Understanding Media PDF

Unit 2 - Understanding Media Types of Media: Folk, Print, Broadcast, Film, New Media and Alternative media Definition of Media Media is the plural form of 'medium'. It simply means all means of communication. It encompasses music, art, literature, paintings, newspapers, magazines, novels, periodi...

Unit 2 - Understanding Media Types of Media: Folk, Print, Broadcast, Film, New Media and Alternative media Definition of Media Media is the plural form of 'medium'. It simply means all means of communication. It encompasses music, art, literature, paintings, newspapers, magazines, novels, periodicals, radio, television, social media, films, games etc. Broadly media is categorized as Folk media, Print media (Newspapers, periodicals etc.), electronic media (radio, television), Internet and others. Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980), a Canadian media scholar, is called the "Father of Media Studies." He has also authored a book 'Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man' (1964). Folk media (Traditional media) By the word Folk it means people from a particular group or type. Folk media is a very useful form of communication. It has different forms depending on the local languages and cultures. Folk media are also called "Jan Madhyams" that is "people's media." These are very old and deep rooted. Traditional media represents a form of communication that employs vocal, verbal, and visual folk art forms transmitted by societies or group of people from one generation to another. It not only connect people with their culture but revives (give life) the lost culture of the society. It forms the language of expression of local people and also gives chance to voice out their opinions on various issues. The most popular form of traditional folk media is folk dance. These dances are an excellent mix of traditional folk music and folk tales that helps people to communicate messages in an effective manner. Folk media are used to make people aware about their culture, to popularize government schemes, campaigns; to attract the attention of local administration towards the issues of a society, community etc.; to aware people about voting etc. Examples of folk media: Drama, street theatre, puppetry, dance, story telling, song, music, painting etc. Puppet show Puppet show 1. Tamasha (Folk theatre, Maharashtra) 2. Keertana (Harikatha or Harikeertan - Drama or monodrama, Maharashtra to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) 3. Yakshagana ('song of the Yaksha' - drama from Karnataka) 4. Dashavatar (Folk theatre) - Its a konkani variation of the Yakshagana. It is a re- enactment of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. 5. Bhavai (Folk theatre, Gujarat) 6. Therukoothu (Tamil Nadu's street theatre) 7. Jatra which means journey (Folk theatre from Bengal, Orissa) 8. Ramlila (Drama- North India) - It is performed during Dussehra 9. Raslila (Dance- drama; Manipur, Vrindavan (U.P) etc.) - Lord Krishna and his love for Radha Print media It is one of the oldest and basic forms of mass communication. It includes newspapers, weeklies, magazines, monthlies and other forms of printed journals. But print media generally refers to newspapers. Broadcast media Broadcast media is a media which serves a large audience. Radio and television are examples of broadcast media. Prasar bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) is a Government Of India (GoI) owned public broadcaster. It owns the Doordarshan (Television service) and Akashvani (Radio service). There is another term Narrowcasting which means dissemination of information to a specialised audience, rather than to the broader public - at - large; it is the opposite of broadcasting. For example: TV Segmentation which means that today there are a number of channels which serve a particular section of society like women, children, person interested in sports, person interested in business (DD Sports, cartoon channels , Agricultural channels etc.). Films: Films are also a medium as they perform the function as performed by other media such as inform, educate, entertain. For example: Article 15 movie is named after Article 15 of the Constitution of India which prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or birthplace. This film is inspired by multiple real-life cases involving crimes driven by caste-based discrimination, including the 2014 Budaun or Badayun (Uttar Pradesh) gang rape allegations. New media At first print media was the New media, but with the invention of radio and television these were being called New media and with the invention of Internet, it has become the New media and radio and television are now old media. Definition of New media New media is any media - from newspaper articles and blogs to music and podcasts - that are delivered digitally. From a website or email to mobile phones and streaming apps, any internet-related form of communication falls under its umbrella. As technologies advance, defining New media becomes even more complicated and the definition continually changes. The term New media refers to the "forms of communication in the digital world, which is primarily online via the Internet." As new technology is developed and widely adopted, what is considered "new" continues to get old. There was a time when DVDs and CDs were the latest way to watch movies and listen to