Spreads awareness

The newspaper spreads political awareness amongst the people. People mostly are not in a position to Formulate and express original opinions on most of the issues confronting the nation, as they are too much involved in eking out their livelihood. Newspaper gives them ideas to ponder over and chew upon. One thing people do arid that is, they discuss the news and views of the newspaper and reach their own conclusions and invariably they analyze if they have used their voting right judiciously or not. This analysis is only possible when newspapers spread political education. This places a great responsibility upon all the people connecting with newspaper publication to be honest and upright to furnish the people with authentic news and in no case they should try to make Press is not a small thug.

A newspaper touches on almost all things under the sun— religious, educational, soci3l, political, economic, scientific, agricultural technological and what not. It is a school, a college and a university. It satisfies the needs of each and every segment of society, It entertains, rejuvenates, refreshes, educates and it can be called the teacher, the guide and the philosopher. It makes citizens vigilant and imparts them the boldness to criticize the government measures which are harmful. Editorials based on logic and reasoning clear doubts from the minds of the people and inculcate in them the spirit to see things in their right perspective. Public opinion might be vague if the press’ searchlights were not constantly turned on.

The press, if functions in an irresponsible manner may do untold ‘harm. Presentation of distorted views can mislead the public and public opinion may be inflamed. It can degrade the taste of the people. Some newspapers use fiery language and give hot and glamorous headlines simply to attract the attention of the masses and thereby boost their circulation and earn some extra bucks. They become breezy and sensational; to push up their sales by publishing scoops and scandals and indulge in character assassination. It is very easy for the press to blend facts and fictions and present something spicy to excite the sentiments and emotions of the masses. It stands on the bank, throws a pebble into the stagnant water and watches ripples.

Every newspaper is either the organ of some political party or some business tycoon and a fear always lurks that it may fore go objectivity and fairness in the interests of the party or of the individual. So sometimes it becomes very difficult for a newspaper to remain honest and upright. A newspaper in the clutches of a communal party can be more dangerous. Through its presented biased views it can vitiate the social atmosphere and dent communal harmony and start riots. Some newspapers are unabashedly sycophant and they become touts of the government and pride themselves on publishing and appreciating even anti-people and anti-national measures of the government. Thus newspapers have great responsibility towards society. Reputation of editors, the correspondents and the professional reviewers is at stake. If newspapers indulge in discriminatory publication much harm is caused to the very cause which they stand to serve. For example, press behaved in an irresponsible manner before the declaration of emergency and it encouraged lawlessness and disorder. And the result was imposition of emergency and strict press censorship was imposed. Democracy which was to be safeguarded by the press was fettered because of the irresponsible behavior of the press. History is full of many examples when the voice of the press was muzzled and many a time press itself was responsible for this.