Why Media Is Called The Fourth Pillar Of Democracy

Do you know why is media called the fourth pillar of democracy?

The fourth estate, or the media, has an essential role in a democratic society. Its function is to keep the citizens informed about current events and issues, ranging from local to global, by delivering unbiased news. The media acts as a watchdog and exposes any corruption, scandal or abuse of power that could harm the public. In this sense, it serves as a mediator between the government and the public by providing crucial information that can influence people's opinions and decisions. Therefore, the media is not only a source of news but also a crucial element in maintaining the health and stability of a democracy.

Role As Information Provider

The primary role that media plays in a democracy is information disseminator. For this, media uses different platforms like radios, news channels, print media, social media platforms, and others to provide information.

While media maintains factual accuracy in providing news, they can also convey their opinions leaving the audience to make their own assessment. The media does it through editorials, op-eds, TV debates, etc.

The media needs to be impartial in its information dissemination role. It should not deliver information or news under any political pressure. Only then can it maintain credibility and gain the trust of the people

As media plays the critical role of an accurate information provider, it is called the fourth pillar of democracy, after judiciary, legislature, and the executive.

Media In The Present World

In a democratic setup, everybody has a right to express their opinions. People have every right to oppose the laws and amendments made by a government. But at present, media has become a tool for the powerful to spread misinformation, distorting reality. People no longer know what is true and what is false. Governments are demonizing honest media reporting, and such media persons are singled out and targeted viciously.

In some countries, media is losing its value because of corporatization. Media houses are becoming corporatized, acquiring advanced technology, and building infrastructure in the sole pursuit of assuming profits. Higher TRP ratings are now their goal instead of quality reportage. Hence, the media is reneging from its role of reporting the truth.

Constitution And Media

India, being a country of diversity and the largest democracy, media has a crucial role to play. Our Constitution gave the right for every citizen to express their emotions, share their feelings freely. Similarly, media has the right to freedom of expression provided by the Constitution. Though the right is not absolute, it comes with reasonable restrictions.

Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution supports media freedom as the Article provides the right to freedom of speech and expression. Art.19(2) lays down some reasonable restrictions on the media.

Media in our country indeed acts as the guardian ensuring freedom to express oneself is not violated by those in power. The checks and balances provided in the Constitution will ensure that media does not run amok and influence the general public.

But at present, the Indian media is continuously dividing the people into right-wing and left-wing, anti-government and pro-government groups. It is playing a role in the rise and fall of governments and is a major influencer on society.

The media should not believe in such policies and present accurate facts in front of the audience. As the adage goes, 'Power corrupts but absolute power corrupts even more,' this is the state of the Indian media today. It must stay neutral and show its audience the actual news to maintain its goodwill.

Pre and Post Independence Legislations On Media

Indian media was a powerful force during India’s freedom struggle. The British government brought in various legislations to curtail the power of Indian media. Some of the laws are

• Press Regulation Act, 1799

• Gagging Act, 1857

• Vernacular Press Act, 1878

• Indian Press Act, 1910

Post-independence, various Indian governments have brought in laws to curtail the overt power of media. They are

• Young Persons' (Harmful Publication) Act, 1956

• Cable Television Regulation Act, 1955

• Press Council Of India Act, 1965

Why is media called the fourth pillar of democracy

1.Transparency Catalyst

 Transparency is a key element of the democratic system of government that allows the voters to look into the officers' decisions and actions. Through revealing information, questioning secrecy, and informing the general public about important matters, the media is imperative for the progress of transparency.

Open and transparent government makes people able to hold their leaders responsible and make informed decisions. This is done through investigations, freedom of information petitions, and an unswerving hunt for facts.

2.The War on Fake Data and Disinformation

 The media stands up for truth and against false information or propaganda, as the era of electronics has enabled information to spread at a never-before-seen speed. Correcting claims, debunking myths, and giving the public reliable and truthful information are among the major functions of the journalism profession.

Media has a lot of potential to create an environment that is conducive to purposeful public conversation by reducing the spread of false news and transmitting a clear understanding of the issue to the people so that they can arrive at their own informed decisions.

This is why is media called the fourth pillar of democracy.

 3.Influencer and Agenda-Setter

 On top of tonnes of reporting news on events taking place, the media has a huge influence on how people speak and which debates are up for discussion. Through balanced and unbiased reporting, the media makes it possible for the public to understand complicated issues by conducting thorough studies, investigative articles, and consultations with experts in different fields.

The media forms a bridge for understanding and correcting subtle points, which leads to reliable and responsible decisions. There is also a framing of the national discourse by the media, which happens to be in the form of picking and prioritising some selected themes that end up becoming the ones popularly talked about.

 4.Social Justice and Human Rights Protector

 The media is, by and large, a mighty agent when it comes to social justice and pressing human rights issues, raising the voices of those who suffer injustice and are powerless. Bold reporting has led to the exposure of violations of human rights and disasters like environmental degradation and injustice, but at the same time, it happens at great risk to the lives of the courageous reporters.