music. Now, streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify are more popular. New media refers to the "forms of communication in the digital world, which is primarily online via the internet." Whereas "old media" refers to all forms of communication that came before digital technology, including "radio and TV and printed materials such as books and magazines." Few examples of new media include blogs, mobile apps, social media networks, streaming services, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), websites. Alternative media and Mainstream media What do you mean by Mainstream media? In Journalism 'Mainstream media' refers to the established media outlets that have long been the primary sources of news for public. These include broadcast television networks, cable news, national newspapers, and digital news platforms that have a wide reach and significant influence on public opinion. These have the responsibility of informing the public, offering diverse perspectives, and fostering a well-informed citizenry. But in the 21st century when the world is becoming more complex, the role and impact of mainstream media are under intense scrutiny. Fingers are pointed at them and they are blamed for being biased towards governments, political parties, businesses, wealthy people. Also they are less concerned about some sections in a society (women, poor, minorities), some particular types of issues (rural, environment etc.) of people which needs much attention. Examples of mainstream media: Owner of news media News media outlets Political affiliation outlets Mukesh Ambani Firstpost, CNN-News18, ------------------ News18 India Ramesh Chandra Agarwal Dainik Bhaskar Sukhbir Singh Badal PTC News Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Raghav Bahl, Ritu Kapur The Quint Ritu Kapur associated with British Council Ramnath Goenka, Viveck The Indian Express, The Founder Deshbandhu Goenka Financial Express, Gupta was a member of Jansatta, Loksatta, Indian National Congress Lokprabha Puran Chandra Gupta Dainik Jagran, The Sanjay Gupta Inquilab Sahu Jain The Times Of India, Times Dalmia Group - Sold to Now etc. Sahu Shreyans Prasad Jain Family S. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar The Hindu, The Hindu Communist Party of India Group (Marxist) Kalanithi Maran Sun TV Network, Dravida Munnetra Dinakaran, Red FM Kazhagam (DMK) Ramoji Rao ETV Network, Eenadu Source: Wikipedia Some other examples: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), New York Times, Thomson Reuters Corporation etc. Alternative media Alternative media is an alternative (option) to mainstream media. It means non- traditional sources of news and information that challenge the narratives presented by established media outlets. This media generally prioritise independent, community- driven reporting over profit-driven agendas. These are non-commercial projects that advocate the interests of those excluded by the mainstream media, like rural areas, poor, political and ethnic minorities, labour groups, LGBT communities etc. As a result Citizen Journalism and Alternative media cover extensive topics, from grassroots activism and social justice issues to underreported global events. Ordinary individuals become reporters and storytellers, using their smartphones and social media platforms to record events as they unfold, from local protests to international conflicts. Why have Alternative media emerged? Alternative media was born because of alleged biases, sensationalism, and corporate interests which are widespread in mainstream media. Also the advent of various information and communication technologies like Internet, smartphones etc. have given wings to Alternative media. Examples of Alternative media: Blogs, podcasts, independent news websites, contents by individuals on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube channels; radio stations and non-profit organisations, YouTubers, independent journalists, social-media influencers etc. Examples in particular Khabar lahariya (https://khabarlahariya.org): It is a digital rural news network having a network of 30 women reporters and stringers in 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Gaon Connection (https://www.gaonconnection.com): It is a Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) based, popular rural media platform. Independent journalists/YouTubers like Ajit Anjum, Abhisar Sharma, Punya Prasun Bajpai, Dhruv Rathee and many others. Advantages of Alternative media and Citizen Journalism Diverse perspectives: Alternative media and citizen journalism offer a broader range of perspectives, ensuring that a more comprehensive picture of events emerges. This diversity challenges the dominance of mainstream narratives by giving voice to the marginalized communities and individuals to share their stories and perspectives. Increased accountability: The presence of alternative media and citizen journalism has made it tougher for traditional media outlets to get away with biased or inaccurate reporting by acting as a check on those in power.  