Journalism In Democracy

How many of you believe in free will? A topic that seems simple at first glance, but as you delve deeper, the intricacies of our society make it far more complex, with historians, philosophers, and great minds continuously debating it. In simple words, free will can be explained as in the question, “Are our choices actually our own choices, or is the propaganda or are our own choices already predetermined like the codes of a computer programme? Do we have choices in our lives?” The complexities of free will are vast; factors contributing to it include the information we receive from society, mass judgement, and our perceptions of the external world. These perceptions, which shape our decisions, came from many sources, with news agencies playing a significant role.

A lot of news agencies are widespread throughout the world. They present news that interests their viewers. Tragic accidents, sports victories, political drama, and many other entities are covered by news agencies. We, or as it is better said, ‘the public,’ gain information about the things happening around them. We curse the corruption in politics if it is covered in the news, in the same way we rejoice in similar political victories or good news. Ultimately our entire perception relies on the news we are provided by the media. Our thought process is entirely reliant on what the media shares with us regardless of the factual nature, as we all have come to trust the news.

Now how does this relate to our free will? One may ask, It certainly does! Our entire choices are greatly affected by the society we live in. Advertisements in media are one strong force that can forge our beliefs, and we also tend to be ignorant of their repercussions. Similarly, politicians, actors, and businessmen who have the media on their side get more support from the masses. We tend to overlook their shortcomings and look only at their positive sides and follow their words and ideas, almost without giving a second thought. The media thus plays a significant role in our day-to-day lives. It directly or indirectly (through mass propaganda measures) determines our choices and perceptions.

The impartiality and independence of media, journalists, and the judiciary from the legislature of government is a must. News agencies have the obligation to provide accurate and impartial news without manipulating the public perceptions. If the mass media falls into the hands of the government, the public can be misled. The spread of fake news can create confusion, and the government's larger issues, crimes, and mistakes could be concealed, leaving the public unaware and unable to voice their concerns.

Larger problems, crimes, and mishaps of the government can be covered up, leaving the public clueless and unable to raise their voices. A historical example of this is Hitler’s Nazi Germany in the 1940s, where widespread propaganda promoted hatred against the Jews and the supposed superiority of the German race. This manipulation led millions of Germans not only to support Hitler but also to develop an intense animosity toward the Jewish population, ultimately enabling an unimaginable scale of mass genocide.

Similarly, even in an ongoing non-totalitarian regime, where democracy exists, a lot of things are not openly discussed or addressed in the legislature. In such instances, news agencies have a major role in pointing out government shortcomings. They need to share information openly with the public; only then can the people form opinions, express their arguments, and voice their disagreements. This is the essence of democracy—a system of government where the people hold politicians accountable, where questions can be raised, and answered with everyone having a clear conscience rather than blindly guessing in the dark. It is clear, then, that journalism plays a major and essential role in upholding democracy.

Grade XII, Prasadi Academy, Lalitpur