Press Freedom Day
In this modern world, advancing and developing at a rapid rate, every aisle has something to announce, offer or claim. We may find ourselves at the center of the world where every corner has the ability to captivate our attention due to the happenings around us. In such a scenario, the formulation of a bridge between our minds and the headlines of the day becomes necessary. Press and Media act as an interface between us and the advancements around the globe or even beyond, bringing the essence of news, opinions, adverts, technology, science, and sports in a compact but descriptive way. Newspapers, magazines, journals, social media, the internet, and gazettes have been a major source of information and enlightenment since the establishment of civilization, spreading ideas to explore and venture into the real world, igniting the ignorant minds with the opportunities this world holds, bringing the economic, political and social face of the world on the side of our morning tea and inciting the conversations to lead a change.
This poses an evocative question about the freedom of the press and the limits to which they can explore the horizon. In order to soar high in the sky, one must get rid of the shackles imposed by society or dictating conventions. Press and media have the ability and power to awaken the masses with the free and bold presentation of the world around you, drawing an unbiased, uninfluenced and authentic image of the everyday event, leaving it on the audience's perspective to form an opinion or not. Press forms a reliant and necessary pillar of every democracy in this world, holding the power to reach people and aware them of the policies and steps taken by the government for their betterment, raising questions on the shortcomings of the government and building room for improvement in quality of governance. Without media in the picture, the government and people will always be aloof and unaware of the aspirations and expectations from each other.
Playing such a significant and dominant role in the social framework, it becomes necessary to regulate the working of media. Governments around the world should empower media to bring a hologram of this globe on their mobile phones, newspapers, bulletins, or any other source they turn to for gathering information but it is on the media's part to lay out a true and verified notion as their statements are perceived as verdicts. The false narrative is the most potent weapon nowadays to destroy the world. Press and media should double verify their sources before publishing any headline as the narratives spread like forest fires. If they possess the power to ignite people then they do have the ability to burn the foundations. Every freedom comes at a cost and here this freedom of expression granted to the press comes with a responsibility to fan the headlines after proper and required verification.
On this Press Freedom Day, we celebrate the success and contribution of the press and media in shaping this world and the change they led towards a progressive future, freely and boldly.
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