The media and governments across the world have an uneasy relationship. Governments need the media to disseminate information about policies, schemes and also to tout their achievements. In times of Covid the media has become an even more important tool by which government connects to the people and vice versa. It is the media that brings to the fore the unheard voices from the periphery to those in government because the bureaucracy which largely functions in isolation does not have its pulse on what happens at ground zero. And that precisely is the role of the media. There are many things that go right with governance but because government is run by humans with proclivities towards wrongdoing, the media has to bring such misdemeanours to the fore. It is natural therefore for those in government to view the media as an unnecessary intrusion; if not the enemy. As far as the media is concerned, it needs to balance every story by stitching together the views from different sources. The media cannot concoct stories by listening to one side, however aggrieved that side may be. That would be akin to gossip. It is important to get the views of those accused of wrongdoing and allow the public to use their discretion in forming their opinion.
When media persons call people in positions of authority, they are not doing so to have a chat. There is meaning to that call and the least that public authorities should do is to answer the call and give their side of the story. These days smart gadgets have facilities for sending messages if a call comes at an inconvenient time. Calling back is common courtesy. But some public authorities seem to think they don’t owe an explanation for their actions to anyone. In the IAS, there are special sessions on bureaucracy –media interface so that each knows the other’s territory and learns to respect those well-laid down red lines.
But other services such as the medical, engineering and technical services perhaps don’t have to go through a course of handling the media. The bottom-line, however is this – people who have nothing to hide, have nothing to fear. There is of course professional arrogance and the attitude of, ‘why should I speak to a media person?’ Those who adopt that attitude have not understood the role of the media or the tenets of democracy.
The media has a duty to analyse the information provided by government and stimulate a public debate on issues. As a gatekeeper media has to trigger debates on issues that impinge on the public; and every government decision directly or indirectly affects the public. And the public has the right to get its voice out through the media. If those vested with authority don’t understand these basic premises then democracy is subverted.
It is clear therefore that without a strong relationship between the government and media, public dialogue, social inclusion, and political participation are all adversely impacted.