‘Seema’ of Media

What is the ‘Seema’ (limit) of accountability of media as a fourth pillar in democracy? Is it absolute in its scope of safeguarding freedom of expression and defining a space for each individual? Is it free from making any distinction between individual stupidity and national interest and priorities? What guides a media to involve in trifling issues and making them a national importance? What guides the media to demonise individuals without a proper investigation? Does it really bring out or burry the truth by imposing its public-sensitised ‘trial’ and/or making people to believe what it believes? Undoubtedly, media has contributed a lot as a fourth pillar. But at the same time there are  many questions that show its bankruptcy.

The beginning of an institution normally promises the common good. But in the course of time the institution earns ignominy due to its deviation from noble objectives. This is a truism, and explains why we are here in democracy replacing monarchy – the symbol of totalitarianism, oppression and exploitation which later characterised the institution. It is not the institution, but the people who constitute it turn bad and earn bad name for it. Ideological paradigm of an institution creates its own limitations or internal weakness, because people in it turn discontent, dissatisfied, self-centred, corrupt and place individual interest over institutional sanctity. Democracy, recognising this weakness works thorugh  three organs – legislative, executive and judiciary – to overcome people-induced institutional limitations by exercising check and balance against any excess. Unfortunately, this does not happen and the working of three organs due to human subjectivity often goes against the interest of the commoners. Here in enters media to check excess of government organs by exposing the wrong through newspapers,   television channels, and social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, blogs, etc.  The three pillars (organs) of democracy now are found lined towards what Thomas Caryle called the fourth pillar.

The fourth pillar is not free from human weakness of self-aggrandisement.  Media houses are often alleged of being sold.  Allegation about the NewsClick website portal promoting Chinese agenda is a current news scandal.    BBC’s reputation is at stake for such allegations.   In India several reputed media houses are allegedly sold to political parties, mainly the parties in power.  Besides,   these houses have ideological commitments.  The Wire, the Scroll.in, and the Print website portals, along with some print media like The Hindu, Indian Express, The Week also have   left leaning.   Similarly,   portals like OpIndia and Postcard. News has right-leaning.  There are media houses like  TimesNow, Economic Times,  Zee News, and Republic  Bharat which are somewhere around centre-right to far-right. Interestingly, a single media house may show right and left leanings in different contexts. Bloomberg Worldwide, for example, is known for its right-wing leaning. But in India it has joined hands with The Quint and together, they promote leftist ideology.

Media, as the fourth pillar obviously has lost its credibility as they have lost their impartial stance through ideological commitment and representing political parties.  The houses also publish, broadcast or show paid news and distort facts. Social media fabricate information or manufacture information with a vested interest which often incites violence. Photos are edited with special effect to serve the vested interests.

Media is considered to be the protector of freedom of speech and expression. When it loses its own freedom to vested interest, how can it ensure freedom of expression, the vital element in an effective democracy?  Media houses like earlier history writing serve the powerful, not the people who are at the foundation of democracy. No doubt, media in course of time have become victim of its own limitations – the weakness of people who are its body and soul. Human weakness undoubtedly pollutes the sanctity of the media profession and its credibility. Media emerges as a tyrant for those who cannot manage it in the light of the former’s dictation.

 Media compete for higher rank and more income.  Therefore, TRP and source of income come to the centre of media interest. Advertisement of harmful products or misguided information does not disturb media conscience.   Unnecessarily, they sensitise people with, what is alleged, ‘media trial’ and create a different image, often projecting communal tension, which appears to be the enemy of democracy.   As the fourth pillar of democracy, media and its people often involve in trifle issues that show ‘media bankrupcy’.  Institutional ethics succumb to individual interest in the grab of professionalism.

 Not that media always spreads negativity. Its role for the genuine cause of the people and nation cannot be demeaned due to its involvement in trifle issues. But such involvement questions its accountability towards the cause of democracy. How news about the pregnancy of a female actor or the child of an actor helps strengthen democracy? It may appeal to some fans, but not to the cause of democracy. What is special about the pregnancy of a female actor or the infant of an actor?  How are they different from the natural behaviour of a female or infant? There are instances of media person spoiling the reputation of a person, or fuelling communal sentiments just to sensitise news without any investigation to ascertain the truth. That media houses deviate from ethical commitment reflects in Hon’ble Supreme Court’s remark about strengthening the self-regulation of TV channels.

Media bankruptcy reflects in its involvement in trifle issues. What is the extent of the limit of highlighting and promoting issues for which administration and law of the country are quite capable of dealing with? Media intervention is solicited when the system does not function or wrongly function. What is the need of highlighting Seema Haider whose behaviour is not more than an eccentric person? Even if she is really an ISI agent there are agencies to look into it. Law of the country is capable of dealing with the problem. Do not media insult the system of the country by publicising her issues? One Anju went to Pakistan on her own wish. Is it a national issue? Is Seema Haider case a national issue? She is made a national figure by the media linking her with ISI.  There is no harm to be cautious. But what’s about the hype? She may be the agent, but our system is not weak to deal with it. In case somewhere there is overlook or lapse, then media’s role to point it out is praiseworthy, but not its lack of understanding of triviality.  There are corers of Indians hoisting national flag and tying jai matadi band. How Seema’s action becomes national issue for several media houses and penal discussions?  Didn’t the media see her design to become a citizen of India behind?  The squabble between the neighbour and neighbour’s remarks on Sachin, the husband, is not a unique incident. It happens everywhere – in families, in villages, in towns, in offices and so on. Insensible remarks against a girl are often seen spoiling her life or a boy turning him delinquent in Indian society. Often it leads to violence. How much media is aware of such issues and committed to giving publicity as it does for Seema? Media made her an eligible character for the film industry and potential politically sought after candidate! Where media has to stop?   No answer. Only media know its functional boundary in the name of democracy and nation! It does not do any mistake perhaps, for it is the media that comes together to set every wrong right and prove the person who point to its mistake wrong! It seems media, and nothing else defines its own seema. It is absolute and irresistible in selecting theme/topic of the news because media persons also have personal interests- to serve or to gain.

(The writer M. C. Behera is Professor at Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies and Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh can be contacted email:mcbehera1959@gmail.com; (M): 9436252229)