Is the media as the 4th pillar of democracy losing its credibility?

By-

Bhavya Kohli

National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam

3rd semester, 2nd year

Batch 2022

Ujjwal Mani Tripathi

National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam

3rd semester, 2nd year

Batch 2022

Abstract

Media includes every medium of exchange of knowledge and information. Media is said to be
the fourth pillar of democracy after Judiciary, Executive and Legislature and ensures
transparency in remaining pillars. The blood of this pillar has been corrupted. It has become
the tools of rich and powerful. Media is being used to create hoaxes, tensions and
misunderstandings in order to fulfil aspirations of moguls and undermines the interest of the
common folks. The media is losing its credibility as the fourth pillar of democracy. With the
help of this research paper the researcher is trying to explain these complications only. The
first part of the paper will be dealing with the task of explaining what an ideal media would
look like in an utopian world and the other part would fulfil the duty of finding out the
loopholes in the media.
 What is media?

Media is known as the plural form of medium. This medium is referred to the medium of
exchange of knowledge, information and entertainment. Media is referred to the groups
which helps to communicate and spread know*ledge and information among people sitting in
different parts of the world. Media is important in the present day life and in every single era
because people cannot amass on their own. Media does that job that an individual cannot do
on his own. The task assigned to the fourth pillar of democracy is a very noble one as it does
the work of making people aware. People can become educated on their own but they become
knowledgeable with the help of media only. Media is of three types. The types are as follows:

 Print Media

It consists of newspapers, journals, articles, newsletters etc. it is the oldest form of media
present in the world.

 Broadcast Media

It consists of news and information broadcasted via news channels and radio.

 Internet

The trust of people is gradually shifting from print media or broadcast media to online
sources. At this point of time every news channel or media house is having an online portal
also as many people read the news from internet and not from newspapers or news channels.1

Nearly everybody gets his or her data about world, national, and neighbourhood undertakings
from the broad communications. This reality gives both print and broadcast news coverage
essential capacities that incorporate impacting general conclusion, deciding the political plan,
giving a connection between the legislature and the general population, going about as an
administration guard dog, and influencing socialization.2

It is the well known fact that it is the media only (any form) which forms the perception of
people on different issues. Media makes sure how the people interpret different events taking
place in the world.

1
SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on The Media.” http://www.sparknotes.com/us-government-and-
politics/american-government/the-media (accessed September 13, 2018)
2
Cliffnotes Editors. “The Functions of The Mass Media.” https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/american-
government/the-mass-media/the-functions-of-the-mass-media (accessed September 13, 2018)
For example; if a political party has done a charity auction then media can either spread the
news and make the party a hero for the needy or the media can spread the news in a way in
which it will look like that it is their ulterior political agenda.

Not only the big businessmen but also the government of all countries also own media
houses. There is a big agenda behind this strategy. Every government needs to address its
people at one time or the other. It’s the easiest way to approach the common people. The
governments make announcements through these media houses only. Tenders are passed for
the private media houses by the governments to broadcast certain events of the government.
So if we go by this fact the media act as a link between the people and government. Media
also acts like a watchdog of the democracy. It closely watches every single act of the
government and its different wings. Every new policy is closely analysed by media and
detailed reports are shown to the public. If any kind of scam or misrepresentation is found on
the radar then media ensures that the flaw in the administration is solved by bringing it out in
public.3

Loopholes in Media

As stated earlier also that the bloodstream of media has been corrupted. It has entered the
areas which were never meant to be entered. Media was said to be the fourth pillar of
democracy but now it has stopped functioning as one and this has created the problem of
imbalance in the country. Media plays an important role in solidifying the base of any
country and now as the components of base are not properly amalgamated then how will it
provide strength to the structure. In this part of the paper the researcher is trying to explain
the loopholes of media to the readers.

