Over the last several hundred years, different forms of governance have evolved, including democracy, communism, feudalism, dictatorship, military rule, and totalitarian governance.
While, based on past experience, merits and demerits have been observed in all these systems of governance, democracy has been hailed as the most appropriate form of governance from a holistic point of view. Given the fact that the basic instinct of human beings is to crave freedom in thought and action, the democratic system of governance remains popular in the public perception because of the freedom that citizens enjoy.
Even without discussing the merits and demerits of other systems, the democratic form of governance has several unwelcome aspects, such as the possible abuse of freedom by individuals and institutions, and the prevalence of an almost free-for-all environment leading to undesirable activities.
Those who advocate reforms in democratic governance argue that people should understand that liberty cannot be merely a personal affair but is essentially a social contract. It requires the adjustment of individual interests for the larger social good. Over the years, several checks and balances have been introduced to curb the abuse and misuse of freedom in democratic governance. In these reforms, the judiciary, the Election Commission, and the media have been given prominence and are regarded as the pillars of democracy, with the expectation that they will ensure that the democratic form of governance remains fair and free from exploitation.
Among these pillars, the media has often been considered the most vital. However, in recent years, the rapid development and expansion of the media in multiple directions, largely due to technological advances, have created misgivings around the world as to whether the media continues to meet public expectations regarding the role it is expected to play.
In earlier decades, the media worldwide enjoyed considerably greater credibility because editors and media professionals largely regarded journalism as a form of public service. Media personnel, by and large, remained steadfast in their commitment to professional ethics, and the management of media organizations was not driven primarily by the pursuit of profit or by the desire to maximize financial gains at the expense of core journalistic values.
In recent times, as the media landscape has expanded to include print media, television, digital media, and social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, there has been a noticeable decline in the credibility enjoyed by the media in all its forms.
Today, all said and done, most media organizations function like business enterprises and are controlled by business groups, religious organizations, political parties, or other vested interests. With a large number of journalists entering the profession due to the rapid expansion of the media landscape, many media personnel no longer possess the expertise, training, or role models needed to achieve excellence in their profession. Public suspicion is growing that some editors and journalists hold preconceived views, carry personal prejudices, and at times speak and write like semi-politicians. In many cases, readers and viewers can easily predict what a particular journalist is likely to say even before the statement is made.
With the widespread reach of the media, there are also increasing instances in which corrupt practices involving media organizations and journalists are suspected or even exposed. Consequently, many people have begun to feel that today’s media is no longer the media it once was.
In the pursuit of business interests and higher circulation or viewership, unverified allegations and sensational news stories are frequently published or broadcast. Numerous legal cases have been filed against such reports by individuals and organizations claiming to have been adversely affected. There are also frequent allegations that paid news is being published at the behest of influential individuals or organizations.
These are not healthy developments and only reinforce the urgent need to reform the media, even while society expects the media itself to contribute to reforming the democratic process.
All said and done, the situation is certainly not irretrievable. There are still many editors and journalists who strive to adhere to professional ethics at all costs, but they appear to be outnumbered by those whose commitment to professional ethics is less steadfast.
Such committed editors and journalists should continue to serve as role models for young people aspiring to enter journalism. They should write and speak openly, yet responsibly, about the undesirable trends in the functioning of media organizations, with courage, conviction, and an unwavering commitment to preserving the reputation and integrity of the media.
Perhaps the ball is also in the court of readers and viewers, who should be able to separate the wheat from the chaff, whether it concerns print media, television, or social media. Discerning observers and reformers must play a more active role in this process, which will significantly strengthen this important pillar—the media—and help ensure that democratic governance continues to function at the highest possible standards.
