all we know is that’s not the case and for the time being, the masses have to be more cognizant and attentive just to avoid being influenced by unreliable sources of information.
Written by - Isha Singh
Edited by - Sandhya R
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