Indian Media a Representative of Corporate Interest or Fourth Pillar of Democracy! 

 Indian Media a Representative of Corporate Interest or Fourth Pillar of Democracy! 

“If it were left on me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” – Thomas Jefferson

POINTS TO THINK

• Indian Media includes newspapers, magazines, websites, Blogs, Radio, Videos and other possible means which can impart information in a swift manner to maximum number of people. The media has undoubtedly evolved and become more active over the years. Mass media have great influence on human life in the present century. They have provided information and entertainment to people across countries.
• Print media was been the leader of mass medias over a considerable period of time. But now it has got competition from Television, which is reshaping many of the social responses. Radio apart from providing news and views has also developed a flair for entertainment, thereby getting a lot of acceptance. There is also the new media with internet being its flag bearer. Internet has indeed made it possible to disseminate information and ideas in real time across the globe.
• Indian media being the eyes and ears of the people of India has a huge responsibility of providing the people with credible and reliable information free from any sort of bias, prejudices, interests or association. Media being regarded as the fourth pillar of democracy in the modern time makes it indispensable for the smooth and healthy functioning of the nation.
• Media usually refers to mass media, which is any medium that provides citizens with information regarding all the current affairs of any area at a large scale. It is unbiased reporting of facts through print, television, radio or Internet. Traditionally and constitutionally, the media has no defined role in governance. It doesn’t have the power to change any decisions made by the various arms of a state––the legislature, executive and the judiciary. Yet, the media plays one of the most important roles in the functioning of any society. It amplifies the voice of citizens and communicates their opinions to the lawmakers
• In 1947, when India achieved Independence, there was a debate in the constituent assembly over the status of media in the Constitution of India. After much deliberation, no special mention to media was provided in the constitution. Dr. B.R Ambedkar said that the rights of media to report and publish is covered/implied Article 19(1) of Indian Constitution – “Freedom of speech and Expression” This meant that Indian media has no special rights with respect to others citizens of the country.
• India celebrates its freedom of press which has been played an important role in the evolution of the Indian society over the decades. The freedom of speech is bolstered by the Right to Information. The role of the media is not only to disseminate information but also to help the society form opinions and make sound decisions. In this manner, the media plays an important role in governance of the nation.

TEMPORAL ELABORATION

• POINTS TO THINK

• Indian media has been active since the late 18th century with print media started in 1780 and radio broadcasting initiated in 1927 and the screening of Auguste and Louis Lumière moving pictures in Bombay initiated during the July of 1895. It is among the oldest and largest media of the world.
• The James Augustus Hickey in 1780 started The Bengal Gazette or Calcutta General Advertiser, the first newspaper in India. It  was seized in 1872 because of its outspoken criticism of the Government.
• Media in India has been free and independent throughout most of its history, even before establishment of Indian empire by Ashoka the Great on the foundation of righteousness, openness, morality and spirituality.
• In India the concept of the freedom of the press can be referred back to the Mughal Era. An emperor like Aurangzeb allowed great freedom in news reporting. The East India Company’s news-writers were under greater control than under the Mughal Emperors.
• The period of emergency (1975–1977), declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was the brief period when India’s media was faced with potential government retribution.
• Indian media has matured leaps and bounds since its inception in 1780 and has been playing a very important role in shaping human minds.

MEDIA AS FOURTH PILLAR OF DEMOCRACY

• POINTS TO THINK
• Mass media in its different forms have influenced human life. Informing the citizens about the developments in the society and helping them to make informed choices, media make democracy to function in its true spirit. Media is called the fourth pillar due to important role of media in shaping public opinion. Media plays a crucial role in shaping a healthy democracy. It is the backbone of a democracy. Media makes us aware of various social, political and economic activities happening around the world.
• Media act as a chain between the government and the citizens of the country and plays a pivotal role in ensuring justice and benefits of the government policies reach the interior sections of the society.
• It also keeps the elected representatives accountable to those who elected them by highlighting whether they have fulfilled their wishes for which they were elected and whether they have stuck to their oaths of office.
• Television and radio have made a significant achievement in educating rural illiterate masses in making them aware of all the events in their language. Coverage of exploitative malpractices of village heads and moneylenders has helped in taking stringent actions against them by attracting government’s attention.
• The media also exposes loopholes in the democratic system, which ultimately helps government in filling the vacuums of loopholes and making a system more accountable, responsive and citizen-friendly. A democracy without media is like a vehicle without wheels. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru called media ‘the watchdog of our democracy’. This handed the media a huge responsibility in the functioning of our society. Thus, media plays the role of communicator in democracy. They make people aware and conscious of their state of affairs by providing them with in depth insight on important issues concerning people.
• Access to information is essential for a democratic society because it ensures that citizens make responsible, informed choices rather than acting out of ignorance or misinformation and information also serves a checking function. It is well known that media overlaps other functional areas of democracy and governance. For example, support for media may yield results in governance activities, particularly those related to decentralization, anti-corruption, and citizen participation in the policy process.
• The rule of law may be further institutionalized by support for an independent media that keeps a check on the judiciary, reports on the courts, and promotes a legal enabling environment suitable for press freedom.
• Free and fair elections conducted through transparent processes require a media sector, which gives candidates equal access, and reports the relevant issues in a timely, objective manner.
• Freedom of press has three essential features; namely freedom of publication, freedom of access to all sources of information and freedom of circulation. Press freedom, thus plays a vital role in the formulation of public opinion on issues of public importance.
• The ultimate goal of media is to serve the public interest. The public interest is defined as representing a plurality of voices both through a greater number of outlets and through the diversity of views and voices reflected within one outlet. If media is to have any meaningful role in democracy and governance, it must be free and independent from the control of government.

