A Menace Called The Media
And so, we have entered the twenty-first century. The era of progression, advancement and success as they call it. The human race, supposedly on the brink of something huge, ever prepared to break all barriers. A period that epitomizes the right of freedom and self expression. And right under this emblem of optimism and self belief stands our very own media fraternity. But hang on. Is the situation, actually as rosy as it seems? Has this media-buzz actually lived up to its outwardly positive self? I, for one would beg to differ.
As far as creating a sense of awareness and self purpose is concerned, the accolades definitely go to the media circle, be it print or electronic or any other form. Phenomena like global warming are no longer alien to us now. It is through the continuous efforts of the media, and their mass appeals, that we are now able to formulate steps to tackle all the potentially dangerous issues today. Nowadays, events occurring all across the globe are merely a few clicks away. However, subtle though it may seem, there is most definitely another side to the coin. The biggest truth is that the media, despite its claims of being the ‘voice of the people’, primarily exists to sell itself, to publicize. This, of course, is quite a natural course of action. On the flip side though, it has led to the notion that the media portrays only what the people ‘want to hear’ rather than what they ‘need to hear’. Newspaper covers are inundated with the latest on David Beckham’s social life while pressing issues like the Kashmir conflict are largely ignored. After all, who wants to hear about the dozen or so people who die in Kashmir each day? Surely, its just another day at the office there isn’t it?
The one thing that cannot be undermined though is the coaxing power of the media. However, I can’t help but feel its overwhelming influence, inclining towards negativity. Yes the media has done a great job in putting up for sensitive issues like child rights and...
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