3

Jan

Using Social Media to Restore Media Health

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A person with white hair and glasses Description automatically generatedWelles Hengen, author of After Nehru, Who, once described India’s middle class as endlessly greedy. Today, this class also demonstrates a profound ignorance of public policy, often engaging in debates without understanding their subject matter. Despite this, many feel compelled to comment on everything, regardless of whether their opinions make sense.

Years ago, when private TV channels dominated media and social media was not as popular, a friend remarked about the low-quality content aired on TV. Surprised by his observation, I responded that I was unaware of such content because I didn’t watch those channels. When he asked how I could be ignorant as a media professional, I turned the question back to him: why did he watch such objectionable content if he found it distasteful?

This interaction highlighted an essential truth: media thrives on its audience. If people stop consuming a particular kind of content, it will naturally fade away. However, instead of supporting quality journalism, many use media to serve their interests or cater to personal preferences. This attitude is a significant problem.

In urban India, media often becomes a scapegoat for criticism by both educated and semi-educated individuals. While media literacy remains alarmingly low, the industry is filled with spin doctors who manipulate narratives rather than focus on genuine issues. Despite this, the media remains a critical tool for socio-economic transformation and cannot be left to deteriorate.

To address the declining standards of media, we must launch a comprehensive campaign to rejuvenate it across all platforms—print, broadcast, and digital. This requires a strong platform to mobilize people and advocate for meaningful change. Social media platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram could serve as such platforms due to their vast reach, networking potential, and low cost.

 

Column at a Glance
Welles Hengen, in his book "After Nehru, Who," described India's middle class as greedy and often ignorant about public policy. Many people feel the need to comment on various issues without understanding them. A conversation with a friend about low-quality TV content highlighted that media thrives on its audience; if people stop watching bad content, it will eventually disappear. Unfortunately, many use media for personal interests rather than supporting quality journalism.
Friday Fuss
By Pradeep Mathur
In urban India, media is often criticized, yet media literacy is low. To improve the situation, a campaign is needed to rejuvenate all forms of media—print, broadcast, and digital. Social media platforms like WhatsApp and Twitter can help mobilize people for meaningful change. If users focus on serious discussions instead of trivial posts, they can influence media standards. By demanding better content, the public can restore trust in media and strengthen democracy.

However, the current state of social media is far from ideal. Over 90% of posts consist of trivial updates, such as birthday celebrations, school promotions, or forwards of political propaganda and "good morning" messages. Ironically, many of the same people who criticize traditional media frequently contribute to this frivolity.

If even 10% of social media users shifted their focus from superficial posts to engaging in thoughtful debates on public policy issues, the impact on the national discourse could be transformative. People often overlook the power they hold as media consumers. Whether as readers, viewers, or listeners, the audience has the ability to shape the course of media by demanding better content.

Social media offers a unique opportunity to drive this change. By collectively voicing the need for high-quality TV programs, credible journalism, and informative radio broadcasts, the public can compel media organizations to align with their expectations.

It is time to move beyond cynicism and political biases to demand media that upholds societal values and addresses pressing issues. Social media, despite its flaws, can be leveraged to counter the decline in the standards of mainstream media. By using these platforms effectively, we can initiate a campaign to preserve the integrity of journalism and ensure it serves the interests of a healthy democracy.

A collective effort is needed to restore trust in media, encourage critical discussions, and promote informed public participation. In doing so, we can strengthen the democratic fabric of our nation and ensure that the media fulfils its role as a pillar of society.

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