Media and Politics

Sindhi Press March 2
Media and Politics

Ibrat

Relationship between the media and the political sphere is very deep as well as old. A strong thought exists that how the media should work in the service of democracy, while rulers have always tried to use media to achieve their political goal and personal interests. With the development of all social and applied sciences this branch of science also grew and its uses also changed with the passage of time. What we see the role, shape and affectivity of the media today it had never been before. Its effectiveness is also great, which have never been in the history earlier. This affectivity has roots in technological revolution as well as other social and applied sciences development.

Now politics has become impossible without media, as the media has important role to play in running the government affairs. The media try to explain the government's goals and policies, helping to mobilize and reinforce public support necessary for effective political action. In reporting on politics, the media help select the issues that are to receive public attention and help shape the public agenda.

In today’s world with the help of media it has become easy to prove truth as lie and vice versa. Political parties are aware about it. Therefore they had got expertise in using mass media in their interests.

Electronic media and private TV channels are new phenomena in Pakistan... In a very short period the weaknesses of electronic media have been exposed. The major weakness is the uses and misuses by the political parties. We have seen electronic media had given undue importance to some issues. Some times they had buried the real issues and did not receive any mention whatsoever. A section of electronic media had been indulged in this practice.

It has been observed, if any event or political decision is not reported in the media, that means it had not taken place. It is surprising that importance and very existence of events and decisions depends on media. If some one is not in media means he does not exist in the world.
The electronic media presented crisis cropped up after disqualification of Sharif Brothers ten times larger than its original size. So much so with over playing the Sharifs disqualification all the other issues went down the drain and were buried. Live coverage of protests created a perception as if protests have broken out all over the country. Its size, scale and affectivity were presented larger than life.

President Asif Ali Zardari pointed out, PML-N was playing a media game and the media should stop this game.

There are number of political parties which are alive only in media or through media, otherwise, they have little existence in society. They issue statements to media and try to affect the crisis. In fact, such political parties do not represent a sizeable section of society would not live longer but for time being are complicating the situation….

This power of media can be used in constructive manner. The media can play an important role while highlighting the real issues to finding their solutions. This would restrain politicians from misuse of media but would also develop pressure on politicians to pay due attention to these real issue. It is media that can check and criticize this negative role of media. - (March 1)

Selected and translated by Sohail Sangi