Responsibility of Media in Democracy

Media refers to the communication tools or channels through which news, music, movies, education, promotional messages, and other information is disseminated. It includes mediums like radio, television, magazines, newspapers, internet, etc. It describes the different ways in which we communicate in the society ranging from a telephone call to the news on television. The term media is used to denote a medium that is designed to reach out to a large audience such as the population of a country.

For instance, in the present times of the pandemic, media is constantly updating us about the scenario of the country as well as of the world regarding the number of active cases, the policies that government has adopted, etc. Along with the news of the pandemic, the media is also regularly updating about the other things happening in the country.

Media plays an important role to inform the public about the social, economic, and political activities happening in the world. It shows the ground reality of the society and portrays what the truth is. Media is the 4^th pillar of democracy and plays a vital role in generating a democratic culture that is beyond the politics and helps increase the public consciousness. They are known as the watchdogs of the democracy as they supply the information about various candidates standing for the elections so that the people can choose their representative on those bases.

ROLE OF MEDIA IN DEMOCRACY

The Indian Constitution guarantees the fundamental right of ‘Freedom of Speech and Expression’ to every citizen, which includes ‘Freedom of Press’. For a democracy to function properly, the government and the citizens need to go hand in hand and for this purpose, media works to bridge the gap between them. The judiciary has protected the rights of the media as well as constrained it in the interest of justice as well as the fundamental rights of the others. Media exposes loopholes in the democratic society which helps the government to fill those vacuums and make the system more responsive, accountable and democratic friendly. Media has also helped to shape the democratic society by emphasizing issues such as child birth and care, domestic violence, and sexual harassment, which would have been private. It also helps in molding the public opinion and bringing social change in the society by highlighting issues such corruption in the government or the non functioning of the government. It is also a means for educating people, especially those in the rural areas, by circulating information without any bias.

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MEDIA

1. The media has the power to reach the government and expose their real picture to the world so that transparency can be maintained in the government.
2. A challenging role for the media is to reveal any piece of information or truth to the public in such a way that no particular group of people are agitated from it.
3. It also has the responsibility to help the citizens nourish and enjoy their rights and also to check that they exercise those rights in a lawful manner.
4. Media can organise debates to challenge the loopholes in the functioning of the government and also appreciating the good work of the government.
5. They can also build a sense of patriotism in the citizens who without the fear of any politician can work for the betterment of the nation.
6. Media should never present any information by deliberately twisting it to create a hype in the people.
7. It should also not get involved in creating fake news, or promoting a party or a brand just for the sake of money.
8. Presenting real and important issues should be the main motive of the media, rather than indulging in presenting issues that are of no importance to the general public.