Upholding Dignity Of Mass Media

Parmeshwar Devkota

Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1440 AD, and used it for commercial use in 1454. As he began publishing newspapers, the human civilisation took a new turn. The newspapers began exposing the secret deals of corruption, anomalies and mismanagement between the rulers and the papal circle to the common people. 

Along with that the indigenous people, slaves and the people under religious and other suppressions began realising that they had serious cause to fight for their rights.  

The Gutenberg press revolutionised other sectors of the society as well. Martin Luther registered Protestant principles against Catholic guidelines.  The writer of Utopia, Thomas More, stood strong against the oppressive emperor. 

Mass media brought philosophical thoughts to the new heights, inspiring senior philosophers such as Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, who laid the modern concept of change. They became the source of inspiration for the latter days' philosophers as well as revolutionary leaders, who tried their hard to emancipate the people under the chain of slavery.

The indigenous people around the world fought for the rights and independence with the inspirations of mass media. As the wars were fought based on the philosophical guidelines and firm stance of leaders under the surveillance of the mass media, the colonial powers, tyrannical rules on the different parts of the world began crumbling. So, the rulers of today are well familiar with the power of the mass media.  

The mass media developed some values and parameters to remain independence from the control of state and private power centres. 

The gurus of mass media set rules requiring that the news, views, and opinions should be impartial and catered discharging responsibility to the public. Similarly, the news should cover cases of conflict and must arouse interest among the readers. So, a journalist, unless and until not instructed or warned to do otherwise, works keeping the above mentioned values in the mind and writes accordingly.  

But, some shrewd rulers familiar with the power of the mass media try to use it to glorify their deeds and hide their misdeeds so as to prolong their rule. Harassing journalists, bribing them or manipulating content are some aberrations plaguing the media sector. An American philosopher Billings Learned Hand rightly says: “The hand that rules the press, radio, the screen, and the far-spread magazine rules the country.” 

Along with the change of time, media for disseminating news, views and opinions should also embrace emerging trend, without compromising the core values of journalism. So, no one should be allowed to control all forms of media. The present day media are committed to restoring their own dignity, so they give much priority to news contents concerning nation building rather than branding certain persons. If anybody wants to glorify his or her deeds s/he should contribute to the society constructively.