Essay – Biased media is a real threat to Indian democracy
Biased media is a real threat to Indian democracy Essay: The term ‘media’ is derived from the Latin root word, ‘medi’ which means ‘middle.’ As such media is signified as the news bearer from the state to the general public, especially in a democratic nation like India. On the other hand, ‘Democracy’ is derived from two Greek words, “demos” referring to people and “Kratos” referring to power. Thus, the media plays the pivotal role of bearing information to the people. In a democracy like India, ‘media’ is considered to be the fourth pillar of democracy as it bears information to the general public, thus facilitating the essence of democracy, “for the people, by the people, of the people.”
Discussion
The democratic structure of India has three major institutions: the form of legislature, Executive and Judiciary. The media serves as the fourth and equally important institution. It serves as the news bearer for the general public as it caters to informing the general population of affairs of national and global importance. An unbiased media ensures the flow of unmanipulated facts and information that is essential for efficient self-governance, i.e: democracy. Unbiased media is essential for a nation like India as it is a facet of Freedom of Speech enshrined in the Indian Constitution under Article 19(1) (a). Instances of media bias due to political pressure have been noted during the challenging times posed by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in India. The government of India asked ‘Twitter’ the microblogging site to delete 52 tweets critiquing the government for failure to provide proper medical resources in April 2020. On the other hand, media channels allegedly biased in favour of the government such as ‘India Today’ have instead accused the farmers of protesting against shortages of oxygen supply for patients infected with COVID-19 due to inefficient government health infrastructure. Financial aid from the government is crucial for many newspapers and news channels such as ‘Dainik’ and ‘DD News’ for their existence and function. The incumbent political party, Bharatiya Janata Party had refused to publish any advertisement in newspapers or news channels that do not comply with its initiatives and policy Pressurising the media in such a manner creates an interdependent relationship between political parties and news agencies thereby making the media a tool to propagate ideologies and policies rather than informing the general public, thus impeding democracy. The Editors Guild of India had expressed its disapproval over the banning of the Kashmir Press Club. Censorship of media during the Emergency period in 1975 by the erstwhile Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, is another precedent that shows how media is curtailed when they succumb to being biased at the detriment of democracy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that media bias is one of the many epidemics of democracy. Like any democracy, the general population of India is entitled to the Right to Information and the media is obligated to pose a neutral stance in providing unadulterated facts and information. The Indian media is arm-twisted more often than not to propagate the ideologies and policies of the political party in power. It is upon the general public to judiciously subscribe to media agencies to access legitimate information.
FAQs
Q1. What is the origin of the term ‘media’?
Ans: The term ‘media’ is derived from the Latin root word, ‘medi’ which means ‘middle.’
Q2. Which article ensures the safety of free media?
Ans: Unbiased media is essential for a nation like India as it is a facet of Freedom of Speech enshrined in the Indian Constitution under Article 19(1) (a).
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