Democracy is a system of governance in which citizens exercise their power by electing representatives through voting. Media has played a significant role since the establishment of “The Bengal Gazette” newspaper in 1780, evolving over time. It holds great influence over human thoughts and perceptions.
Role of media
The media plays a crucial role in fostering a strong democracy, serving as its bedrock. Its primary responsibility is to keep the public well-informed about global social, political, and economic happenings. In essence, it acts as a mirror of society, striving to present us with the unfiltered reality and challenging aspects of life. As time goes by, it has become increasingly proactive in ensuring that politicians are held accountable for their unfulfilled promises during elections by extensively covering them on television news channels. This extensive coverage aids in educating individuals with limited literacy on making informed choices when selecting leaders. Additionally, television and radio have made remarkable strides in providing education to rural communities with restricted literacy levels by delivering information in their local languages.
The media’s coverage of exploitative malpractices by village heads and moneylenders has prompted the government to take stringent actions against them. This attention drawn by the media has also led to the exposure of loopholes in the democratic system, which subsequently get resolved, ultimately making the system more accountable, responsive, and citizen-friendly. Just like a vehicle without wheels, democracy without media is incomplete. In today’s age of information technology, we are constantly bombarded with information, able to access the pulse of global events with a simple click. The flow of information has increased tremendously thanks to the perfect synergy between technology and journalists, resulting in uncovering rampant corruption.
