The sham and illywhacker media

Propagandist, unethical, useless - are now synonyms with the Indian media. Why?

(Freedomwire.com)

The forth pillar of a democracy, its media, is the primary bridge between the government and the masses. It holds the most important links between ideas of politics and the hopes of the citizens. But what has happened to the media? Is the "real" one gone with the winds? 

Stories that matter or Stories are just matter?

Media houses owned by the state publish news that favour the state. The same owned by business tycoons incline towards a particular political party, a popular figure or some other influential personality. In this process the owner enjoys commendable support from the masses and this gives him/her a hand over others.

Citizens are led to the path of darkness by these media folks who obey to their masters. Nothing noteworthy to do, these houses publish stories that either speak ill-will of their competitor or praises the owner. 

This system of ownership-publishing diminishes the ethical norms of media; news of the people, for the people. 

Propaganda machine

For any government or a business tycoon to function, they have to run-out their message to the public. This message has to be delivered with 100% purity, 0% criticism and hence, comes the principle of propaganda.

Woodrow Wilson, who was the 28th president of the USA. During WWI, he successfully with the Committee on Public Information or Creel Commission sent out the propaganda to influence public opinion in supporting the USA's participation in the war. They used newspapers, radios and other print medium to spread the message. 

Wilson sensationally tackled the hinderances (in his case, the criticizers) and blended the masses to his message. 

For the media in India, in the recent years, it has glorified the meaning of propaganda to another level. Call it boot-licking or any other ill-word, it does not sum-up the practice.

Stories that don't appeal to the masses are broadcasted and hence, the masses put their eye-balls on them. This psychological approach which is now a common practice has shattered the meaning of journalism. Glorifying a not-to glorify news results in the damp squib.

Be it news channels, online portals or newspapers,  they have become factories of sensationalism, glorification and unethical news practice. 

With free internet, thanks to N. Modi Ambani, propaganda is easily practiced with protective hands of the masters and in secrecy. Not just a political party, but personalities too have shunned out of nowhere in the light, either in-support of some institution or sharing their bigotry and hatred messages.

Lack of regulation by the bodies

The Press Council of India has dragged its feet on addressing paid news and other unethical practices, according to the EJN report. In April 2003, a photojournalist tipped the Council off on the practice of advertisements being published as news for a fee. Instead of investigating the matter, the Council merely asked media companies to consider their how their credibility is affected, and issued guidelines they should follow to distinguish news from advertisements. (Source: Scroll.in) 

With little to no controlling eyes, the mediums of misinformation have blatantly gone past their limits. Thanks to those who noses

What can we do?

Thrashing a news channel in our home will not prevent it from publishing the same content. 

For us, the real sufferers, control over media is necessary. With a mind that is quick to attack over an issue of not so importance (generally) we have closed our senses, eyes everything. 

The little thing that we from our side can do is pay those media houses which in these times of havoc and sensationalism bring out stories and news of importance. For us to receive information, which is for our sake, let's support those mediums.   

Note: Please share your views for a more clear picture of the forth pillar. It is now on us, the citizens of this wonderful country, to save the media. Come out with ideas, stories and elements which will contribute, to the betterment.