Media and Social Harmony
Editorial . . . .
The challenges posed by social media, as well as the significant progress made in communication technology, are critical issues that we must address. Many people are wondering if the widespread use of media technologies (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, SMS, MMS, and so on) poses a clear and present danger to peace and harmony.
In this context, it will be imperative for traditional media to respond to these new issues and continue to play a vital role in news and information distribution. We’re all aware of the recent escalation in violence and community strife around the world. People that identify with a certain culture, religion, or identity are offended by what is projected in the media, which they feel is insulting.
And the fact that technology is permitting an uncontrolled and undirected media boom, resulting in near-anarchy and the possibility of misunderstanding and violence. Perhaps this is why, despite significant advances in multi-media technology, print media continues to be relevant. The right to free speech and expression should not be used to incite riots and petty arguments among different groups of people.
In conclusion, the media must understand its rightful function and act responsibly when disseminating news or information. The media cannot avoid being held accountable. It must be held accountable for its own actions, whether intentional or unintentional. What role can conventional media play in meeting these new needs and challenges?
Our Prime Minister requested a few years ago that the media avoid sensationalism and apply moderation so that nothing that divides society and country is written, aired, or transmitted. This is a word of caution for those in the media. After all, as the Prime Minister correctly pointed out, the media has a critical role in encouraging greater communal cohesion and inter-group and inter-community discussion.
Against all of these genuine concerns, we must ask who regulates or runs these many forms of media, particularly the more contemporary varieties of social media. At the very least, in conventional media such as newspapers, there is a Publisher or Editor in charge of the publishing.
Newspapers must manage the flow of news and information, especially in a culture like ours where there is an undercurrent of tension and division, and the Editor operates as a gatekeeper to ensure that nothing is published that is harmful to societal peace and harmony.
As was clear on multiple times during the turbulent situation in Jammu and Kashmir, all local newspapers carried out their duties with a high sense of responsibility and aided in containing the otherwise explosive nature of events. In any culture or country, some type of self-censorship is becoming increasingly important if the media is to promote social peace and harmony, as it should. In the same sense that a right involves a responsibility, there is nothing like a free press.
Our present LG administration, in the UT of J&K, must encourage and fix priority for the print media over social media as it works with more sense of responsibility. As on date, in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, there is a total of 558 newspapers registered; in Dogri 2, English 274, Hindi 53, Kashmiri 4, Urdu 173, bilingual 48, and multilingual 4. These small number of print media houses must be provided necessary assistance for the establishment of printing infrastructures such as concessional land for putting printing units, loans for machinery installations, and working capital for import of newsprint besides resolution of many other genuine issues including timely empanelment of new newspapers which have completed their minimum time period, conducting of tours, workshops, and seminars for its improvement and expansion.
Besides this, the UT Directorate of Industries and Commerce department must come forward and form a cluster of printing units and make available all the necessary inputs, and the district authorities which are responsible for the issuing of printing press installation permission should clear all the pending cases and they should also frame a timeline policy for the disposal of such cases.