INDIAN MEDIA AS A CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE

• POINTS TO THINK

• Now a day’s Indian media is being blamed for being pro-corporate. Being pro-corporate means media presents the corporate interests in good light without an objective or neutral assessment of those interests in return for monetary or other favors. This blame is correct up to some extent as big corporate is owning or is stakeholder in major media houses.
• IN addition to the corporate and profit motive, there are two more important problems, which hurt the neutral reporting of newspapers. First is the political leaning of the media houses towards specific parties as these political parties provide huge funds to the media houses. Over the past few years, our media has become the mouthpiece of the party in power. Coupled with the fact the corporate owners of media houses share close links with the government, the Indian media has tragically lost its voice. Doing election campaigning these media houses have a huge potential to alter and modify voters mood, which is not so good for democracy.
• Second is the ideological leaning. Since the 18th century, the world has witnessed many revolutions like communism, socialism, capitalism etc. All of these are present in India in some from or the other. Any media houses associated or following any particular ideology will tend to ignore the good points of the other ideologies. This discrimination is not good for Indian democracy.
• Serious issues like the beef ban, the crisis in Kashmir, dissent in universitiesand even the unrest in societies where Dalits – the lowest level of India’s caste system – have been discriminated or killed, have received scant mention in media coverage.Still, there hasn’t been a bigger debate about why the media has failed to effectively perform the critical tasks it’s supposed to do in a representative democracy.
• India has over 400 news channels in various languages and another 150 channels are awaiting clearance. The South Asian country also has tens of thousands of news papers and magazines. But the quality of Indian journalism is poor, as evidenced by the fact India ranks 136 among 180 countries in the index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, an NGO
• When it comes to press freedom, India fares worse than even countries like Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates.
• Paid news and manipulation of news have become a norm in Indian media .Due to the involvement of excess of money the media companies are performing misconduct i.e. paid news. Most of the media companies related to print or electronic publish articles or broadcast news to favor some individuals or companies. This misconduct is taking place due to Burden to increase revenue of advertisement.  Few journalists take advantage of the profession for individual achievements. To give favors to the people or company who has paid money for the same, the journalist uses strategies like manipulation, lies etc. Nowadays the news paper’s every section are being misused to persuade potential bosses and to safeguard lucrative offers by broadcasting favorable news. Nira Radia is one of the best examples of this misconduct.
• Issues of Unethical and Immoral Reporting with Indian Media – Many a times media is seen in irresponsible media coverage which hurts our own interests like – coverage of 26/11 attacks assisting the terrorist handlers unintentionally providing them the live coverage, while working in the disaster hit areas media tend to complicate the process of relief work. Many a times while covering national news the media hurts the global image of India in other countries and international forum, For eg. Recently in the JNU crises and the Intolerance debate.
• Though freedom of press is essential and indispensable for the successful functioning of the Indian democracy, it is very often silenced by the executive, gagged by the legislature, suppressed by judiciary, repressed and muzzled by the pressure groups.There are times when instead of discharging its duty as one of the watchdogs of democracy, media opts to cover the incident in other ways. The media is indulging in blatant fabrication of news.
• Most editors have little ‘say’ in the editorial policies of the newspaper these days because newspapers are not floated or run as a mission anymore.  Newspapers have become an industry and they are run like any other business. Today, the prime concern of most newspapers is not to act as a watchdog to the nation but to make profit.
• With the changes that have hit the newspaper industry turning newspapers into business ventures, the readers are no longer seen as readers by the newspapers but are being increasingly viewed as customers. There is no place for ethics in market.  The only ethics that drives the market is earning maximum profits. This has resulted in the fall of editorial standards.
• Support or attack a particular political party, candidate, or ideology.
• Advertising bias, when stories are selected or slanted to please advertisers.
• Sensationalism, bias in favor of the exceptional over the ordinary, giving the impression that rare events, such as airplane crashes, are more common than common events, such as automobile crashes.
• Favors or attacks on a particular race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, or ethnic group.

