Everything has its positive as well as negative sides. Same is the case with the media. Much can be said about both sides.
Print, Radio, Television, Internet- the phenomenal development in the media field is astounding and is also a matter of extreme pleasure. While only print media was in vogue, news, either trivial or of much importance couldn’t travel so far as it is today. Surpass the limitations was always its aim and with the development in he field of science and technology, media could make it from print to internet. In the era of knowledge revolution, the yet to be coming innovations are beyond our imagination and also the future of print media in the long run is a matter of concern and curiosity.
Media activism like judicial activism plays a cardinal role in exposing and correcting many a contemporary evil plaguing our society. Innumerable instances are there to point out. Superstitions, illiteracy, poverty, malnutrition, women empowerment, elementary education, corporal punishment, female infanticide, rampant corruption, the list goes on and on and on…
As long as Media and Judiciary remain vigilant, the instances of social evils will remain low and whenever they turn a blind eye, the forces of evil and doom will rear its ugly heads. Even while keeping an eternal vigil, undesirable tendencies show signs of coming up, particularly in the areas of politics and bureaucracy.
‘Sting Journalism’ though it tends to cross the ‘Lakshmana Rekhas’ (barriers not to be crossed) has played crucial roles in exposing the wretched goings on in the corridors of power- the shady deals are brought into the open, thus creating an awareness among the masses the extent of rot crept into the body politic. We are all witnesses to the hullabaloo some of the politicians make against the journalists who plunge into the area of sting journalism alleging that ‘the tapes are all doctored and that the media crossing the border line’.
Keeping all the plus points in mind let us not wish away the negative influence some of the media personalities exert on the masses by playing second fiddle to those in power and at the higher echelons of the society to accomplish some of their personal needs in the form of monetary benefits or to obtain a transfer for their spouses of their choice or to satiate personal gratifications like bottle and women.
To brush these things under carpet is not at all permissible and principles like morality and ethics are vital for the proper functioning of the media and thereby the society.
On writing about the ethics and morals in the media field, an incident which was reported in the media on 18 April 2009, came to my mind.
A girl child, Shanno only eleven years of age fell a prey to the cruelty of her teacher. She was a student of a MCD ( Municipal Corporation of Delhi) school at Bawana, Outer Delhi, hailing from a poor family. Shanno’s father is a rickshaw puller and mother a daily wage earner.
The teacher’s direction to recite the English Alphabet string could not be complied by the child. Shanno was made to stand under scorching Sun with bricks on her shoulders for two hours. With the temperature running at 42 degree Celsius, Shanno desperately in need of some water implored her teacher to give her some water to quench her extreme thirst was responded by the teacher with a kick. Her head hit a wall, the child vomited and fainted. She was admitted at Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan Hospital and after fighting for life two days, she succumbed to death.
The incident was reported by the media- print and electronic alike- with due prominence and was discussed and condemned across the spectrum. Many prominent individuals in the filed of education and also from judiciary took part in the discussions and pointed out laws enacted to abolish corporal punishment to children once and for all and also the need to award deserving punishment to the inhuman beings in pedagogues’ uniforms.
The aforesaid incident is a good instance of ethical journalism and ethics should prevail in every field of the society. Media is the fourth pillar of democracy and all concerned should ensure the sanctity of this fourth estate. Same is the case with Executive and Judiciary.
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