You can find Previous Year Reflective Essay Topics asked in ICSE board exams.
Reflective Essay Topic – Influence Of The Press
Introduction: Newspapers excite curiosity and impart news.
- Historical role played by newspapers during the struggle for independence
- A free press works like a watchdog in a democracy.
- More credible than other media of mass communication; Danger of prejudiced reporting
- Competition to increase circulation, some resort to sensationalising news
Conclusion: Newspapers have a stellar role to play in a democracy.
“Newspapers always excite curiosity. No one ever lays down one without a feeling of disappointment,” said Charles Lamb. It is this art of generating curiosity that compels people to read on. Hence the most ordinary of news is presented in a manner, that catches the immediate attention of the reader.
Thus when a dog bites a man it is not news, but when a man bites a dog it is sensational news. This is the special appeal newspapers have over other media, engaged in dissipating news.They play an important role in a democracy and are the most important and effective media of mass communication.
Besides news, newspapers have played an important role in forming and moulding public opinion. During our struggle for independence, newspapers played a stellar role by becoming the mouthpiece of national leaders, to unite the people. Even after independence, they have on many occasions brought to the forefront, issues that were contentious, but required public debate for their resolution They helped in raising public conscience towards evils that plagued the society, like dowry, child marriage, untouchability, sati etc.
A free press works like a watchdog in a democracy. It keeps a watchful eye on the working of the government, highlighting its omissions and commissions. It thus makes the right to information a reality for the common man. The objective reporting of news, enables it to keep the democratic traditions alive. Its forceful voice of dissent, is the lifeline for a true democracy to function and flourish. It is because of this important role, the press is often referred to as the fourth State in a democracy.
Presenting news to the readers is only one facet of a newspaper, for which it has many competitors like radio, television and the Internet. All these media provides instant news from across the world. What however, sets newspapers apart from the rest, is the objectivity and forcefulness of opinion.
Moreover, the element of credibility in the written word, makes readers addict to it. They help people form opinion on diverse subjects like politics, economics and other social aspects of life. The editors play an important role, because their objective editorials, create public opinion on important issues facing the nation.
So profound is its effect, that you can identify the paper which a person reads, from the opinion he voices. Unfortunately newspapers are now coloured by their own definite policy, for they owe allegiance to some business house, or political party, that has a pro or anti government leaning. Their reporting is therefore often prejudiced and biased.
Moreover in the competition to increase circulation, some small and regional newspapers resort to sensationalising news, to increase readership. This gives rise to yellow journalism, which is harmful to the people and the nation. Such misrepresentation of news lowers the credibility of dailies and should be curtailed by enforcing some, form of code of conduct for journalists.
Newspapers in a democracy are also referred to as people’s parliament. They play a stellar role in a democracy, by helping crystallise public opinion on major contentious issues. They also help the government in making the public aware about the government’s policies and programmes. They shoulder great responsibilities towards the society and the nation. Hence they should rise above commercial and narrow-minded interests, and justify the trust posed on them by the public.
Assignments
- Newspapers have a greater impact on the thoughts and feelings of the public than any other media.
- A free press is a necessity in a democracy. Discuss.