When the media houses initially came into being they were owned by the journalists who had
a neutral stand towards every person. But with the advent of the politicians and businessmen
the motives of media houses changed. Now most of the media houses are working like a
slave of a particular political party or a business house. They show only those news which
help in maligning the image of the rivals of their owners in order to fulfil their malign
motives.

3
ibid
As we all know that the news information has become a business. Every new house sells
news and broadcasts only that news which can get them more TRP and doesn’t analyse the
truthfulness of the information. Most media houses have stopped fulfilling the noble duty and
started to fill their own pockets by making deals with deep pockets.

A case came up in September 2007. In this case a media reporter came up with a fake string
operation in order to fulfil some egos due to some rivalry. A teacher was enveloped in a fake
prostitution racket.4 5

This is one of the many examples which have come up and there are many incidents which
have not come up. Media in the name bringing out the true face of the person brings out a
more fake one. Only in the name of rivalries of politicians and big personalities of the
country they put fake charges on innocent people. Entire careers of some people are spoilt
because of such fake sting operations. Viewers believe in good faith whatever television
channels telecast. So the media should not take advantage of this trust.

Media provides publicity to people who don’t even deserve to be known. For this cause we
can take the example of latest example.

A girl took advantage of her gender and uploaded a fake video of a boy which showed him
abusing her and filed a suit in 2015. Media gave her too much coverage. All the prominent
personalities took her stand without even realising that the entire career of an innocent is
being disturbed. Media also gave her alot coverage and made her a star. The guy’s entire
career has been spoilt because she has gone to Canada to live “happily” while he on this side
is not able to secure any respectable position in society because a case is present against him.6

There are many such incidents which prove that credibility of media is constantly reducing. It
is continuously failing Democracy as its fourth pillar. Its main job was to provide people with
correct news but now it is constantly providing with fake news and misleading them.

4
Economic times Editors, “TV reporter arrested for fake sting operation”
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/tv-reporter-arrested-for-fake-sting-
operation/articleshow/2348260.cms (accessed on 14 September 2018)
5
Zeenews Editors, “Fake TV sting: Uma Khurana reinstated” http://zeenews.india.com/home/fake-tv-sting-
uma-khurana-reinstated_425447.html (accessed on 14 September 2018)
6
Vivek Surendran, “Remember Jasleen Kaur case? Accused Sarvjeet Singh talks about how false complaints
ruin men's lives in India” https://www.indiatoday.in/fyi/story/jasleen-kaur-sarvjeet-singh-kundan-srivastava-
false-accusation-354200-2016-11-27 (accessed on 17 september 2018)
 Conclusion

The main question which the researcher tried to answer during the entire paper was whether
the media as the 4th pillar of democracy losing its credibility? At this point of time the
researcher can easily say that media has failed. It is constantly losing its credibility. This all
has happened because of the advent of private individuals and political parties in the field.
This noble profession is also being industrialised. These things can’t be tolerated. This is
because the common masses are completely dependent on these media houses for their
general knowledge as stated earlier also and if this is wrongly imparted then what will happen
to the future of the nation. Regularly new cases of media being influenced by big shots come
up. This makes people question media houses. The future of the nation is too dark if the
people of that country don’t trust the media of that country. That time is not so far when
people will completely stop trusting the media houses and then there would be too much
problem for everyone because then even when the news will try to improve its working style
the people won’t change their mindset towards it.

Therefore it’s very necessary for the media to regain the lost trust and credibility. Inorder to
do this the first step would be reduce the shareholdings of controversial figures in the
ownership of media houses and stop taking funding from prominent personalities like
business houses, politicians etc. Then the second most immediate step would be to ensure that
before publishing or broadcasting any news the complete analysis would take place. Fake
news should be avoided as much as possible but still if some mistake takes place then it
should be ensured that the correct story should be published as soon as possible.

There are many steps that the media can take to gain its credibility. Therefore they should
start taking such steps quickly so that no harm can be caused in their name in the society. The
media houses should understand that TRPs can be earned by not selling “masaledaar” news
but by providing complete and true stories.