Essay on “Power of the Press” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.
Power of the Press
The press is a great power to be recokoned with. As such the newspapers play a vital role in our life. They have become a first interest in the morning for the majority of educated people all over the world. The educated people would prefer to miss their morning tea or breakfast to reading of a newspaper. The newspapers give them latest news from home and abroad. They bring the whole world at their doorsteps. A newspaper is the cheapest, the most popular and the easiest means of information and knowledge. A newspaper is virtually an encyclopedia of day-to-day information. That is why newspapers are so popular. We cannot think of our life without newspapers.
In recent times there has been great expansion of the press in India. There are over 4000 daily newspapers being published in Hindi, English and the regional languages. There are over 20,000 periodicals—weeklies, bi-weeklies, fortnight-lies, monthlies, etc. They form a vital link between the public and the government. On current problems and issues of national importance there are editorials, leading articles and comments. These educate the, public about them. They guide, mould and also reflect the public opinion. The readers publish their grievances, opinions and comments on sensitive and vital issues through the press. It helps the government and administration to know the mind and the mood of the public at large.
The newspapers educate people, bring about desired social changes and generate public awareness about many problems. They have helped in producing environmental consciousness among the people, in the removal of untouchability, casteism and communal narrowness. They create a favourable atmosphere for family planning, abolition of evils of dowry, child-marriage, etc. During national crisis they help increase in public morale and boost unity and integrity. They make the readers conscious both of their rights and duties and disseminate knowledge.
They are also a great source of entertainment, education, making matrimonial alliances, advertising and selling of commodities. There are many educative, informative and entertaining articles, poems, stories, etc., in their magazine sections. Besides their cultural and educative value, the newspapers boost economic development and business both in the public and private sectors. They help diversification of the interests of the readers through their various columns on sports, commerce, economics, education, literature, politics, editorial, etc. They widen their horizon of outlook and under-standing and thereby add a new meaning to life.
The significance of the press is becoming more and more vital. The freedom of the press in a democratic country like India is of great importance: The press is the watch dog of democracy and the free expression. Personal freedom is the essence of democracy and it is reflected in the freedom. The press enjoys in the country. Liberty of press is an essential” ingredient of democracy. The newspapers should be free to critcise, condemn and warn the administration when they feel so. It should be left to the press to expose the wrong-doings of the government. It was, the press who exposed Richard Nixon in the U.S. and Antulay in Maharashtra in India. Whenever there has been an attempt to ‘Curb the freedom of the press, there have been mass movements and upsurge. It is in our interest as well as in the interest of the party in power that the press is allowed to work unfettered and unbiased. Any repression imposed on the press goes against the very basic tenets of democracy. It is the press that exposes and checks dictatorial tendencies. We have seen how the press helped the overthrow of Mrs. Indira Gandhi after Emergency.
The responsibility of the press, as the watchdog of freedom, liberty and democracy, is equally great. The journalists should perform their duties sincerely and honestly without fear or favour. The press when controlled by narrow and vested interests can vitiate and poison public opinion. The press can defy or defame any person baselessly if it resorts to favouritism or unethical .practice. The press should never attempt to thrive on sensational, distorted and motivated reporting. Sometimes it has been observed that a few newspapers and periodicals publish, untruths, half-truths and exaggerated reports in order to assassinate the character and personality of a certain men or women in the public life. The reporters, journalists and correspondents should strictly ad-here to their code of conduct and never resort to biased writing and reporting.
The press should never misuse its powers. The press can be equally instrumental both for great public good and evil. It can promote communal harmony and brotherhood, but if con-trolled by fanatics and communalists, it can cause havoc, blood-shed and riots in the public. The journalism in India has come of age and so the press has been discharging its duties ‘ responsibly. There are some small and local newspapers who, often take recourse to obscene and sensational reporting to obtain better circulation-and readership. But by and large the press in India has been playing a constructive role, and it is hoped that in the years to come, it would further improve its image by protecting the rights and freedom of the masses and by dissemination of knowledge.
This is a short essay from my side 🙂
The power of press in any country depends on the number of newspaper readers; and this in turn, depends on the spread of education. Where readers are few and will appeal directly to only a small minority of population. In a country like England or America where even the poorest working man can read, the reading public is the whole nation. The large number newspapers, and their great influence on public opinion.
Now the great majority of newspaper readers is uncritical. Only a few think for themselves and from their own opinions. Most accept what they read without any question and take their opinion ready made for their favourite papers. Newspapers, therefore, mould public opinion.
In democratic countries, whereby the system of election and representation of the people control the government, public opinion is the main power. No democratic government can long neglect or oppose a strong public opinion on any question. Sooner or later the government will have to yield to public opinion or be driven out of the office. It is, therefore, obvious that if press controls the government, the press is ultimately controlled by the public. It is the political power of the press which has a great influence.
This great power may be used for good or evil. If the newspapers are serious, disinterested and clean, and give their readers a wise, courageous and great national questions, the power of press is a blessing. If the newspapers are frivolous, prejudiced and corrupt and ponder to the worst tastes of the people by filling their pages with scandal and sensationalism, their influence will be disastrous.
The commercializing of the modern press is an evil. A newspaper is a business concern and is meant to sell. To get a large sale, it must give its readers what they want. And the more extreme and sensational and exciting it is, better it will sell. It, therefore, cannot afford to be lofty, serious and moderate: A country that has an independent and clean press is blessed one.