Hyderabad: Indialogue Foundation organized a lecture on 14th October 2017 on the topic of “The nature and scope of media in democratic India” at Indialogue Foundation seminar Hall, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. The lecture was attended by leading academics, journalists, field experts, volunteers and students of different universities.
Prof P.L. Vishweshwar Rao delivered the lecture on the said topic, who is former dean of Osmania University and the current director for St. Joseph Degree and PG College. Also he is a very famous social activist struggling for human rights in the society.
Prof Rao, emphasized the importance of mass media for democracy in India that India is the largest democracy and the 2nd most populous country in the world. Also India is a multi-religious country where there are 29 states with different cultures and civilizations existing. India is a multi-religious country merging people of various religions together. Unity is the strongest in this diversified country.
Prof Rao said that media in democracy is a liberal democratic approach to media studies which advocates for reforming the mass, strengthening public service and bringing the people and the state closer, giving voice to the voiceless.
Therefore the article 91A in the Indian constitution speaks about the following
- Right to speech.
- Right to expression.
- Right to freedom.
For this reason in India the right to information talks about the transparency in the functioning of any organisation or any governmental or a public body. Every citizen of this country has a right to ask the Public Information Officer for any information he/she needs.
Media was mentioned by Prof Rao as a fourth pillar. Democracy works on the four essential pillars without which its functioning is impossible. The four pillars of democracy are as follow:
So that a journalist has the power to praise or even criticise the government and its policies. Journalists can bring about the change in the society. A journalist is the one who can form a bridge between the people and the government.
As well as media plays a huge role in every aspect of the democracy. Media can bring a party to power and can thrash another to pieces. It has the power to enlighten the people on the current happenings in the state and aware them of what is happening. India is one of the leading countries in the publication of news papers. About 20,000 publications are brought out throughout the length and breadth of the country. We have around 800 television channels, out of which around 55 channels are specified for the information of the people (News Channels). In about 5 years India might take over U.S.A in the number of channels running through media that is about 2000 channels.
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