Our ‘Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression’ once considered a very blessed right is being gravely misused by all and sundry these days. There are people shouting from their rooftops claiming their rights however they are the ones who conveniently ignore that others have the same ones too. With the media industry flourishing like never before it often works as the perfect catalyst to ignite issues further. If the Indian team wins (after losing repeatedly) they are treated as heroes while when the hockey team loses (after reaching the qualifying finals) they are treated as losers. Why are there extreme approaches to every thing and why can’t we have a balanced approach instead?

The role of media, whether print or television, is to spread the facts just the way they are and not to sensationalize a tiny detail as ‘breaking news’. Getting out on the streets and protesting and causing harm to public property for the pettiest of issues seems to be the national time pass these days. A South Indian actress wears clothes you don’t approve of get out on the streets and protest till she makes a public apology, a bus kills a child get out on the streets and cause damage to 40 other buses, a politician makes anti North Indian remarks get out on the streets, burn taxis and create havoc. How does that really help to resolve any issue? It only causes further unrest and damage to the society and media’s part in it doesn’t really help to soothe things down. Protests are justified if the cause is genuine and there’s no harm caused to anyone or anything.

While there are millions trying to take the nation a step further towards progress every day, every such incident takes the nation ten steps behind. It is high time that there is some regulation on the content used by the media and a check imposed on the statements made by people in public gatherings. The role of regulatory authorities should not be restricted to banning and lifting off bans on channels like Fashion TV and AXN but to regulate the news spread through various forms of media to the common public. Let’s hope the action is taken before we have a few buses and taxis left.

Via: Mutiny
Image: The Hindu