NEWSPAPERS

NEWSPAPERS

In a democratic society, the public must have accurate information and free access to all points of view. If the government is to be really representative of the people. Of all the agencies that perform this function. The newspapers are the most powerful. To give accurate information about the current events is the first purpose of the newspapers. They help their readers in acquiring a thorough knowledge of the events happening around them.

Newspapers also promote education and learning. Arts, literature and religion claim equal space with the current events. Events in the social, political and economic fields are, to a great extent, the result of the ideas and pressure of powerful groups of people who fight for their own interests. The problems of the present have their origin in the past. Newspapers make an attempt to supply all the information and knowledge required by the readers to understand contemporary problems. Let us remember that much of the news, and particularly views, are controversial. Opinions differ and they must differ in a democracy. The people who control a newspaper have their own views. Naturally they wish to express their views.

The newspapers are important, not only as a means of spreading news but also for influencing public opinion. Every newspaper expresses its policy in its editorial page. Its readers at least a great section of them are influenced by the editorial comments. It is reasonable to believe that most of the readers buy the newspaper with which they agree. Certainly a newspaper with a large circulation is very powerful. Unfortunately, some of the newspapers do not limit their views to the editorial columns. They let their opinion color and bias the news.

Newspapers are at the mercy of their readers, for newspaper publishing is a business and must fetch at least reasonable profit. Much of the profit comes from advertising and only the newspaper with a large circulation can attract a large number of advertisements. So a newspaper has to respect the tastes and inclinations of its readers. Now most of the readers are interested in exciting and sensational news; murders, riots, scandals and abductions appear more interesting then serious educative material. Newspapers flash such stories across the front page. In this way they become guilty of being vulgar and harmful.

Freedom of the press means freedom from all sports of pressures. The press should not become an instrument of vested interests. If the newspapers are fulfill their purpose of distributing accurate information and educating the public mind, they should remain free from government interference, the advertisers’ influence and a particular group’s vulgar tastes.

Newspapers, if they are tempted to earn more and more money, cause a tremendous harm. There are people who will pay a king’s ransom to control the policy of a newspaper with a large circulation.

The intelligent reader cannot take as correct and honest all the news and the views of a newspaper. He will analyse for himself all he reads, before forming his opinions.