Media Independence Is Being Subjected to Degeneration

Mass media in the modern world play a vital role. This is known the world over. It is through media, humanity across the globe are brought more closer to the nooks and corners among the entire humanity. As technology across the globe has prospered so richly, that is not a problematic issue for all media outlets to reach out to the human mind.

Every morning when we get up, we come to know that about important news within India, Bangladesh, other South Asian nations plus rest of the globe. Some of the news might be eventful, whereas there are many of such news we glance over through print media and electronic media, a mixture of sorrow and pleasantries. The respected readers enjoy the news, thereby share their feelings with their close relatives and acquaintances.

Off late, a striking point has brought to light among us. That is Media Independence. Media Independence has cast upon an indelible impact in the mind of citizens of India, Bangladesh plus that of citizens of other parts of the globe. Ethically speaking are the Media personnel having independence among them? Actual answer is known to all of us. But nobody has the guts to open out to the public at large. Now Media Independence has become a much debatable issue. The independence seems to have been badly curbed down. It is no doubt a shocking phenomenon in the mind of rational and civilized citizens of India, Bangladesh, other citizens of South Asian Sub-Continent plus rest of the globe. Before I delve deeply into my subject, I feel that it is my pertinent duty to touch up broadly about the importance of Media Independence in modern life in the subsequent paragraph.

Now let me touch upon the importance of Media. Basically, the term, ‘Media’ is referred to in common parlance as that of various channels through which we share, information, ideas, news and various types of entertainment with citizens of own nations plus rest of the globe. But interference upon the Medias of Bangladesh should be attached due importance.

As per the importance of Media, is concerned we find that it is an unending phase of our life. There are various important aspects associated with Media, some of the important ones are stated as such, information to the public, pose as a watchdog personnel, shaping opinion and culture of our society, spreading the need for educational awareness, socializing with people, acting as a platform for various types of dialogue and finally source of entertainment.

Media also cast deep important on our society. These are stated as such, democratic impact, social impact and finally global importance.

While we arrive at the crucial point, let me reiterate about different degenerative viewpoints of Media. The logical views regarding examining the degenerative views of Media is that it sounds relevant, as per current prevailing stalemate persisting. Media is such an instrument in our political, social, cultural and economic life. The function of which sounds quite delicate to deliver services under the current circumstances. Despite there might be severe obstacles pertaining to the functioning of Media.

By now my respectable online readers must have understood what could be the logic behind writing this column. It is no doubt, rather crystal clear on our mind. That Media at present is on its degenerative point. But why is it so? My objective is not to enter into conflict with the society and political parties. As I am a hardcore online writer, hence I feel my creativities have spread out to all the nook and corners of the globe.

The social as well as economic, political and cultural arenas around the globe are now in the midst of severe complex and coerced situations. The independence of the Media has been badly curbed. If journalists of any Media express desire to write about any critical issue on India, Bangladesh plus rest of the globe then the pattern of acrimony is so badly heaped upon that Media house, which is a glaring example of degeneration of Media. The true credence of Journalism and Media is that there should be full freedom on the part of Media personnel. In India, Media gets fullest independence despite receiving little threat. To be more elaborative on my views, in Bangladesh, there has been sharp criticism by Media on the current interim regime of the nation. The journalists who are scared of the threat and intimidation, they retrace back. Those not, they receive heinous and incendiary threat which badly thwart the independence thereby transpires that Media lands upon into degenerative point. In this regard, I earnestly appeal to my respectable online readers not to comprehend my above views in its pejorative viewpoints. Like Media, academic ambience has now become a hardcore victim of political vendetta. If the societies around us keep on tolerating vendetta by various political and other vested interested groups in India, Bangladesh plus rest of the globe. Then can we judge the credence of Media in the above stated nations. Our society needs to be nurtured immediately, otherwise the halcyon glory of the Media will no doubt be covered under the debris after a certain period of time.

As I am throwing light about the Independence of Media on its degenerative point, hence I feel it is pertinent on my part to emphasize upon some common factors which might lead to independence of Media on its degenerative point. Thus, the common factors connected with degeneration of the Independence of Media are stated as such,

Commercial and Corporate Influence: The noted Media houses of India, Bangladesh, other South Asian nations plus other parts of the globe have to depend to a greater extent upon revenue collections from corporate and business houses of India, Bangladesh plus other parts of the globe. In this regard, I find that there are many corporate houses of India who influences the Media to undertake propaganda for them. In this regard, I find that ethical issues crop up plus influence of various commercial and political interactions which badly malign the independence of Media. If that particular Media house on moral ground refuses to abide by the request of those corporate and commercial houses. Then vicious clash erupts which badly hamper the independence of Medias in the modern age.

Political influence and censorship- Political influence and censorship are responsible to a greater extent on the independence of Media.

Impact of digital transformation- The impact of modern and updated technology is welcomed always. But it should not at the cost of too much digitized motive.

Lack of regulatory independence- Regulatory bodies connected with the Independence of Media have to face accusations for not being independent in nature. This is because of too much of political influence.

If anybody wishes to throw light about the independence of Media, then a feeling of remorse deepens in my mind. As we are all well aware off that Medias of India, Bangladesh plus rest of the globe are always on the mood to seek independence. My elite readers must be well aware off now that I am willing to focus upon two key South Asian nations like India and Bangladesh. Hence throwing light upon Media of two nations.

Very recently this hardcore practitioner of analytical and interpretative journalism always views the independence of media from a perspective. Media means not direct collection of reports from the field, rather it needs deep rooted introspection. It is towards the fag end of the said year, we noticed with remorse and poignancy that two leading Media houses of Dhaka, The Daily Star and Prothom Alo have been gruesomely attacked and burnt down, which speaks about a major threat about independence of media in Bangladesh. In India we evinced this kind of situation on previous occasion. But what is going on in Bangladesh seems totally an exasperating phenomenon. There might be some negative attitudes of those two Media House, but not at all appreciable the destructive episode. After couple of days from the above episode, I came to know about the suspension of Nazneen Munni, a dynamic young and swashbuckling journalist from a popular television channel. Though she is involved into WFH (Work from home) phase, but her life seems to be under utmost threat.

As per the independence of Media is concerned, I find that it has a long-cherished history. The independence of Media has its origination since the days of British rule in India when Media censorship was imposed to thwart the idea of nation building. Around those periods of time, Media was interpreted as a vital tool for social and political awakening which could pave the ways for progressive democratic setup in post-Independence India. India attained press freedom or Media freedom way back in the year 1950 on January 26 under 19(1) a. In the same manner Bangladesh attained press freedom in the year 1971.

Writing about Media freedom is not an easy task for me. Now as the social and political situations in India and Bangladesh have reached to such a dire strait of affairs, hence independence of Media has slumped to descension level. It is not possible for modern governance to ensure full independence to Media houses of both nations. Whenever any unwarranted and tough statements are issued, then unfortunately Media houses seem to be under heinous threat. Same threat which two reputed Bangladeshi and internationally reputed Media houses have received recently. It has created a scar on our Media democracy. The civil societies along with progressive ones of both nations are interpreting Media Independence on the degenerative point. They are deeply aggrieved at the present state of affairs in Medias of Bangladesh. Some ugly fundamentalist forces of Bangladesh have started raging tirades against the Medias, which is totally uncalled for. But we cannot claim that Medias of the modern age has landed up in its degenerative point.

Summation of my above disquiet, my logic is that it is not of such.  It is the earnest responsibility of our governance and society who have the capability to institute the independence of Media in its highest esteem. Otherwise, how we will be able to steer our society to glowing heights.


Sujayendra Das is a columnist
based in Calcutta, India.