Role of Free Press | Social Issue Essay, Article, Paragraph for Class 12, Graduation and Competitive Examination.

Role of Free Press

Scheme of the essay:

Exposition: Democracy depends upon healthy traditions.

Rising Action: People subordinate their personal interests to the public interest.

Climax:

1. People in power have a tendency to become more powerful and the press can check it.
2. Press can sometimes play a negative role.
3. The press can keep the people well informed.
4. During elections press plays an important role.
5. The press establishes a link between the government and the people.

Falling Action: Some ethical code must be observed by the press.

Ending: The press must play a constructive role because there lies national interest.

Democracy as a form of government depends upon certain healthy traditions. Unless the people are conscious of their rights and duties it is not possible for democracy to work properly. Similarly, the opposition should remain alert and put a check upon the erring government. Apart from this the people in power should have moral integrity and should be prepared to sacrifice their personal interest for the sake of the public. The cooperation of the public and the mutual understanding between the people and the government will ensure the proper working of democracy. But human beings are selfish and particularly so in this competitive society. So, they cannot expect them to be large-hearted enough to subordinate their personal interest to the public interest. That is why in the democratic setup up checks and counterchecks are placed. An independent and powerful press can keep the people in power under check and keep the general public always informed.

People in power have a tendency to become more powerful because power like a powerful intoxicant goes to the head. In order to achieve this, they always try to encroach upon the rights of the people. If this process continues democracy is prostituted and it changes into dictatorship of the people in power. So, the government should be properly bridled. A common man cannot do anything about it because he has his own limitations, both psychological and financial. It is the responsibility of the opposition and the press to keep the people in power under check. By bringing out the secrets of the government and by pulling up the ministers whenever they go against the public interest the press can play an important role in making democracy healthy.

But there is a great possibility that the press may not be able to play this role because newspapers constitute an industry which is run on a profit and loss basis. It is generally thought that the press being under the influence of big business men can never be impartial. It always tries to further the interest of those businessmen and so they view the activities of the government from the point of view of the business interests. That is why in many cases the criticism given by the press is partial and one-sided. Under such circumstances, unstable conditions are created in the country. Sometimes it results in frustration among the people. So, the press can play a negative role and make the working of democracy somewhat difficult.

The press can keep the people well informed. A common man does not have access to information regarding the workings of the governments and the ministers. The press tries to dig out the information and bring it before the public. Watergate scandal in America Bofor case, the Fodder scam, and many other such scandals were unearthed by the press. These types of malpractices should be brought to the notice of the public in order to keep them well informed. It brings the government to the dock and the public opinion goes against them. Under such circumstances press can make the people in power conscious of their commitments to the public. In this respect also we can say that the press is misused. Sometimes the criticism by the press proves to be nothing more than libel. Under such circumstances press can misguide the public and may prove disastrous.

During the elections, the press is supposed to play a very important role. The manifestoes of the different political parties can be brought home to the people. Similarly, the speeches of the different leaders belonging to different political parties must be properly reported. That is why without press it may become very difficult for the voters to make a correct choice of the leaders. If this function is not performed the very existence of many political parties will be meaningless.

The press establishes a link between the people and the government. The grievances of the people should be brought to the notice of the government and the government’s policies should be made known to the public. Till there is a hot line between the people and the government democracy can’t function properly. Unless the people know about the activities of the government it is not possible for them to make a correct assessment of the work of their representatives and if the grievances of the public are not publicised, the government may try to ignore them.

Press, in fact, must observe an ethical code of conduct. It was with this intention that the government tried to lay down a code of conduct for journalists. In fact, if the press overshoots its rights, it will become dangerous for the country and the government. If they start criticising the people in power just for the sake of criticising it will be quite dangerous, and if they try to mobilise the public against the government because of no reason it is going to be quite harmful. So, the press can play a constructive role but it should play a positive role because there lies the national interest.