ENGLISH
ESSAY ‘The press, its functions and responsibilities’ FROM 650 TO 700
WORDS
The
press plays an important role, in the affairs of the nation and the lives of
the people. The power of the press has been equaled to that of Parliament and
the Judiciary. It can raise the ordinary individual to a high position for his
act of bravery, honesty and patriotism. Conversely, it can expose the misdeeds
of a smuggler or corrupt politician. It can incite the public and put it on the
warpath against the government. But it can also instill appreciation of the
governmental achievements and projects. This is why, the press, especially in a
democratic set-up, has to follow certain norms and has to exercise objectivity
and restraint in order to play a healthy and constructive role.
Newspapers
form an important link with the outside world. They provide the common man
information about important events like earthquake, air crash, dacoity, floods,
results of an election, outbreak of epidemic. They also tell us about the
weather, the sunrise, temperature on each day. They inform us about the various
entertainment programmes like films, drama, music concerts etc. There are
several other kinds of advertisements which are of use to the reader. The
‘Situation Vacant’ columns help the job-seekers. The ‘Matrimonial’ columns help
the anxious parents to find suitable matches for their sons and daughters. Sale
and purchase of property is conducted through the newspapers. Thus, the
newspapers occupy an important position in the lives of the people. We are
being to feel uneasy if we do not get our newspaper on time and every day.
One
of the most important functions of newspapers is to report objectively all the
national and international events. Reporting should e unbiased, for an untrue
news item can do great harm by provoking the public. Similarly, unbalanced
reporting of international events can cause unnecessary ill – feeling between
the governments and the people of the two concerned countries. Since the
newspapers are a powerful medium of propaganda, sometimes different political parties
start and finance newspapers. Their motive is to protect their own ideology at
the cost of objectivity.
Few
people are able to form their own judgments about the national issues and
policies adopted by the government. Fewer still are capable to interpreting and
analyzing the issue in order to see them in the right perspective. Newspapers
perform these important tasks through editorials. They give opinions on
different current affairs. Forming of public opinion is, there for, an
important function of the press. Here, the newspaper must play an important
role. There are cases of removal of editors from their posts when they tried to
resist the management pressure, as the big business houses owning some of the
national dailies, may have certain vested interests.
Newspapers
also act as forums of public opinion. Each national daily and small newspaper
devotes space to letters to the editor. There letters highlight the problems
being faced by people, the weaknesses of the law and order, lack of civic
amenities and so on. Once a letter to the Editors is published, it attracts the
attention of the relevant authorities. They try to remedy the wrong so that
their name is not spoiled by adverse publicity.
Newspapers,
in a democracy, perform a very important task of acting as a watchdog of
people’s interest. They act as champions of democratic traditions. Through the
lead articles, the newspapers present commentaries on policies and practices of
the government and inform, arouse and mold public opinion. Specialists in
particulars fields, academicians and political scientists present UN-depth
studies in these lead articles which are by and large balanced, informed and
fair. Pressmen, however sometimes err. At times, it is done consciously when
selfish motives may be behind publishing a distorted news items. At other
times, it may be done unconsciously when a story is filed by a reporter without
verifying the facts. In such cases, the published reports constitute
misinformation and can cause damage to the reputation of an individual or an
institution. As it is inconceivable to curb the freedom of the Press, it should
not report or publish any news item which runs counter to the freedom of the
Press.
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