Indian journalists’ responsibilities towards the masses

“Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets” as once famously quoted by the Colossus of the Nineteenth Century, Napoleon Bonaparte. Through this quote, he stresses on the power of journalism and the potential of media to act as a force multiplier. With various platforms for journalism in today’s world, varying from television and radio to online and print, the power of media and journalism is more than what Napoleon Bonaparte exclaims to be. In a country like India, with a population of 1.3 billion, this power is manifold. As they say, “With great power comes great responsibility,”  so is the case with journalism in India.

From battleships in the past to the parliamentary debates of the 21st century, information and lack of information have contributed to the triumphs, and defeats that have shaped the very nature of the world we live in. The information distributed through various forms of media constantly shapes a population’s culture, convictions and sentiment thus giving media the status of fourth pillar of democracy along with judiciary, legislative, and executive. Media plays a vital role in keeping the public informed and more educated, perhaps the most effective way of communicating a message to the masses. From a societal standpoint, the media serves to circulate cultural views and shape the public minds. The media plays the most critical role during elections by presenting different candidates’ platforms and after the elections act as a check to government power. The importance of media during Indian Independence movement cannot be stressed enough. Media became the paramount source of information for the citizens of colonial India as they became aware of the atrocious cruelties and violence of the British colonial rule. The media also acted as an institution of opposition to the government, when there was none, putting through scrutiny every act and policy.

In the last few decades, the rapid expansion of the Internet and the emergence of personal devices and platforms have allowed common citizens to generate and distribute their own content. With the rise of social media, passive viewers are able to find other sources of information through internet. According to FICCI report 2020, the Indian Media and Entertainment sector has grown by almost 9% in 2019 to reach 1.82 trillion INR. This report also shows the penetration of social media in rural and remote areas of India. The rise of media also offers an active engagement of the youth in societal development. Since the youth constitutes nearly 35% of India’s population, the influence of media on the psychological, societal and opinion development is profound.

However, the mere presence of media to showcase what is happening around the world is not enough. It needs to be independent of any outside influence. The media can manipulate, influence, persuade and pressurise society along with even controlling the world at times in both positive and negative ways ; just like the case today in this pandemic. Nowadays, the credibility of news is often questioned due to presence of fake stories, false presentation of truth, based media and even paid news. This kind of journalism can mislead the public and can even affect the countries political future ; by using the media to their advantage, the government can very easily ensure that things keep going smoothly in their desired direction, threatening the democracy of the country.

The media can influence the way people or certain section of people are viewed. Recently in news as more members of the group tested positive for COVID-19, false claims about Muslims all over the country deliberately spreading the virus became viral. In several parts of the country, there were calls for an economic boycott of Muslim-owned businesses. After the announcement of Janata curfew by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22nd March 2020, more such debunked stories are in the highlight. I will not even talk about the Bollywood drama because it will be a whole another blog! Especially during a global pandemic, the human cost of fake news is very high. It is rightly said by Father of the Nation, Gandhi, “The newspaper press is a great power, but just as an unchained torrent of water submerges whole country sides and devastates crops, even so an uncontrolled pen serves but to destroy.”

The important and powerful role that an independent media can play in the progress of  the nation cannot be overstated. By highlighting the major issues in the country, fixing the accountability, presenting diverse views and suggesting solutions, media can ensure strengthening the democratic fabric of the country. Even citizens are responsible for ensuring the country’s democracy. The citizens must question every news with a pair of impartial eyes and raise voice against fake news. We must check for facts in the news and must not form an opinion with less knowledge or information on any issue. Debate, dissent and discussion must continue with the receiving and producing end of news. After all what is a nation but a people in constant dialogue?