Introduction:
Media:
Media is the communication outlets or tools used to store and deliver information or data. The term “medium” (the singular form of “media”) is defined as “one of the means or channels of general communication, information, or entertainment in society, as newspapers, radio, or television.”
Role of Media:
Therefore the media play an important role in society as a source of information, but also as a “watchdog” or scrutiniser. The media, however, aim to filter the information received and present information in a way which they believe best represents the “story”.
The media provides information to the public by its reporting of and commentary upon the proceedings within the Parliament, the operations of the Government, and the views and alternate policies of the opposition. All of these activities rely on access to information. Demand that decision-makers defend their stance. Media plays an important role for the whole society. It provides us immense knowledge & transmits informations. Media keeps us informed about various happening around the world. It lets us know what is happening around us and all over the world. With the help of media, we get immense knowledge on various subjects.
Role of Media in Democracy:
Media is known as the fourth pillar of democracy due to its important role in shaping public opinion. Today, in this ultra modern world, the role of media has been augmenting day by day. Media has given political parties the tools to reach large numbers of people and can inform them on key issues ranging from policies to elections. In theory, media should be seen as an enabler for democracy, having better-educated voters would lead to a more legitimate government. Media is supposed to exercise its roles and responsibilities in reporting on human rights violations in a democracy in different ways. Media, be it mass or digital can help him by publicizing his matter and there are chances that the authorities take him seriously and try to solve his problems.
The backbone of any democracy is an independent, professional and responsible media. Their role is to inform, criticise and stimulate debate. For the media to be credible it has to take responsibility for getting its facts right.
Importance of Social Media in Our Life:
Social Media plays a very important role in today’s life, social Media are web-based online tools that enable people discover and learn new information, share ideas, interact with new people and organizations. It has changed the way people live their life today, it has made communication much easier. Social media has a huge impact on individuals and their lives. While some impacts can be positive, social media has been shown to negatively affect things like our moods and stress levels. Addiction is caused by social media too.
Social media can be an awesome environment to encourage each other, communicate with people and share our stories. Social media gives us a chance to reconnect and keep up with old friends and friends that live far away. It gives us the opportunity to share our stories and get our opinions out there.
Social Media has many positive effects on education including better communication, timely information, socializing online, learning, enhancing skills, making a career among others. But the same has some negative effects which include identity theft, cyber bullying, and social isolation.
Power of Media:
They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.” The media has both positive and negative aspects associated with it. Media is regarded as the most powerful weapon of 21st century. It is as lethal a weapon as a nuke. It has the capability to convert day into night and a night into day. Drastic, cultural, political and social changes can now be seen as a result of revolutions brought about by media. Media is bursting forth like a meteor and breaking new frontiers.
The media can manipulate, influence, persuade and pressurise society, along with even controlling the world at times in both positive and negative ways; mentally, physically and emotionally. Controversial stories are reported and printed with no reliance of it being fact or not.
Here are social media’s three main super powers.
- Expands personal networks and communities. Through social media, we can connect with family, friends, colleagues and others.
- Builds knowledge quickly and disseminates it widely.
- Enables faster and broader communication.
Our world is more and more a single “information society”, and television, as the world’s most powerful medium of communication, is a key part of that society. Television can be a tremendous force for good. It can educate great numbers of people about the world around them.
Does social media have the power to change the world?
The answer is yes. But there are still many obstacles, like censorship and literacy. Three-fifths of the world’s population is not connected.
How social networking increases a person’s power?
Members share common values like forgiveness, sympathy, support and trust, which generate goodwill among members. The key to increasing power in a social network is by building trust, confidence and goodwill among members. Being visible in a social network is another key contributor of enhancing power.
Role of Media in Reporting Human Rights Violations:
The role of media in reporting human rights violations is so important because it increases public awareness and provokes actions to ensure better protection of human rights, including accountability.
The media reports an incident and is supposed to make sure that incident has been reported as such as it happened without exaggerations and manipulations. Devotion, Discipline, and Dedication have been said to be the 3 vital roles which the media should play while reporting a human right violating act. Social media networks have access to that information, and because they want to make information more public, they will allow access to users’ private information by advertisers and the like, without the user’s consent-which technically is a violation of people’s right to privacy.
Types of Media:
Newspaper, magazine, radio, television and internet are the different types of media. It greatly affects our lives because media has the power to influence our thoughts. This influence is sometimes positive and sometimes negative. Media educates the people to know about their basic rights and how to use them.
Media outlets have responded to the increasing reliance of Americans on television and the Internet by making the news even more readily available to people. There are three main types of news media.
- Print Media (Magazines, Newspapers)
- Broadcast Media (TV, Radio)
- Internet (Social applications Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Imo Etc).
1. Print Media:
Print media is the oldest media such as newspaper, magazines, journals, and other printed material. After that, many types of magazine such as business, education, entertainment, travel, cate and fashion magazines. The print media responsible for gathering and publishing news in the form of newspapers or magazines. The basic oldest channels of communication between one source to other. Printed in every regional language to facilitate , the readers to get information and knowledge in one’s own mother tongue.
2. Broadcast Media:
Broadcast media involves electronically and simultaneously sending information containing signals, print messages and audio or video content to a vast group of recipients. A radio station broadcasts a signal to many listeners, and digital TV subscribers receive a signal that is broadcast by their TV provider.
3. Internet Media:
Internet media comprise such services as email, social media sites, websites, and Internet-based radio and television. Event organizing and public speaking can also be considered forms of mass media.
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