“The Print Media Has Become A Puppet In The Hands Of The Ruling Party”

Tapesh Upadhyay

4 years ago

One of the four pillars of democracy the media has undoubtedly has cracked severely in Bharat.

Not only electronic media but, I believe, the print media has become a puppet in the hands of the ruling party. This is evident from the SSR case which is a narrative to divert the country from the more important issues that are having a drastic effect on people, like the Coronavirus epidemic; in which the country is heading to become number one in terms of total cases. The economic disaster is also an issue which the Narendra Modi government has never been able to overcome.

Over the last few months, (June, July, Aug, Sept 2020), the Indian media has obsessively covered the death of Sushant Singh Rajput and his ex-girl friend’s alleged involvement.

From demonetization to GST or unplanned lockdown, the government has not been able to resolve the issues but only worsen the status quo. But the nation is busy all day in feeding the propaganda of the government.

The business model of the media houses is to get maximum TRP and advertisement from the government. Until the print and electronic media houses are freed from the clutches of the government, they cannot work independently.

The Web media is an example, as it is mostly self-reliant, so it can work and show the truth; The wire, The Print, other platforms like YKA are showing the successful business models for the future of ‘Independent Journalism’.

In the national media also some channels like NEW DELHI TELEVISION BROADCAST ( NDTV) is depicting the true spirit of journalism, by raising the issues in front of the government and giving voice to the voiceless.

The ruling party and their favoured media houses must learn that they cannot sway the issues for long, as the youth is becoming more active in the issues of its interest, like unemployment and economy, and as the former people’s president, DR. APJ Abdul Kalam said “Youth is the best source on earth”. The youth, when enlightened, will not allow the propaganda of the government in the national media to continue.

Also read: Will Indian Democracy Survive Its New Brand Of Nationalism?