Question

do you think the mainstream media is biased or do they fulfill the role as governmental watchdog in a neutral manner as possible.

Answer 1

Media is an important pillar of a democracy but the role of the mainstream media is highly speculated. Some are of the opinion that main stream media is biased and it distort the information while others are of the opinion that it fulfills the role of government watchdog in a neutral manner. It would be right to say that free press is very important in a democracy but at the same time since the inception of the media its role is being questionable day by day.  

In my view there is neither extreme biaseness nor extreme neutrality. But the role of mainstream is and its reputation is certainly degrading with the passage of time. In my view the main stream media is in a way propogates the agenda and the ideas of the ruling party and the corporate. As the major portions of revenue comes in the form of advertisements and corporate or commercial brands. Most of the prominent media institution are in the hand of politicians and corporates. In order to attract brands they involve in cut throat competition . This rating war most of the time allows them to cover only the news which can get ratings and avoid the real issues. They focus on the news that has large audience but it is certainly a compromise with the ethics. Media also lacks uniform ethical and moral code of conducts. Some time they filter the news and information according to their agenda and ideologies. So mainstream media is certainly in the clutches of the corporates and have political influence . These may affect the core objective for which media is needed.

Media must be the voice of the people who can not or not able to stand on their own, it should be voice of the unprotected ,it should be an instrument to dessiminate facts and information not to distort them.

At the same tume it will be not right to say that mainstream media is completely biased and not neutral. Yes there are certainly various positive functions that are performed by the media. It also acts as the watch dog for government . But there is a need to make media more free not only for censor but also from corporate and political influence. There is always a scope for improvement. With the advent of technology there are several other platforms are making people eaisly aware what is going in the world. So to maintain its crux the mainstream medua must and should think and introduce necessary changes.