Page 195 - SST Class 07

Understanding Media 26

q Media q Advertising
q Relationship between government and information q Right to Information

Introduction Agencies of Media
Media plays an important role in the process of The chief function of the media is to provide
development. It has various ways through which we information to the masses. There are many
can communicate in the society. In developing and agencies which would like to use this medium to
vast country like India, media is used to provide have them heard by the masses. These agencies are
information and education to the people. So it has various government departments, non-government
been effectively utilised for the development organisations (NGO’s), social service
purposes. In democracy where people have the organisations, political parties, commercial
freedom to speak and express their views, media companies and individuals. These agencies may
plays an important role. like the people to know about their functions,
achievements, social causes, products and appeals.
MEDIA Thus, the media can be used for different causes.
In the modern times, there are a number of Just Think!
sources to get information. Of these, the mass
means of information play a very important role, Why is it good to have several media agencies?
such as newspapers, magazines, journals,
television, radio, internet etc. These means are Functions of Media
called the media. The functions of the media are varied. It is due to

Media and Democracy their diverse functions that everybody finds
himself connected to the media in one or the
Media and democracy other way. The chief functions of the media can
are closely interrelated. be summed up under the following points :
The media can deliver
information when its Giving Information
freedom is not curtailed; The most important function of the media is to
and democracy can
supply information to the common people. The
prosper when the media means of mass communication, such as radio,
forms a favourable television, newspapers etc. supply information
opinion for it. The three
about many aspects of life, such as events
estates or organs of the occurring in the political, commercial, sports, art
government are Media reporter and other fields of life. It is the duty of the media
legislature, executive and judiciary. The fourth to provide accurate information which is in the
estate is called the media because of the important national interest. It is due to this information that
function that it performs in the progress of people come to know about various policies,
democracy.
Understanding Media
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