The media are de facto tools of positive change in a society; they force government officials to answer for misdeeds committed when people are made aware and the public's opinion is swayed.

7.Fostering Civic Engagement and Civic Participation

In a democracy, an energised public will ensure that the government operates efficiently. The processes of informing and comparing through context-giving that are performed by the media can help citizens elect their representatives, choose the policies that will affect their lives, and thus increase public participation.

 Since the media is the channel through which citizens get an instrument to keep their elected officials accountable and be active participants in democracy, the media provides election, debate, and public forum coverage.

 Media remains a powerful actor as the fourth estate, but nevertheless, the digital era creates such issues as the distortion of information and the collapse of revenue flow. Now, impartial, ethical, and truthful media face a strong demand in a world where information is abundant.

These points illustrates us as to why is media called the fourth pillar of democracy.

The challenges for this Fourth Democratic Pillar

As the fourth pillar of democracy, the media faces the following significant challenges: The media, as the fourth pillar of democracy, encounters a number of the following challenges:

1.Loss of Public Credibility

 A media company can face with a truly severe disadvantage: the loss of public trust. The establishment of fake news, manipulated information, and partial media has brought about a large amount of mistrust in the journalist community.

Most people do not believe that the media portrays events in the right manner. It strikes the media’s capacity to act as a check and balance and a voice for the people in this particular instance.

2.Corpotarisation of Media

The contemporary digital age has triggered structural changes in the traditional cash flow processes of media organizations. Therefore, businesses and financial constraints are having a big influence. Sacking, austerity measures, and the idea of profit-making rather than being in charge of delivering critical public interest coverage may, in the end, hurt the neutrality of the media and the capacity of quality investigative reporting.

3.Media Censorship and Governance by the Government

A lot of countries in the world are under strict control of the media, coercion, and sometimes censorship by the government. In the near-tyrannical system, the leaders would largely attempt to eliminate the threat of a press environment and free journalists, which is the worst threat that can happen to media. Press independence and media has the power to hold these powerful people accountable.

4.Media Concentration

More dominant megamedia companies, owned in most cases by powerful businessmen or individuals, to obliterate representation and diversity of views and to act contrary to the people's interests. When media owners are a few individuals or organisations, it may result in bias, self-censorship, and a lack of other perspectives.

5.Polarised Views

The sectarian and polarised nature characterises the fragmentation of the news media, a lot of which openly declare that they are party- or political affinity-affiliated. The quality of the reporting, the imbalance, and the perpetuation of the public divides could kill the press as a neutral and fair fact-arbiter in the information space.

6.Hazards to Journalistic Safety

There are several hazards that journalists face in different parts of the world, which include beatings, intimidation, and threats. Often, they are in danger of losing their lives when covering issues like conflicts, abuses of human rights, or corruption. This fear could result in self-censorship, and that is why the media is reluctant to cover these important issues.

7.Promotion of Fake News

The media as the subject of giving truth and reliable information are constantly attacked with propaganda dissemination, and in recent times, even using media networks for that purpose has become popular. It is when one reaches a level of ambiguity where it is hard to differentiate between a trusted source and false or misleading information. Therefore, it is hard to stop the flow of fake news.

8.Digital Revolt and Reconstruction of Lifestyle

People find it difficult to adapt to the new digital mediums and understand the new values generated by them and their consumption behavior. For Media entities to continue with this perspective s, they should come up with ways to maintain their standards and remain neutral.

9.The Scourge of Paid Media

Media sometimes is deviated from its objective due to political pressure and the money power of big organizations. It becomes a puppet in the hands of the powerful. Such media is known as paid media. Thus, you can say that the media, which should act for the people, becomes the extended hand of the powerful.

10. Crime and Society

We often see media trials in which the media proves someone guilty before any court adjudicating the matter. Media describes the crime from their own perspective irrespective of the facts. It creates a story that sometimes damages the reputation of innocent people.

For example, in the Sheena Bohra Murder Case, the media discussed the personal life of the main accused, Indirani Mukherjee, at length. It went on to prove that she was the murderer before any Court gave its judgment. Every aspect of her personal life and character was under the public lens through media.

The same thing happened in the Aarushi Talwar murder case, where the media has given the verdict that Talwar’s parents murdered her. While the father was not guilty, the media proved him to be guilty. As per the law, an accused is innocent until proven guilty in the court of law and is entitled to a fair trial. So, it is lawful to demand that nobody should be prejudged or prejudiced.

The examples clearly show the power of media and how it can spin a story to make someone guilty of a crime they did not commit. Or, the media can influence the government through their stories to favor a corporate house.

Conclusion

Freedom of the press is the foundation for democracy. All democratic countries appreciate press freedom. Media has more responsibility after the legislature, judiciary, and executive in running a democracy. It is why media is called the fourth pillar of democracy.

But, in today's world, media is losing its place. Corporates are controlling the media and influencing its reportage. Only a few brave individuals and media organizations are standing up and reporting the truth. The hope for media lies in the hands of these people.

 

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