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES RELATED TO MEDIA IN INDIA

• POINTS TO THINK
• Being the 2nd most populated and 2nd largest country in the world the role of Indian media becomes very challenging as it has to cater to a huge audience separated by vast distances.
• Another problem faced by Indian media is the language barrier. The same news has to be broadcasted in many languages.
• Tasks performed by the Indian media have also evolved with time. In addition to their normal reporting work they are also entrusted with:-
• Disseminating information about latest government schemes and policies especially to rural areas with appropriate criticism and loopholes.
• Acting as a pressure group on political representatives checking dictatorial tendencies.
• Assist in free and fair elections covering the full process from promulgation of Model code of conduct to opinion polls to final results. Ever during the counting process, Indian media representatives are present.
• Disaster and war coverage
• Shaping opinion like in the recent Middle East refugee’s crises
• The pressure being faced by media persons during news coverage for example:
• Covering news from disaster hit areas like the recent Uttarakhand and Chennai floods.
• Covering news from war hit areas.
• Facing threat of life like the case of a reporter found dead while reporting leaving the Vyapam Scandal
• Media person face tremendous pressure due to time constraint. Journalists no longer enjoy the luxury of a 24-hour deadline—particularly those working for the electronic media. For them, the deadline has shrunk considerably and every moment is a deadline. Today, nobody waits for the morning newspaper to read the headlines.  Headlines are made every moment on the electronic media as well as the new media.
• Authenticity of news is other major challenges in India media. The journalists hardly get any time to check or verify the information they receive given the time constraints. Journalists working for a 24-hour TV channel are under pressure to deliver news reports in  a jiffy as they have to beat competition and ensure better TRP ratings for their channel.
• Credibility is the biggest challenge for media in the age of technology and it is important for media establishments to maintain it.
• Security concerns have also curtailed the access of the media persons to political leaders.  Today, no media person can walk into a minister’s office of the prime minister’s home without a prior appointment. Due to this Media has failed to fulfill its duty to bridge gap between people and leaders.
• There exists issue of regulation in India Media. The sole statutory, quasi-judicial body set up for media regulation in the country is the Press Council of India. While it aims to preserve the freedom of the press and maintain and improve the standards of press in India, it has no way of imposing punishments or enforcing its directions for professional or ethical violations. The Indian media also face threats of violence from vested interests and pressure from political parties. There are instances of death of three journalists covering investigative stories over the last year (2017). There should be a law guaranteeing press freedom, which is different from free speech.
• New media, which is within the reach of almost everyone, poses a great danger in the absence of stringent norms. The content which is not in good public taste is also easily available and accessible on the internet. Serious violations of ethics go unchecked on the internet. The government’s reaction to objectionable content is always met by strong opposition from the media representative bodies. Any attempt to regulate the media is resisted in the name of right to freedom of speech and expression.

EXISTING PROVISIONS TO REGULATE INDIAN MEDIA

• POINTS TO THINK
• Reasonable restrictions has been impose on article 19 of the Constitution of India confers the right to freedom of speech and expression to all citizens of the country and to the media as well.
• According to Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and Rule 90 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. Section 171H of the Indian Penal Code prohibits all expenses by supporters, voters etc. of a candidate, without his authorization.
• In order to keep a check on the expenditure incurred by political parties, their candidates and others and also to ensure that no one prints any material in the form of advertisements, pamphlets etc., that could be considered scurrilous or objectionable, restrictions are imposed under Section 127 A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
• “Undue influence” by the media to curb free exercise of electoral rights is an election crime under Section 171C of Indian Penal Code as well as the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

