Role of media in our society

The word media is derived from the word medium, signifying mode or carrier. Media
is intended to reach and address a large target group or audience. The word was
first used in respect of books and newspapers i.e. print media and with the advent of
technology, media now encompasses television, movies, radio and internet. In
todays world, media becomes as essential as our daily needs. Media of today is
playing an outstanding role in creating and shaping of public opinion and
strengthening of society.
Media is the sword arm of democracy. Media acts as watchdog to protect public
interest against malpractice and create public awareness. Today when politicians
are taking full advantage of their positions, an evil nexus of mafia and crime
syndicate is making the life of the common man miserable, taxpayers money is
siphoned out for the personal gain of the influential and ordinary people are a mere
spectator-media has a grater responsibility As the fourth pillar of democracy along
with judiciary, executive and legislature, media of today has an all embracing role to
act against the injustice, oppression, misdeeds and partiality of our society.
From the days abode, media has remained an integral part of human civilization.
From the days of Vedas and Upanishads to edicts of kings and emperors like
Chandragupta, Asoka to the medieval Indian mass gatherings to the modern days
audio video and print media, media has always taken a pivotal role in shaping our
society. During the days of freedom struggle newspapers like Tilaks Maratha,
Mahatmajis young India acted as a platform to place the demands of common
Indian and to express solitude with freedom fighters. Indian media in post
independence era has grown up phenomenally and today comprises of more than
50,000 newspapers, hundreds of television and radio channels.

In this era of liberalistion, privatisation and globalisation(LPG) the world has reached
our drawing room thanks to media. Since the introduction of television in our country
in late 70s visual media becomes a very potential tool in informing the current news

to the society, entertaining the people and shaping up of public opinion. The World
Wide Web and web 2.0 technologies have given rise to electronic media where even
a common man can express views through blogs, website posts, facebook and
twitter like social media. Coupled with traditional print media all these audio video
and social media caters to a richly diversified media industry in India.
Media helps in fighting against corruption, nepotism, cronyism of institutional
machinery and carrying out relentless campaign against them. Way back in
independent India from the Mundra case to the jeep scandal to the hawala case to
the kickbacks received in different defense deals- Indian media performs
commendably in exposing the corrupted highly placed statesman. In recent scams
from commonwealth to 2G, exposed thanks to television and print media, media
acted as a catalyst to government action compelling government to swing into action
including suspending ministers and putting ministers into jail. Who can forget the
crusade taken by Indian media in the Nirbhaya rape case and shaping the public
opinion in one of the most heinous crimes the world has ever witnessed. Without
media, the news of government schemes and benefits would have never reached
the target audience.

Aim and Objective.

The aim of this study is to examine the role
of media in national development. There is no doubt that the topic is very
wide, therefore analysis will be limited to conventional media: newspapers,
radio, television and the Internet. The study will involve a comparative
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analysis of media contents, methods or styles of presentation, and the
environment in which the media operate. The specific objectives are to:
(a) Examine the role of media in national development.
(b) Determine the extent to which the media impact on national
development.
(c) Examine the functions of the media in nation-building.
(d) Evaluate the ways in which the media influence events in
society.
(e) Examine the factors which influence the role of media in
national development.

The role of media in today's world Need & Importance

In the world of today, media has become as necessary as food and clothing. It has
played significant role in strengthening the society. Media is considered as "mirror"
of the modern society, infect,it is the media which shapes our lives.
The purpose of the media is to inform people about current ,new affairs and to tell
about the latest gossip and fashion. It tells about the people who are geographically
divided.
The role of media has become one way of trading and marketing of products and
prejudices. The media claimed to be governed by righteousness and equity, but
greed and self-aggrandizement has poisoned its virtues.
Media is in charge of :
1 information
2 education
3 entertainment
4 advertising
5 correlation of parts of society
Society is influenced by media in so many ways. It is the media for the masses that
helps them to get information about a lot of things and also to form opinions and
make judgments regarding various issues! It is the media which keeps the people
updated and informed about what is happening around them and the world.
Everyone can draw something from it.
Media has had a bad effect on a generation, mainly because ,youth is strongly
influenced by media. Teenagers and children wish to follow the people ,who get
recognized and do what they do to get noticed. Sometimes, they focus on bad part
of the media and strive to be a part of it. However, many are not succumbed to a
life of crime!
These are the things which get into Young civilian minds!
The media affects people's perspective. Too much intervention of media in
everything is a matter of concern. Media can be considered as "watch dog" of
political democracy. Through the ages,the emphasis of media on news has
camouflaged. Media these days, tries to eye the news ,which could help them to sell
the information that is gathered worldwide, so that they could pave a way of
success and fame of their respective channels. Fm radios, newspapers, information
found on net and television are the mass medias that serve to reduce the
communication gap between the audience, viewers and the media world. For the
sake of publicity and selling, important figures, their lifestyles are usually targeted.
Unimportant and irrelevant news, that usually have no importance are given priority