Rapid information dissemination: In the age of social media, news and information can spread globally within seconds. This speed is especially crucial in emergencies, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises.. Community empowerment: Alternative media outlets often prioritize stories that matter most to local communities. This localized reporting can help communities address their unique challenges and needs. Example: Tribal issues are reported by citizen journalists, alternative media. Challenges of Alternative media and Citizen journalism Credibility and Verification: With so many people sharing information online, it's tough to tell what's real and what's made up, which in turn results in the spread of misinformation, creating a negative impact on our society leading to conflict and protest as an example. Misinformation and disinformation: Alternative media and citizen journalism can be easily used to spread misinformation in order to harass and bully people intentionally, or to trick people into promoting a particular agenda, or through the sharing of unverified information which in turn can have a negative impact on public discourse and can undermine democracy. Ethical Concerns: Citizen journalists may lack formal training in journalism ethics, raising questions about their ability to navigate sensitive subjects responsibly. In addition, sometimes alternative media outlets may be funded by special interests, which can bias their reporting. Filter Bubbles: Alternative media can create echo chambers (an environment or ecosystem) where individuals are only exposed to information that aligns with their pre-existing beliefs. This can lead to a narrow outlook on the world and can make it difficult to have informed discussions with people who hold different opinions. Limited Resources: Many alternative media outlets operate on small-scale budgets, restraining their ability to cover stories comprehensively or invest in investigative journalism. This makes it difficult to compete with mainstream media outlets that have more resources. Suppression and Censorship: In some regions, citizen journalists face threats, harassment, and government censorship for their work. This can make it difficult for them to report on sensitive topics or to hold those in power accountable. Several YouTube channels have been closed by Indian government saying that they are a wrongly criticizing the government. Despite all these challenges, Alternative media and citizen journalism have been successful in winning the trust of the people. Functions of media The following are some of the functions of media: Inform: Media informs us about the latest events, incidents, happenings, in our society, city, country or at global level in the area of sports, health, education, politics, bussinesses etc, in the form of news stories, reports etc. Educate: Media educate us on several issues, subjects like our fundamental rights, innovations in the field of science, various government scholarships for education, various subjects (Educational channels) etc. Entertainment: Media also entertain us. We see movies, play games, watch sports programs, listen to music, watch serials and other such contents so as to relax, amuse ourselves. Surveillance: Media act as a watchdog, it performs surveillance on the governments, politicians, institutions and stop them from doing anything which goes against the people. For example: It covers any case of corruption in the construction of roads, malpractice adopted by a candidate during voting. Correlation: Media help to correlate between different views and perspectives about a particular event, issue, on the basis of which we develop an opinion. The contents which we find on internet can be facts, conspiracy, half-truths etc. So we can develop an opinion if we compare different viewpoints, opinions. For example: The U.S-Iraq war which took place between 2003-2011 was reported by various media and people and after having the knowledge of different viewpoints people were able to come to a conclusion about whether U.S was right or wrong. Mobilization: Media has the power to mobilize (bring together) people. Example: 'Me Too Movement' (started in 2017), 'Nirbhaya Case' (2012) are the examples where media played a great role in bringing people together and forced the governments/authorities to take appropriate actions. Socialization: Media also helps in bringing people together. It does so by transmitting cultural norms, values, and practices. Media acts as a socializing agent by portraying role models and setting trends in fashion, lifestyle, and social behaviour. For example: There are a number of people who follow actors and actresses and dress like them, movie-goers, gamers form a community, people form political groups. Representation: Media act as a representative of our societies. They talk on our behalf. For example: If a district hospital is not working properly, a reporter gets the issue published in the local newspaper and brings it to the notice of the district administration and the administration takes the appropriate step. Persuasion: Media by emphasizing a particular issue can lead to people agree on something, without going into the depth of the issue. Here comes the need for 'Media Literacy' Public relations: Governments and businesses connect with people, build a relation with them with the help of media. For example: Governments keep in touch with people through newspapers, TV, Radio, Social media by advertising about its schemes, wishing them on festivals and other activities. Media also behaves in a negative way like it spread fake news, it creates sensation (Yellow Journalism). Paid news, Cheque book Journalism are examples of negative faces of