Is Media there to Aware You or Scare You?

Media's sole reason to exist is to inform, educate, and empower all kinds of people. It's commonplace to assert that public communication lies at the heart of the democratic process  that citizens require equal access to sources of information and equal opportunities to participate in the debates from which political decisions rightly flow. Electronic culture permits a different interpretation of this gap.

As for now, in my blog, I will be focusing completely on:

• Mass media – the institutions and methods of reaching a large audience

• Broadcast media – communications delivered over mass electronic communication networks

• News media – mass media focused on communicating news

• Published media – any media made available to the public

According to UNESCO, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights emphasizes the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information. Its core purpose is to reach out to a wide audience  nationally and globally and it must be made simple enough to be understood by all kinds of citizens.Whether it's a dhobi wala listening to it while working or a CEO with a double degree watching news during dinner, media should cater to everyone equally.

As a viewer myself, my opinions and my thought process are sometimes derived from the media I consume. Especially for our generation, it is a part of our everyday life, and we rely on it completely for our current affairs and happenings so that we stay well-informed about our surroundings . But situations or instances like these might also make us more panic-stricken, anxious, or stressed  causing a huge fall in our productivity, which eventually affects the country’s productivity.

However, mass media companies these days totally rely on yellow journalism and sensationalism to boost their TRPs and increase their viewer base.

Currently, with the ongoing Indo-Pak conflict, advertisers and channels are exploiting the situation, causing panic and scaring people into believing that their security is in danger.

Mass media can act as both: a source of information and a source of fear.

This isn’t about the public being naive. In fact, some of the poorest citizens understand democracy best they file applications using the Right to Information Act, petition courts, and invoke the Constitution. Because of this, people are unable to differentiate between false information and irrelevant information.

To overcome this, we must make our citizens media literate.

What is Media Literacy?

Media literacy builds upon traditional literacy and offers new forms of reading and writing. It empowers people to be critical thinkers and makers, effective communicators, and active citizens. Media literacy is the ability to comprehend and critique a variety of forms of communication. It allows you to identify the influence and meaning behind media messages.

How to Become Media Literate?

Ask yourself:

• Who authored this?
  It could be an individual, a representative of a corporation, a political pundit, an artist, an activist, etc., and they likely have their own opinion on the subject.

• Why was this created?
  The intent may be to persuade (an op-ed or an ad), to inform (a news story or how-to article), or to entertain (a meme or tweet).

• Is it credible?
  Look for direct evidence. Support for arguments can include stats, quotes, infographics, or research from trusted sources.

• Is it biased?
  Watch out for one-sided stories that ignore opposing views. Cross-check with multiple sources to develop a well-rounded opinion.

Sources I Use:

• Inshorts

• Ground News

• BBC News

• CNN IBN

At the end of the day, people behind mass media are citizens from our own society.

It’s up to us if we’ll let it fuel our knowledge — or let it fear us.

That’s it, ani in agony for today.
If you have anything in mind, feel free to let me know <3

Byeyee

Reference-

- https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003572923-19/culture-media-ideological-effect-stuart-hall

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Means_of_communication

-The Information Society Reader  ByZizi Papacharissi

- https://sendpulse.com/support/glossary/mass-media