Role of Media in Promoting Politics

The government of General Pervez Musharraf has surprised many due to the stand it has taken on freedom of expression. It is probably the world’s first military-led government that has not only acknowledged the need for a free and independent press but has, in fact, taken steps to further strengthen and promote it. However, lately these rights of the news channels had been taken away to air on television because of the Emergency declared in the country. Anyhow, majority of the channels have been restored back on air after approving to certain conditions.

Media plays a very vital role in promoting the politics of almost any and every country.  Media is the mirror of the society. It reflects the exact image of the current societal affairs, politics and the happenings of the world, etc. Media offers the role of informing the people of their human, civil and constitutional rights and the opportunities through which the general public can play an active role in various forms of governance. A definite responsibility lies on media practitioners to ensure that the truth is put out there in the front and that the media content covers as many view points as possible, etc. Personal dislikes should not be allowed to blur the viewpoints or judgments. It is the media content that makes a difference, whether it is content in the press, Internet or other means of electronic media. Media should give everyone a clear shudder, otherwise the media doesn’t live up to its role as a forum or medium for the flow of truth in information. To the everyday work of journalists and reporters, this means always having at the back of their minds some wise words uttered by the German Philosopher George C. Lichtenberg.

You cannot carry the torch of truth through a jostling throng of people without singeing someone’s beard.

In other words: Without freedom of the press, there will be no democracy. But there are some structural pre-conditions for press freedom which are as follows:

• The media must be completely independent from the respective government.
• The influence of commercial interest must be controlled or reduced. There shall not develop a situation in which the proprietors publish their point of view as long as the advertisers don’t object to.

Media is gaining popularity and importance day by day, both in the social as well as political sectors. There is great potential for the further growth of this medium and it is going to play a vital role in future.

References:

Book: Media & Democracy in Asia – An AMIC Compilation
[ISBN 9971-905-88-4] [Pages: 134, 140,142,242, 246]