Media Credibility: Victim of Political and Power Interests

Media has been vilified and castigated for major and minor misdemeanours ever since its inception. Sometimes deified as the most credible to times when it was looked at disbelievingly, media has gone through many phases of existence. But never has the role of media seemed more ambiguous than in the last few months of political and social unrest in various parts of India, beef ban, the desecration of holy book and murders of bloggers and social media activists. Politically, the country is seeing the game of onemanupship, of propaganda, of personal attacks. In other spheres also, negative vibes are being witnessed and communalism, fundamentalism are raising their ugly head. Never has media been more needed to play its role in the integration of the country than now. Media, as a catalyst for socio-political development, is the need of the hour. But is media really fulfilling its obligations or is it becoming a victim of political and power interests? Media credibility is at stake like never before. Media in India, which began as a mission to liberate the country from its colonial masters has reached a phase where many questions are being asked about its ethics. There is a danger of it becoming a tool in the hands of petty interests, deliberately or not. Society is also reflecting these trends, not conducive to the welfare of its citizens. The present study takes a glance at the some recent events in Punjab and elsewhere, wrecking havoc with the fabric of the society and the media, especially the social media's perspectives on the situation. The study is appropriately timed since the problems are likely to accentuate in the future and a direction is need for the media to justify its existence as one of the pillars of the society.