media. Community media Radio is a low-cost medium specifically suited to reaching remote communities and vulnerable (open to attack or damage) people. Guglielmo Marconi is credited with the invention of Radio in the year 1895. And its commercial journey started in the early 1920s. Now when we are in the year 2024, Radio has completed its journey of 100 years. This is why United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has kept the theme of this year's 'World Radio Day' (13th February, 2024) as "Radio: A Century informing, entertaining and educating". In India on July 23rd, 1927, the first ever radio broadcast in the country went on air from the Bombay Station, under a private company, the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC). Today All India Radio (AIR) which is the National Broadcaster of India serves 92% of the country's area and 99.19% population. Community radio Community radio is called as local radio, people's radio, democratic radio and has many other names. It is called the third tier in radio broadcasting, distinct from Public Service radio broadcasting and Commercial Radio. Lewis (1995) defines Community Radio as a form of local radio which defines itself as an autonomous entity - and relies on the community for its survival without any commercial aims or objects. UNESCO defines it as a medium that gives voice to the voiceless, that serves as the mouthpiece of the marginalised and is at the heart of communication and democratic processes within societies. Community radio covers a small geographical area covering not more than 20-30 km radius. It depends on low power transmission. Community radio caters to the needs and issues of a local community and does not associate itself with national and regional developmental goals. The journey of Community Radio in India started in the year 2002, when the Government of India approved a policy for the grant of licenses for setting up of Community Radio Stations (CRSs) to well established educational institutions including IITs/IIMs. Considering that Community Radio represents voice of the community, the Government decided to broad base the policy by bringing ‘Non-profit’ organisations like civil society and voluntary organisations etc. under its ambit in order to allow greater participation by the civil society on issues relating to development & social change. As a result, the first Community Radio Station(Anna FM, Anna University-Chennai) was inaugurated by Bharat Ratna Shri. L.K Advani Ji on 1st February, 2004. The journey was started at a slow pace and later impetus was given when the other community-based organisations were also allowed to set up the Community Radio Stations. At present India has 500 Community Radio Stations (CRSs). The 500th one was inaugurated by the Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in the month of July, 2024. The recent CRS named Apna Radio 90.0 FM, is a station run by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Aizawl (Manipur). Names of several CRSs operational in India: Anna Radio, Tamil Nadu; Radio Mewat, Haryana; Radio Vikalp, Jharkhand; Radio Dhimsa, Odisha and many others.  Community radio set-up Community radio set-up Community radio set-up Participatory Video Participatory Video (PV) is a set of techniques to involve a group or community in shaping and creating their own film. Since PV involves video making which is easy and accessible, so it is a great way of bringing people together to explore issues, voice concerns or simply to be creative and tell stories. PV helps a group or community to communicate their needs and ideas to decision-makers and/or other groups and communities. Thus, PV can be a highly effective tool to engage and mobilise people helping them implement their own forms of sustainable development based on local needs. In PV the subjects make their own film in which they can shape issues according to their own sense of what is important, and they can also control how they will be represented. The PV process is concerned more about the content than appearance, and the films are usually made with particular audiences and objectives in mind. Community Newspapers Just like Community Radio, Community Newspapers serve a community. It covers the problems of a particular community, the achievements of that community, talks about the culture of that community and hence tries to address the issues of that community, strengthen its culture and also brings together the people of that community. Examples of Community Newspapers: Khabar Lahariya: This newspaper was started in 2002 by seven women from marginalised communities. It covers the community news from 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It has also its digital platform. Namaskar: Namaskar is a community newspaper published from Konark town in Puri district of Odisha. Media Literacy (ML) and Critical Media literacy (CML) Earlier Literacy only meant 'Basic reading and writing skills'. But now the Ministry of Education (Government of India) defines Literacy as, "the ability to read, write and compute with comprehension, i.e., to identify, understand, interpret and create, along with critical life skills such as digital literacy, financial literacy, etc." According to the Center for Media Literacy, Media Literacy is a 21st century approach to education. It provides a framework to access, analyze, evaluate, create and