Media is described as the fourth pillar of democracy. It has cast its spell on everyone. So how can the youth, which roughly forms the 70% of our population, remain unaffected? Thus media merely not remains a pillar of democracy but also becomes an important component in shaping the thought process of posterity. So what picture of India does the media present?
At present India stands at cross roads of near double-digit food inflation and nine –percent growth saga. While media does present both the sides of the coin, but more emphatically it presents the former and much reluctantly, the latter. So, I, as a youngster who was born just before the introduction of economic reforms, which are credited with turning the tide of Indian economy, land in somewhat a confused state. I read in an article long ago written by a veteran journalist in which he quoted a report saying more than 80% Indians earn less than Rs 20 a day. There I was left utterly confused and bemused. Is this true? Except rare stories, electronic media, especially, presents a picture of nearly all is well, contradictory to this claim. If all is so unwell, then why does media not bother to capture the voice of those 80% people? However, since there comes hardly any electronic media story corroborating this harsh fact, I also tend to turn a blind eye to this figure. Thus I end up digesting ‘all is well’ elitist stories with my apprehensions of Manmohanomics intact.
However that transfers my thoughts to yet another aspect of media coverage. It is said the youngsters like me are more interested in fashion and cricket than the issues like farmer suicides. Was that precisely the reason as to why there were 512 credited journalists to cover Lakme India Fashion week 2007 in Pune but just six to cover farmer suicides in Vidarbha. Was that precisely the reason that why media dares not miss any F1 story but can’t afford to cover the grievances of farmers of Greater Noida whose land was acquired for building the Buddha International Circuit. So if my elders say this Gen-X, rather Gen-Y is not concerned about issues confronting society and is happy in the ivory tower, then would be it my generation which is to be blamed squarely? It’s not that we like to look everything with jaundiced eye, but when few things are deliberately missed and others are forcefully pushed, then it’s definitely going to impact my thought process in longer terms. It’s obvious I would be happy with my salary, and live satisfactorily in the ‘growing India’, enjoying the music of Rockstar, forgetting the realities of Peepli-Live.
However, my elders saw the Indian-ness in my generation in the recent Anna’s movement for the Lokpal Bill. The bombarding 24X7 coverage made me feel as if here comes solution of corruption that has eaten India from within. Shots of Anna addressing crowds raised my adrenaline levels as well and essentially made me realize my Inidan-ness to me. My brethren poured into streets across India and Delhi’s Ramlila grounds in huge numbers. That was definitely overwhelming for me. However, I would have been happier if media had educated my brethren as to what were the clauses of the bill, before we started fighting for it. On one of those 12 days, my father came back home from his office in an angry mood. The reason of his anger was a section of my brethren who were supporting Anna, were creating enough of hooliganism on Delhi roads, but police didn’t dare to say anything to them. Just not this, there were reports of such hooliganism being created in many other parts of India, but media hardly gave space to such stories. I was left bewildered, because as much as I knew, media was supposed to present every angle of the story dispassionately. Moreover I was also wondering why media didn’t bother to educate me and my generation about the flip side of the bill. Having said all this, I must admit that Iam thankful for its coverage and giving me a sense of involvement, though a more balanced coverage would have been better.
Another question which concerns me is as to why media didn’t invoke my patriotism earlier. Many such movements happened in the past also and are happening now too. Why didn’t media try to connect me with them?
The other aspect that receives media attention is politics. Media presents a rather dismal picture to me. Of the entire gamut of politics, elections is one of the most important issues. How does media influence voting pattern in youth? Media goes on to portray a large section of young voters (18-25 years) as potential vote-bank and some youth leaders, who emerged out of dynastic politics, as youth leaders. But is that vote-bank, largely depicted in form of English speaking students of urban areas, actually potential? According to a study, in 2004 Loksabha 55% youth voted against national average of 58%. So here the relevant question is whether media is in any capacity able to encourage youth to come out and vote? The bigger question is, rather, whether media is capable of arising interest of youth in politics which is a dirty word for my generation?
After politics and entertainment, another aspect to which media gives due importance is cricket. My elders lament that this generation is obsessed with cricket and can’t think of other sports. Again if Iam overfed with the coverage of one sport and if the watchdog doesn’t bother to give due space to even national games, it’s natural that I would remember the names of the new comers in this game and don’t know even the veterans of other games.
Another aspect of impact of media coverage and youth is as to how much space media gives space to youth related issues. Does media give enough coverage to education, employment etc. Unfortunately electronic media, especially, performs woefully bad in this case. Is this another reflection of elitist mindset because these resources are readily available to the youth of a particular class, but not to their rural counterparts? Is rural youth not a potential resource for India? It’s for media to ponder over. The recent worldwide protests against financial crisis did find a space in Indian media, but was it adequate enough? Did it generate enough discourse in youth on this issue in India?
Youth is most important resource of India. Every section of society has to contribute its bit in making it a useful potential. However, media can be the most influential component. Its content not only informs but also defines the thinking process of future. Till now it has done somewhat a constructive job, but a critical analysis tells us that the content needs to be much more thought provoking and at the same time much more informed about the grass-root realities. This would help youth to remain connected and concerned with the Bharat beyond India. Hopefully media will fully understand the importance of this section of its target audience and lead the society in aiding the youth to play its role in development of the nation.
