Media and public interest

In the age of the internet, where flow and access to information is merely a click away, excessive restrictions on the print and electronic media would only compromise the credibility of reported news. If there is a major political event taking place such as an astronomical rise in basic food items, or a scandal where people are being defrauded of their lifelong savings by powerful land mafias and private housing societies, and the traditional media fails to report it, they will eventually lose their reliability. A responsible government is one that tries to address the problems instead of shying away from it in public.

The print media is said to have its own editorial board to review every news published for its authenticity and any adverse content, like one sowing seeds of sectarian strife or hate crime. Thus, while the electronic media can be regulated, banning traditional or internet-based media platforms does not seem to be a plausible solution. It must be understood that news of public interest – especially when state organisations or powerful members of society are involved in acts that breach the trust they have with citizens – must never be blocked as most such cases are violatative of the Constitution. Public interest must prevail otherwise the traditional media will become irrelevant and social media will take over.

Just like the pen or printing press can be used for propagating moral and religious ethics, they can be for negative purposes as well.