REFORMS REQUIRED IN INDIAN MEDIA

• POINTS TO THINK

• These is a need to regulate and reform the functioning of Indian media. There regulation does not mean interference in its normal coverage but yes coverage in sensitive matters should be regulated like in the cases of national security, foreign relations etc.
• Also an independent and statutory body should be formulated to overlook the functioning of the Indian Media like the business model, source of funds, relation to foreign entities, political leanings, corporate leanings etc. Even the non-sensitive issues of major media houses should be bought under the ambit of Right to information.
• There is a need to change this non reliable activity. For that matter Press must have a solid policy on establishing ethical standards, examination ethical values, and improving ethical practices for the harmonious improvement of developing age of the society worldwide.
• There is a need of law that safeguard these misconduct and will make it a trustworthy medium once again. Amend section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to declare the exchange of money for “paid news” as a corrupt practice or an “electoral malpractice”
• Press Council of India needs ‘to define what constitutes paid political news ‘as asked by The Indian Election Commission, so that it can adopt appropriate guidelines. Elections Commission also directed the Press Council to ‘formulate guidelines to the media houses’ to require that the money involved be incorporated in the political party and candidate expenditures.
• The paid news should be prohibited as unlawful trade or trade with an unlawful purpose through legislation and a regulator should be create and regulator must be a judicial authority.
• Also the media should understand its own responsibility and ethicality as ultimately their healthy functioning depends on their own will and not on repression. Discussion and dissension” are crucial for a vibrant democracy, and it must hold public institutions accountable for all their actions and inactions. There should always be room for the argumentative Indian, and not the intolerant Indian. The media must be the watchdog, the mediator between the leaders and the public.
• The changing dynamics of Indian politics has increased people’s expectation from media as in this phase of transition; it is pretty easy to believe in a particular belief. The older generation of the country is still fixated on tradition and culture, while the present-day youth is more interested in the fast-moving world of technology and social media. Thus, it becomes important for media to ensure that the information that they are broadcasting should not be a biased or tampered in a way to boost the channels TRP.
• Despite its quasi-judicial status, the Press Council of India has limited powers. The Council has the power to admonish, reprimand and pass strictures but cannot penalize the errant or those found guilty of malpractices. Besides, the Council’s mandate does not extend beyond the print medium. A proposal to amend Section 15(4) of the Press Council Act, 1978, to make the directions of the Council binding on government authorities, has been pending for a long time and should be amended to provide the Council more “teeth”.

PRE CONCLUSIVE ANALYSIS TO CONCLUSION

• In today’s digitally advanced world when information dissemination is a task of seconds, the role and responsibility of Indian media becomes manifold as they in their capacity can destroy or mend the evolving fabric of our democracy. Any organization including media has its own pros and cons but here the pros have to overcome the side effects of cons significantly which is happening in the case of India media as it has started to gradually evolve as an enabler for our accountability and developments.
• Media should be unshackled and unrestrained to ensure a representative democracy. In addition to that, the media themselves have to introspect and analyze whether they are doing their job in accordance with the noble intentions that underpin the media industry. Only when there is critical, self-analysis and effective regulation of the media by the government can there be a symbiotic relationship between the various pillars of democracy that is healthy and productive.
• We are living in extraordinary times and the challenges of the future call for extensive changes to be made in all aspects of our lives. The media has a preeminent role to play in this future and hence, there is a need more than ever for the media to perform their assigned roles professionally. The journey of India from developing nation to a developed nation will depend on the role played by the media in the country. It needs to be focused on the real matters, which are mostly social and economic in nature, instead of trying to divert the attention to the non-issues. Achieving the good governance requires the understanding and participation of every member of the society. The media, their significant roles, channels and contents, are considered to be the most powerful weapon to make this achievement a reality.
• The evil nexus of money, mafia and media are waiting in the wings to unleash its unethical power on the unsuspecting public to take better of the democratic principles. It is time to wake up and put the plug rather than wait helplessly. The role of media, including social media in the run up to election of US president this year is a live arena from where the parallels can be drawn. The trust in the Indian media is reducing every passing moment and this, once effective; pillar is losing its strength. The citizens are waiting tirelessly for the ideals and ethics to outweigh the power of currency notes and the mammoth media to play the desired role, not only to maintain its trust in the minds of public, but also to strengthen the democratic principles of the country.
• Further, Media to operate in an ideal democratic framework needs to be free from governmental and private control. It needs to have complete editorial independence to pursue public interests. There is also the necessity to create platforms for diverse mediums and credible voices for democracy .The involvement of corporates is a thing which will take some time to solve as media houses specially the private ones work with a profit motive and when profit is involved achieving 100% transparency and neutrality is difficult though not impossible. The influences of the rich need to kept under check at all costs not to corrupt the most important tool of society, the media. The way forward is an informed citizenry who knows the good and bad, fakeness and genuineness of what is being displayed.
• In Indian   democracy   media   has   a responsibility, which   is   deeply   associated   with the socio economic conditions. The present scenario is not quite encouraging and certain areas need to be addressed. Media organisations, whether in print, audio   visual, radio or web have to be more accountable to the general public. It should be monitored that professional integrity and ethical standards are not sacrificed for sensational practices. The freedom of press in the country is a blessing for the people. However, this blessing can go terribly wrong when manipulations set in. The self-regulatory   mechanism   across   media organisations need to be strong enough   to   stop anomalies whenever they occur. Agencies like Press Council of India need to be vigilant to stem the rot. Big media conglomerates are a serious threat. To counter this problem pluralistic media organisations which are financially viable need to be encouraged. Community participation is a goal that the media should strive for in a country like India where it is considered as fourth pillar of democracy.