Media: A Double Edged Weapon

Media,
a double edged
weapon

MEDIA A DOUBLE EDGED WEAPON
“MEDIA” a double edged weapon
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Freedom of media............................................................................................................................2
Misuse of freedom...........................................................................................................................3
Problems faced in this century.........................................................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
Bibliography....................................................................................................................................5
1

MEDIA A DOUBLE EDGED WEAPON
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, this right includes freedom to hold
opinions, without interference and seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any
media and regardless of frontiers”.
“Article-19 of UDHR”
Universal Declaration on Human Rights
Introduction
Through a desired media a person can express his/her thoughts, ideas and personal views without
any unnecessary restriction through a desired media is referred to as freedom of speech, such as
where an exercise of such right may infringe or hamper others rights or create threaten or danger
to the security of the nation or public order or moral1.
According to International human right documents freedom of speech is one of the basic human
right which can also be referred as freedom of expression. It is considered as one of the most
important element of a democratic society. But it will not be wrong to say that freedom of
information is the other side of freedom of expression through which individuals take properly
well informed decisions in their lives. So the freedom of speech as a basic human right carries
with itself a huge responsibility which is to be exercised within certain restrictions through Mass
Media. Freedom of press is really an important tool as it plays a vital role in informing citizens
about the public affairs and the happenings around them and also to monitor the actions of the
government at all the levels. Attacks on press is a big threat to free speech. The last sentence is
very well shown as well as proven in the best-selling book of the 20th century i.e. to kill a
Mockingbird.
Freedom of media
Independence of press can also be also called as the 4th pillar of the Government along with
executive, legislative and judiciary, thus the framers of constitution has provided the press with
broad freedom. It is more like a knife which can be used for cutting things and also for stabling
peoples2. Due to a misconception Tom Robinson in the story to kill a mockingbird was also held
as an accused by the court as the actual culprit had manipulated the proofs. The fake story of
Tom was bussed off in the society by the media so the advocate (Atticus Finch) who took up a
1Greg Lukianoff, Freedom from Speech,2014, 48 pages
2 Douglas A. Van Belle, Historical Guide to World Media Freedom, 592 pages
2