and due to a reason or the other ,they get onto the minds of the viewers and in this
ways many a times,important political,economical and sociological news get
neglected and gradually,lose their importance!
No doubt,media has played significant role in making world a global village and to
reduce the communication gaps amongst the people living in the far areas but
unfortunately,media these days has become a COMMERCIALIZED SECTOR,eying the
news which are hot and good at selling.The goal is to gain the television rating
points.
I believe,if the media identifies its responsibility and work sincerely and honestly
,then it can serve as a great force in building the nation.
The role of media in our society

Media plays a significant role in our society today. It is all around us, from the shows we
watch on television, the music we listen to on the radio, to the books and magazines we
read each day.
Media can contribute a lot to a society. It can change opinions because they have
access to people and this gives it a lot of strength. This strength can either be used
constructively by educating the people or it can be used destructively by misleading the
innocent people, the most important use of media is to educate the people about the
basic human rights.
The dilemma of the developing countries is that people are not fully aware of their basic
rights and if they know, they don't know about what to do and where to go. They don't
know their collective strength. Even they don't know how to protest and what is the
importance of protests.
Media plays a very important role in the building of a society. Media has changed the
societies of world so much that we can't ignore its importance. Media is a source of
information or communication,
media includes sources like print media and electronic media. Newspapers, magazines
and any other form, which is written or printed, is included in print media and in
electronic, media radio, television and Internet etc. are included.

In this age when there are so many channels and newspapers we cannot ignore its
importance in the society. Media has lot of responsibility on its shoulders as today's
society is very much influenced by the role of media. We believe in what media projects
to us. We change our minds according to the information provided through it.
In the past when the media was not so strong we were quite ignorant about what is
happening around us, today we come to know very quickly what is happening around
us. We have the access to all the international news channels that provide us the facts
and figures. Considering this fact that media has the power to influence society, it should
know its responsibility towards society. It should feel its responsibility to educate the
society in a positive way. It should be giving us fair analysis and factual information.
Media plays a vital role our society and is a part of our life. Media is a bridge between
the governing bodies and general public. It is a powerful and flexible tool that influences
the public to a great extent. Media is voice of the voiceless and a great force in building
the nation
The biggest question is if the media is unbiased when reporting a news or an event, and
are they truthful to their responsibilities?

The media surrounds us from the shows we watch on television and the music we listen
to on the radio, to the books, magazines and newspapers that we read each day.
Without the media, we, the people in society, would be cut off from the rest of the world
which include governing bodies, lawmakers, and neighboring towns and cities. The flow
of information is important for the expansion of communities and the media aids this.
Without a wide range of information, people's opinions and views would be bounded
and their impressions and assumptions of the world around them, exploited. Though
media is not the only communication means used to distribute the flow of information, its
significance in developed countries is worth mentioning as it is the main source of
informing the people on political issues or current affairs. It is also one of the chief
foundations of entertainment. Print media has always been a dominant medium
throughout the decades in the western civilization. Media workers have to do research
for their reports, which includes sifting through piles and piles of information to support a
thesis and make it more than one thousand words in order to explain an event, a

situation, or a person. They have to arrange the important issues and points into a
strategic article that an average onlooker can understand and form an opinion on the
matter. In this way, the media keeps us focused on vital topics. Journalists have the duty
to report unbiased, accurate information as it is gained from reliable sources. It is their
obligation to obtain all sides of a story and to give an account on the good and bad
results. There must be a balance of moral and immoral deductions in in the final
product. Today television channels and newspapers are making rapid income by
cashing on the news in mistaken techniques. In the race to become the most popular
and the richest, they have broken all the laws that media must follow while trying to build
a progressive society. There is no longer any respect for the principles of the people and
land that they serve. With their persuasive ways, they try to control people instead of
simply advising them as they are supposed to. While the media is sometimes viewed as
being overly violent and greedy in their plight for the latest and hottest news, their
purpose is essential in a democratic society so that the people can keep track of their
administrators. The media has the ability to hold 8/12/2016 Argumentative Writings And
Competition Essays The Role Of Media In Society governments responsible, forcing
them to explain their actions and decisions, all of which affect the people they represent

Media is an integral part of our society, but too much intervention in everything is a
disturbing matter. Sometimes, just for the sake of a higher income, insignificant
news is given so much detail and so much priority, that the real news is hardly
noticed. Like science it is a tool, which we have to use by our judgment to provide
all round satisfaction and safety. In spite of being cerebrally biased, the significance
of media cannot be ignored, especially in this age in which globalization and
liberalization have become well known. In this overall orb, known as the Earth, the
tasks and duties of the media are increasing day by day and there is still a lot to be
done for the betterment of society

