Freedom of Media: Discerning Real News in Hyperpartisan Environments

This essay examines the concept of media as a double-edged weapon, exploring the complexities of freedom of expression and the challenges of discerning real news from propaganda, particularly in hyperpartisan environments. It discusses how freedom of media is essential for a democratic society, enabling citizens to make informed decisions and monitor governmental actions, while also acknowledging the potential for misuse, such as the spread of misinformation and the manipulation of public opinion. The essay references 'To Kill a Mockingbird' to illustrate how media can influence perceptions and impact justice, highlighting the importance of responsible journalism and critical thinking. It also addresses the problems faced by journalists in the modern era, including threats, intimidation, and the erosion of trust, ultimately concluding that media freedom, while crucial, must be exercised with wisdom and care to avoid creating a gap between reality and perception.

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

MEDIA A DOUBLE EDGED WEAPON
case to defend him and his family were forced to face hostility from their neighbors and friends.
Media has that power through which it can easily defame or give fame to persons3.
Media safeguards manipulations and mind controlling by the government, encourages critical
thinking and develop new ideas, it favors knowledge over native beliefs and device deception,
facilitates unbiased public debate aiming to facilitate reasonable decisions based on facts rather
than loose unfounded assertions, it safeguards against corruption and misuse of powers by the
higher authorities, is also one of the very important tool of democracy and its absence can be
considered as straight way to a totalitarian dictatorship. Freedom of press helps to form an
opinion about the government and limit their powers. True freedom means the independence of
both economic and political pressures. Peoples and children basically and firstly get attracted
towards the negative things showcased to them and they try to adapt them into their real life
which creates a big gap between the real and the imaginary world4.
Misuse of freedom
Media’s freedom cannot be always considered as a boon, as it relies upon the fact of its being
used, as a double edged weapon which may either be helpful or dangerous to the society. It was
basically meant to benefit the society and help it to improve but in the recent times there has
been an increasing concern which seems extremely aggressive journalism, to block progress and
also to make rich and powerful people more money by dominating the weaker ones5. Negative
sides that can be associated with media are in my opinion not consequence of press freedom, but
of other societal phenomena that can exist side by side with press freedom — or irrespective of
it. Press freedom has to do with transparency of political processes and decisions. Without press
freedom, democracy can’t function.
Responsible media recognizes its responsibility of following high journalistic standards6. Media
leads to individualism as people tend to spend their time on internet and watching television as a
result their socialization is affected, internet raises the possibility of imposters, fraud and
hacking, it attracts people and decrease their level of productivity, it can raise health problems
like weakens eyesight, hearing problems etc. it glamorize drugs and alcohol to be really cool,
3 James Bennett, Media Independence: working with Freedom or Working for free? , 2014,292 pages
4 Jan Oster, Media freedom as a Fundamental right, 2015, 292 pages
5 UNESCO, University of Oxford, World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media development,2018, 200
Pages
6
3

MEDIA A DOUBLE EDGED WEAPON
may lead to personal injuries as the stunts showcased in media are tried by the layman and fake
news may also ruin the reputation of an individual or a company7.
Problems faced in this century
Now a days it is very difficult to draw a line between real and imaginary news particularly in the
environments where each side accuses the other by making false additions. Freedom of Media
has reduced and came to the lowest of its level around the worldwide since a decade. Journalists
are imperiled by government achievements of counterintelligence by banning or deleting any
information of value to the enemy, organized crime and commercial pressure caused by the
growth of internet because online content is being controlled by companies whose process may
not be transparent, monetary pressure on the journalists lead to cuts in the investment. They were
threatened by intimidation, prosecution and even murder Journalists are being killed and even
jailed if they are criticizing any governmental or commercial orders8.
Conclusion
No right is absolute as the freedom of press falls under the right of speech and expression so it’s
curbing can also curb the other rights of the people. But unfortunately in the last few years curbs
have increased tremendously, which are being seen in form of harassments, threats and
intimidations. The influence of media is such that can create a gap between the understanding of
what happens and what actually happens. It’s a very powerful tool which must be used wisely
and with proper care.
Bibliography
7 Morris Amos, Freedom of Expression And the Media, 2012, 264 pages
8 Vanessa Garcia, Crime, Media and Reality: Examining Mixed Messages about crime and justice in popular media,
2017, 200t pages
4

MEDIA A DOUBLE EDGED WEAPON
UNESCO, Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development, (2018),
Garcia V, Crime, Media and Reality. Examining Mixed Messages about crime and justice
popular media, (2017).
Amos M, Freedom of Expression and the Media, (2012).
Bennett J, Media Independence: Working with Freedom or Working for Free? , (2014).
Oster J, Media Freedom as Fundamental Right, (2015),
A D, Van Belle, Historical Guide to World Media Freedom, (2014).
5