Law Vision
Media and press Freedom
Set the bird free………
Mahmuda Akhter
Why do we need freedom when we already have it? We can publish any kind of news, any kind of criticism in the front page, different types of post editorials which appear quite contradictory to each other, anyone can publish a newspaper, anyone can set up a TV channel no one to stop us. Then why do we think that we are subordinate to someone? In spite of this, sometime the attitude of some leading media houses disappoints me. They seem like to turn their wheels with the wind. If they do this kind of things then where will we go?' -This is the general observation of a reader or a viewer of our country.
Sort of truth is there, yet hopefully more freedom and an abstract policy will give this fourth state more access to information to perform loyally and democratically. The more information, the more translation and more interpretation a mass medium can coordinate, the more objectivity can it earn.
'In this electric age we see ourselves being translated more and more into the form of information moving toward the technological extension of consciousness' -Marshall Mcluhan (Understanding Media)
The vision of Marshall Mcluhan gave the credit to Media as translators and Media as the technological consciousness. To be the consciousness it has to maintain some regularities. Mass media interprets, evaluates and eventually shapes a human mind all these process is evolving the steps of narrating an expression. But to ensure the balance of narrating, we need a fair power to perform the duty ethically. The translator cannot see and explain clearly if it does not know what to focus, how to explain, where to omit and how to create awareness. That's why media need a specific freedom to work for development, peace and democracy.
Bangladesh as a developing country is enjoying comparatively a very fair freedom of press. At least the liberty of publishing a news which can go against a very overriding persona is still not that problematic. The reporters are not that overshadowed by apprehension. But the hiding tendency of all the ruling parties gives a twist to the press. Public versus state is a common problem which becomes more visible at some point. Through the liberty of media the periphery of the respective arenas can be more widened and profound.
Every country's media freedom is dependent on the demand of the society. But the demand cannot be specific if there is no option. Freedom will ensure the 'willingly participation' of people which is a demand of good governance. Democracy is all about the development in finance sector, political stability, growing income level, balanced life circle. No development can be obtained if the fourth state is chained.
The freedom which has been enjoyed by the print media so far does not match with that of the audio visual media. The last 6/7 years have been the booming period for private owned channels. The colourful presentation, the enthusiastic fresh faces, the changing attitude of the old versions of presenting information has formed a new outlook of this little box. Critically acclaimed news presentation, and a few talk shows are to talk about so far. Going deeper than the surface- all the contents, all the styles and timing indicate a restricted boundary and no one dare to cross it. This medium does not have any specific regulation about telecasting but is very clear about what not to telecast. Quite contradictory indeed! An unwritten regulation and the power behind the throne is always there to make you feel the presence. Should this media be hampered by some unseen law or some hidden power? Some media expert thinks, the changing pattern of this medium has reduced the explaining platform. Comparatively print medium has more access to narrate anything but after scrutinising properly. This will be smooth if we have a broadcasting law.
May be the print medium is getting a bit of advantage for some code of ethics. Radio, television -- either in public or private ownership -- is still in a vacuum. Lack of written ethics perhaps make them face a tag of war what to report and where to edit. Sometimes the news relating women whether it's murder, abuse, scandal, fraud anything which is sensational takes priority on TV on plea of public demand. Nobody thinks about the children of the victim, if any, or the young audience who are only learning the moral sense from the elders. Absence of a concrete media policy allows print or projection of some visuals which arouse question.
Business promotional presentation of women has become a practice which we are getting used to more and more these days. The commercial does not need to go through any sensor board. Makers can argue that modernity is taking the place of traditional culture. No body is arguing against modernism but a blended presentation is necessary for this transitional generation. If we don't set a principle for our youngsters then we will suffer, they will ultimately, no one else. Films are the most criticised medium especially for this particular reason. The audience blames the directors and the directors' question the taste of the audience. Both parties have to work together to give us a better exposer. We are aware enough to acknowledge this media influence. A movie can awaken a generation hit their sensibility. When will we learn of this impact?
The be short of our thinking about local media is another barrier for translating. We think about mass media, but are not the local media deal with masses? Genuinely they are the closest one and trustworthy to the mass people. Rural bards, street show, jatra, kabial larai many thing which influence the mass people can be part of the mass media. The remote areas where our network (paper, tv, radio) fail to reach these folk media are the only hope to inform the people. Folk media along with the community media can be the power of information for the marginal people and the people who lives near the border. It can make a bridge between administration and local people. In our country community TV is still to ought to think of but not community radio. The news of national level development, job opportunities, community condition, successful project is quite important for a citizen which can be disseminated by community media successfully.
The theatre groups who perform on the street is another form of disseminating information, knowledge and entertainment and this is very accessible to the mass people. Puthipath, song, jatra, folklore can be incorporated in media at the community level and then divisional level and finally national level.
Though it's hard but it's not a dare dream to think of community tv. Maybe some business entrepreneurs or multinational companies have to come forward to help the govt.
Free press can work as a gatekeeper for the future leaders. People can choose their leader through information when they have the access to. Electronic media can make the destination closer by walking parallel.
Conglomeration and concentration of ownership may be a backward propelling for our media. Diversified ownership can change the outlook towards society. Not only ownership, the conflict, if any, between editor and owner, ideology and business, public demand and ethics, ongoing trend and morality have to be overcome. These conflicting areas could be smaller day by day if we could set a national policy for broadcasting and implement it logically.
The writer is Lecturer, Stamford University, Dhaka.