Conclusion
In conclusion I've observed how media is found in our every day lives. From music to
sports and the inter net and beyond it's clearly evident that media plays an important
role in our every day lives. We might not be aware of how much interaction we have with

the media but after sitting down and thinking about my daily rituals it has become
obvious on how much of a role media plays in my life.
One of the main forms of media contact I noticed was through advertisements. Earlier in
the month as the NCAA tournament drew closer an obvious and
thorough advertisement campaign was launched. This campaign covered all forms of
media and mass communication. Advertisements were found on the TV, Internet, radio,
and even xbox. The advertisements attempted to draw potential viewers attention from
multiple angels and continued up to the day of the tournament.
I also noticed how media and advertisement seemed to increase based on a websites
popularity. My favorite website, the chive, started small with no advertisements. But as
the site grew, sure enough, the media contacts and advertisements responded
accordingly. As a result of these findings and these blogs I have really come to realize
how important advertisement has become and how technology has allowed for us to be
more susceptible to becoming exposed to these advertisements.
The media industry has become a fast paced industry and clearly is doing all it can to
stay on top and reach its potential consumers.

Suggestion:
The media do not merely have an instrumental function in society, they also
shape norms, beliefs and fields of interest in matters such as identitybuilding, regionalization, the formation of the multicultural society. In
developing country, especially one with as much widespread poverty and
mis-governance as India, media has a special responsibility that perhaps our
counterparts in developed countries may not.
What does the media do? It supplies good content to the people via a good
communication infrastructure. In other words, there are two requirements:
creating content so that people can understand it, and crating the
infrastructure so that people can access the content. The media brings
awareness to the people, and I believe that awareness triggers thinking.
Once the people are more aware, it will automatically make them think of
good and better ways to create a good and better functional democracy.
In the words of Marshall McLuhan, the medium is the message because the
medium is constituted by the people, and the message (or the content) is
also supplied by the same people. The idea is to bring together media and
society.

It is about bringing information to the people, getting them to think, and getting them to
realize their responsibilities towards the nation. This change cannot occur overnight, but
it can be initiated overnight for sure. The initiation is through your own hearts and minds,
to understand what is missing, and take a determined step towards the belief of a better
land, and to learn to dream.
In Indian democracy media has a responsibility which is deeply associated with the
socio- economic conditions. The present scenario is not quite encouraging and certain
areas need to be addressed. Media organisations, whether in print, audio visual, radio or
web have to be more accountable to the general public. It should be monitored that
professional integrity and ethical standards are not sacrificed for sensational practices.
The freedom of press in the country is a blessing for the people. The self regulatory
mechanism across media organisations need to be strong enough to stop anomalies
whenever they occur. Agencies like Press Council of India need to be vigilant to stem the
root. Big media conglomerates are a serious threat. To counter this problem pluralistic
media organisations which are financially viable needs to be encouraged. Community
participation is a goal that the media should strive for in a country like India.1
Hence, the Media has the responsibility to give readers, viewers and listeners accuracy
and accountability of information. In addition the media has built into for the most part
fundamental feature of our era, influencing every citizen rather it is politics, the law, or
other social issues. They must act as a mirror of society to inform the people.
Furthermore to help bridge the communication gaps between different sections of society.
Lastly, also critically analyze public policies, social and cultural issues in the society.
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Harmony; New Delhi;2012
2. Role Of Media In Social Awareness; International Journal of Humanities & Social
Sciences;Vol 1 (01) August 2013, [ISBN 978-93-83006-16-8]; Research Scholars;
Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi, Ingita Pandey
3. http://www.instablogs.com/role-of-media-in-indian-society
4. http://aspiringjournalist25.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/the-media-and-its-responsibilities

5. http://theonlinemedia.blogspot.in/2012/06/functions-of-mass-media.html
6. Role of Media in the Society; October 13, 2010; Amit Patro; Editor-English daily Sikkim
Express.
7. http://aspiringjournalist25.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/the-media-and-its-responsibilities
8. www.aibd.org; Media and Indian Elections;Paranjoy Guha Thakurta
9. http://mindworkzz.in/role-of-media-in-good-governance
10. http://agguessays.blogspot.in/2009/07/role-of-media-in-good-governance.html
11. http://aspiringjournalist25.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/the-media-and-its-responsibilities
Global Media Journal Indian Edition/ Summer Issue / June 2011; Social Responsibility of
Media & Indian Democracy;Soumya Dutta ;UGC Junior Research Fellow; Department of Mass
Communication; University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India