participate with messages in a variety of forms - from print to video to the Internet. Media literacy builds an understanding of the role of media in society as well as essential skills of inquiry and self- expression necessary for citizens of democracy (medialit.org, 2016). Media literate youth and adults are better able to understand the complex messages we receive from television, radio, Internet, newspapers, magazines, books, billboards, video games, music, and all other forms of media (medialiteracyproject.org, 2016). Media literacy skills can help youth and adults: Develop critical thinking skills Recognize what the media maker wants us to believe or do Recognize bias, spin, misinformation, and lies Discover the parts of the story that are not being told Media literacy simply means the ability to understand and make others understand various media contents. Just as being literate and being educated are two different things. In the same way ML and CML are different. While literacy means basic reading, writing, numeracy skills, education means a broad range of knowledge and skills which we apply in our daily lives. Douglas Kellner (May 1943-) is an American academic and he is associated with the term CML. Critical Media Literacy (CML) focuses on both the content of the media(audio, visual, audio-visual) and the power behind the construction of the content of the media(that is, the ownership, production, and distribution of media contents).Everyday, people are accessing biased news reports, YouTube videos, memes, advertisements, and more which shape their worldview. There is of course nothing wrong with any of this media having a perspective, but young people need the skills to recognize these perspectives, have nuanced opinions, and know how to spot misinformation and propaganda. For example: Religious riots are an example where CML can play a positive role. People will investigate about the reality behind a particular information and act accordingly, and not join any rioting group blindfoldedly. Media in Democracy-Media as the watchdog and the Fourth Estate/Pillar of Democracy Media is very crucial for a democracy to survive. It keeps a watch on the government, authorities, businesses, those who are wealthy and powerful and others, and prevent them from doing anything unconstitutional and try to bring justice to those who are affected by any wrongdoings by these bodies, individuals. India gained independence on 15th August, 1947 and became a democracy. Democracy is described as the government by the people, for the people or it is considered to be the rule of people through their elected representatives. The Constitution of India has distributed the powers of the Indian Government into three branches: Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. These three branches are called the three pillars of democracy. Legislature makes laws; Executive makes, all those concerned, follow the laws and Judiciary evaluates laws and brings perpetrators of laws to justice. These three branches keep an eye on each other so that each branch performs its work as per the constitution. Media is regarded as the fourth pillar of democracy. Hence, Media keeps a watch on these three pillars of Democracy. The phrase Media: Fourth Pillar of Democracy is coined by Thomas Caryle. In the Constitution of India there is no separate law for media, rather it derives its rights and limitations from Article 19(1)(a) which provides it the freedom of speech and expression and this freedom has certain limitations as per Article (19)(2) which restricts the freedom of speech and expression in cases where sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence, are involved. It is because of media's active role in democracy that anyone who commits a mistake is brought to justice. Several corrupt practices like Bofors Scandal (Reported by Swedish Radio Station, May 1987 and Chitra Subramaniam from The Hindu covered the story), Coffingate scam (exposed by Tehelka, a news portal). There are several cases when media activism and citizen journalists have prevented any unfair practices during voting at booths. But for the past many years in India, media is facing suppression and censorship, limiting its freedom. World Press Freedom Index is released by Reporters Without Borders since 2002. India ranked 140 in 2014 and now in 2024 it ranks 159 out of 180 countries. Its Press Freedom Index has further decreased from 40.34 in 2014 to 31.28 in 2024. This effectively translates to a press freedom level of 31%. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) recorded a total of 232 media rights violations in 2023, which included the targeted killings of eight journalists and media practitioners. The report noted the deaths of journalists Abdul Rauf Alamgir of Assam (June, 2023), Shivam Arya of Madhya Pradesh (July, 2023), and Vimal Kumar Yadav (August, 2023). It also cited the incident when cops roughed up some photojournalists covering the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on March 21, 2024. In relation to these limitations on the press by governments and by those who are wealthy and powerful, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta (Journalist) says, 'Unfortunately, a large section of the media has stopped asking difficult questions' and when he says this he means to say that this is not a good sign for a democracy on its way to flourish.