Media plays a key role in this aspect as its coverage spread includes millions of people who all are heavily reliant on the media in terms of providing them with the necessary know-how about what is happening within the nation and on an international level. Hence, it becomes a primary responsibility of these same news channels to ensure that the people have access to all the information possible.
The sort of media that would be analyzed by this essay would include broadcast media which includes all the communications delivered over mass electronic communications. Examples of such channels include BBC, CNN, Sky News, Fox News, etc. The sort of coverage that these channels have includes millions of viewers and hence, the power which can be exercised by these channels is immense.
Most of the viewers are heavily reliant on these news items and therefore, these news channels must remain committed to the task of ensuring that the news items being broadcasted are in the truest sense showcasing the appropriate information to the viewers.
In recent years, there have been times when the news items have been used to attract the viewers or even improve the ratings but at the cost of broadcasting information which might be considered to be not as important as the sort of coverage being given to it.
The idea of trying to attract readers by giving more coverage to items that are more attractive or more awe-inspiring has resulted in some of the important news items being relegated to lesser important sections. The difference can be established between these items when one item concerns the activities of certain influential people such as the celebrity stars, players, etc who might be great for the sake of boosting the ratings but what has to be understood at the same time is that that has resulted in the information dissemination process having been effected in a negative sense.
This essay would seek to examine the differences that exist between those items that focus on the relatively important issues as compared to others and others that focus on gossip and sensationalism.
The fact remains that the news channels need to be directed in a manner that would allow them to ensure that the sort of information being broadcasted is according to the needs and requirements of the people and the world in general.
The world does need to be informed about the way the conflicts are taking place and the activities of the non-state actors in Pakistan which are affecting the security of millions. What the world does not need to be informed through these international channels is how many children do Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have and the new region from which they would be adopting another child.
The clear distinction above the two news items can mean a world of difference in terms of the world becoming more aware of the security threats that exist. The Gaza conflict was not given appropriate coverage which effectively meant that the people of Gaza were not given the sort of aid they required. That resulted in many people having to face homelessness and other issues alike and the ignorance of the world was witnessed when the level of aid proved to be insufficient.
The sort of coverage that was given to the Oscars might have been much more than necessary as there are several issues in which the world needs to be informed. This essay is not in any way attempting to belittle the importance of entertainment or any activities attached to entertainment. What this essay is seeking to do is enhance the role of the news channels as information providers. The news needs to focus on economic issues, political items, social issues which are many.
The recent example of the attention given to the sort of clothes worn by Michelle Obama was another example of the different ways that these newspaper channels seek to attract viewers. More focus was given to the first lady’s clothing than was given to the Vice-President on the day Barack Obama was elected President.
This is a case of an attempt to gather the interest of the younger generation and the fashion-driven people who would given priority to such things. However, when such news becomes international news then that is a pure waste of time and effort especially in the case of the news channels.
The world at the time was seeking to gain maximum awareness regarding the policies and the cabinet selections of the elected President rather than what the First Lady was wearing to the evening ball.
With time, these sorts of activities to attract the viewers have shown an increasing trend which highlights the sense of competition which has risen amongst these channels to attract more and more viewers. The situation in certain sub-Sahara areas in Africa is quite deplorable but the sort of media attention that has been given to it is even more deplorable.
These news items can have a huge influence on safeguarding the rights of millions and though the news items regarding the Grammy and Oscars might certainly be beneficial to the viewers, the greater interests at large have to be considered.
The basic purpose of these news channels would have to be considered in such a situation. Do they merely play the role of highlighting the wardrobe of certain influential people, their lifestyles, or have they come into existence to make the people aware of the actual issues affecting them?
The answer to this can have huge repercussions as the more aware are the people, the more are people benefitting from this knowledge. The issues which have been at a stagnant point can be addressed properly, as is in the case of the fight between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government.
This terrorist organization has been funded by several organizations which have done so since the world has not given its proper attention. These critical issues of examined can effectively erode the funding of such organizations.
As long as the news channels remain committed to proper dissemination and distribution of information, they can reap huge benefits for all. The attacks which take place in countries like India, Pakistan need to be given greater coverage to highlight the plight of these national governments so that they can seek the sort of help and foreign assistance that they require. Noting can be gained from ignorance and the projection of sensationalist stories except leaving hapless states to the state they are in.
The news channels need to review the sort of news that they are broadcasting as the world needs to be made aware of the issues that affect it.