The guardian of
liberty is media,
The sword-arm of
justice is media.
Do media really deserve these
tributes? Of course media enjoys freedom and it can serve as the guiding light
of justice. But if it is stifled by the government or it becomes an equipment
in the unscrupulous hands of party bosses it may serve as a false light to
misguide, baffle and inflame the public.
In a democratic country like
India, the freedom of expression and speech is a fundamental right. Subject to
certain limitations media enjoys vast bony. But the other aspect reveals the
fact that Parliament can pass legislation obliterating the freedom of
expression in interest of certain criteria.
Media is not completely free. There
are dangers that make it resilient. The danger lies in the increasing concentration
of ownership and the control of the proprietor and their monopoly. Media has
become a marionette in some callous hands.
Advertisements have also
distorted the face of journalism. The subtle reality is that now journalism has
shifted from a mission to profession. On a totalitarian it is in the hands of
advertisers to control media. Government permit unlimited liberty but
conditions arise when government feels that certain restrictions are essential
in public interest.
It is the real time when we need
to strive for the actual freedom of media.
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