Media and Democracy

Introduction

Democracy is a freedom to elect our own dictator.
Or
Democracy is a form of government which provides a form of government in which every citizen participates in governmental affairs.

In today’s world media has gained a lot of importance in our lives and its effects on democracy is being worthwhile it provides an equal form to every person either educated or uneducated. It plays a vital role in the formulation of government. Democracy is the best form of government. It is apolitical and social system signifying the free and organic participation of whole masses for a common group.
There are three pillars of a democratic state viz,


· Executive:
Executive department executes laws and is accountable to all
· Legislature:
It makes law and keeps a check and balance on legislative acts.
· Judiciary:
It keeps a check on executive’s performance and provides justice to common people.

But due to its high importance in democracy “media” is regarded as the forth pillar of the state.
In every democracy, there exist such institutions through which public opinion can be formed and expressed; while administrative system is carried on in accordance with the aspirations of the people.
1.Media as an Informal Trainer:
In a political system every person is expected to be politically conscious and express his opinion on political matters. It is therefore necessary that all such facilities should be provided as can make them capable of performing such duties.
Media acts as a training institution in our society. Media boosts up public for any purpose and it creates political consciousness in local masses. Public opinion has great influence in democratic government where media plays a strong role to mold the views of the public according to their agenda and plans.
For Example:

In election campaigns, media plays a role of guidance for the people and tells them that it is their right to vote and think better for their future and their country’s too. It is the role of media to also reflect honest liberal society and also to promote good in the eyes of people. Not only does it regulate this but also handles people to go for nationalism and patriotism.

Another example is of the latest issue from the side of media where it propagated a lot of good for PTI (Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf). A lot of media coverage was given to their every convocation and meetings were highlighted. Hence media performed a favorable role for PTI at first but afterwards it was media which arose questions like this that from where did PTI got all this money to do such events and blame on them about having an Agency supporting them.
Electronic media affects more masses than print media in a country like Pakistan where majority of the people are illiterate. For such people electronic media acts as an informal trainer and molds their opinion strongly.
2.Guarantee of Freedom of Expression
In a democratic government, Media provides the forum where common man, bureaucrats, trade unions, can express their views on political matters. Whereas the journalists use this forum to express their opinions at a public friendly level. The Freedom of expression has been regarded as the backbone of modern democratic system. The formulation and expression of public opinion is made possible through the recognition of this right. Healthy criticism against the policies of government has been considered essential for the successful working of democracy. The media is the means of such expression. This media not only provides us information but also conveys our ideas and thoughts to the governing authorities.
For example:
Media was the agent behind the freedom of judiciary and the long march. It is because of the free press that anyone can express his or her views within the limits of the society’s norms. Media ensures that every aspect of the society is independent and is not under influence from another institution. Media regulates law in a sense that its coverage scares every wrong doer.
“Access to information is essential to the health of democracy for at least two reasons. First, it ensures that citizens make responsible, informed choices rather than acting out of ignorance or misinformation. Second, information serves a “checking function” by ensuring that elected representatives uphold their oaths of office and carry out the wishes of those who elected them.”
(“The role of media in democracy: a strategic approach by technical publication series”)
This freedom of expression is a universal and fundamental human right and is observed worldwide and the indirect regulatory body is the media which ensures its presence at all times.

3.Check on corruption (a watchdog):
Media plays a role of watchdog over the institutions like executive, judiciary, legislature, police and defense. It makes the government accountable and responsible to the people. The power of media restricts the government to deviate from the right path. It makes the public aware to these political actions and provokes them to raise their voices if something is doing to them that are wrong. Masses in turn or indirectly influence or force the government to change their polices immediately .Another function that the media plays is the role of watch dog on government. It makes the government accountable and responsible. The power of media restricts the government to deviate from the right path. It makes the public aware of the official actions and helps them formulate their opinion on those acts. It can provoke them to raise their voices if something is done to them which are not in their favor. In this way the masses can force them to change their policies immediately.
Pakistan has a backward economy, political instability, and corruption at all levels of society and government. In this situation media play vital role to aware public, threat the leaders and check balance on corruption. If something happen in our country media highlight these issues and aware public like Railway, PIA and Steel mill are near insolvency due to corruption of Government.
For example
If the media hadn't highlighted this case, we had been ignorant of it even now. But the free press and independent media rather the contemporary chained media, revealed this huge scandal done by politicians. Younas Habib was involved in the distribution of illegal money between the politicians for the sake of illegal political purposes. At that time media was not free enough to take the issue to the public eyes but after these so many years the nation has become aware of that act and can judge the politicians while voting for them. In this way media has played a very significant role.
Similarly was the case of N.R.O
4.Consistency and control of democracy:
Media has ensured the proper consistency and control of government over the state. In previous regimes, army has always taken up government over illogical issues but now media has an eye over the army that cannot take over this democratic regime how much does it deviate from the path. Media will also criticize the democratic regime but it will not let the defense army to take control of the state. Media says that the army should work at the borders and not in the country.
For example, General Zia and General Musharraf took over their time’s democratic parties and took control of the country because the media was not independent and strong like it is today. It is clear through the power of media now that no chief of army staff can take over state.
5.American media and its influence:
The direct influence of media has also been seen on countries like U.S. Their economic recession has raised a lot of questions in their media. Media has forced American Government to call back forces from Iraq and Afghanistan on this issue that their economy is facing a huge downfall and the government is spending money in Iraq and Afghan war.
So we can conclude that media in its full effort can shape public opinion in government’s favor or against. This influence can be direct or indirect with the help of shaping people’s view.




Negative role of media
Where media acts a watch dog on public institutions and public sectors it can also be involved in corruption and act as a bully in the society. Media also threatens institution to work in their favour.it does it by playing a negative role by either being biased or prejudice. It also works for its own purposes.




That is why media is also called an agenda setter in a society. It sets an aim to confront the government to obey or agree with their demands or else they would black mail them till then. This policy of media works only for its good and it can ruin the public interest also.




For example,
The issue of Mian Aamir was diffused in to something else by his channel Dunya news, and hence administration was forced to give up Mian Aamir as not the culprit behind the killing of 3 girls in a music concert arranged by his college.




Another issue was the blame of Shiekh rasheed on Hamid Mir that he took money by doing a show just against him the night before elections and due to that show sheikh rasheed lost elections from his town.




Conclusion
Media is an influential tool of society shaping people’s view and their opinion. A democratic government is weak without media. The government is made on the basis of the public vote, and it should serve the public according to their demands. The demands are always changing with the changing time. So that government can only do its best when the public demands are communicated to it correctly. The media bridges the demands to the right place.
Another function that the media plays is the role of watch dog on government. It makes the government accountable and responsible. The power of media restricts the government to deviate from the right path. It makes the public aware of the official actions and helps them formulate their opinion on those acts. It can provoke them to raise their voices if something is done to them which is not in their favor. In this way the masses can force them to change their policies immediately.
But it can play a role of evil too by setting agendas and blackmailing institutions.