Social Studies SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS(3 Mark)

In a news studio, it is not only the newsreader who needs to be paid but also a number of other people who help put the broadcast together. This includes those who look after the cameras and lights. Also, as you read earlier the technologies that mass media use keep changing and so a lot of money is spent on getting the latest technology. Due to these costs, the mass media needs a great deal of money to do its work. As a result, most television channels and newspapers are part of big business houses.

Media plays an important role in providing news and discussing events in the country and the world. This helps citizens to learn about functioning of government. Citizens can take action based on the news. They can write letters to ministers or organise a public protest. Signature campaign may be stated to make government rethink on certain issue.

A title to the above diagram may be given like this—Media and Big Business Houses. Big Business Houses attract people to promote their products through media. It is the best and the cheapest means to reach people at large.

Television has enabled us to think of ourselves as members of a larger global world. Television images travel huge distances through satellites and cables. This allows us to view news and entertainment channels from other parts of the world. Most of the cartoons that we see on television are mostly from Japan or the United States. We can now be sitting in Chennai or Jammu and can see images of a storm that has hit the coast of Florida in the United States. Television has brought the world closer to us.

The technologies that mass media use keep changing and so a lot of money is spent on getting the latest technology. The TV studio in which the newsreader sits has lights, cameras, sound recorders, transmission satellites etc. All of these cost a lot of money. One thing more, it is not only the newsreader who needs to be paid but also a number of other people who help put the broadcast together. Due to these costs mass media needs a great deal of money to do its various works. As a result, most television channels and newspapers are part of big business houses.

Changing technology, or machines, and making technology more modern, help media to reach more people. It also improves the quality of sound and the images that we see. But technology does more than this. It also changes the ways in which we think about our lives. For example, today it is quite difficult for us to think of our lives without television. Television has enabled us to think of ourselves as members of a larger global world. Television images travel huge distances through satellites and cables. This allows us to view news and entertainment channels from other parts of the world.

'Setting of an agenda' by the media means that the media plays an important role in shaping our thoughts. By 'setting agendas', the media influences the way we think and makes us aware of issues which it thinks is important. One instance of this would be the raising of awareness about the levels of pesticides in colas. Another is the Fashion week, which was at the front of headlines while several slums were being demolished in Mumbai.

The media decides the issues and stories to focus on. This is called "setting the agenda". The government through censorship prevents certain stories to be published. Media's relationship with business houses affects balanced reporting.
It is therefore, important that we do not rely too much on one sided factual reporting. We should ask questions like what is the information I am getting and what is not provided.

'Setting of an agenda' by the media means that the media plays an important role in shaping our thoughts. By 'setting agendas', the media influences the way we think and makes us aware of issues which it thinks is important. One instance of this would be the raising of awareness about the levels of pesticides in colas. Another is the Fashion week, which was at the front of headlines while several slums were being demolished in Mumbai.

1. Writing a balanced report depends on an independent media.
2. No one should influence and control the coverage of news.
3. No one should tell the media as to what is to be included and what is not to be included in the news.
4. If the information is reliable and not biased then only it is balanced.

1. In a democracy, the media plays a very important role in providing news and discussing events taking place in the country and the world.
2. It on the basis of this information that citizen can, for example, learn how government works.
3. And often, if they which to they can take can do this is by writtng letters to the concerned minister, organising a public protest, stating a signature campaign, asking the government to rethink its programme, etc.

The different technologies that mass media use are expensive. In a news studio, it is not only the newsreader who needs to be paid but also a number of other people who help put the broadcast together. The technologies that mass media use keep changing and so a lot of money is spent on getting the latest technology. Due to these costs, the mass media needs a great deal of money to do its work. Thus, mass media is constantly thinking of ways to make money.

Media sometimes focus on only one side of the story because:

1. Media’s continual need for money and its links to advertising means that it becomes difficult for media to be reporting against people who give them advertisements.
2. They believe this makes the story interesting.
3. They often do this to increase public support for an issue.

• Everything ranging from the stall at the local fair to the programme that we see on TV is called media.
• Media is the plural form of the word 'medium' which describes the various ways through which we communicate in society.
• Media refers to all means of communication. Everything ranging from a phone call to the evening news on TV is called media.

An independent media means that no one should control and influence its coverage of news. Media is far from independent, this is because of control of government over them. Government prevents some news items, scenes from a movie, or lyrics of songs from being shared with larger public, this is called as censorship.

The media also plays an important role in deciding what stories to focus on, and therefore, decides on what is newsworthy. By focusing on particular issues, the media influences our thoughts, feelings and actions, and brings those issues to our attention.
Example:

1. The media drew our attention to alarming levels of pesticides in cola drinks. They published reports that indicated the high level of pesticides and, thus, made us aware of the need to regularly monitor these colas according to international quality and safety standards.
2. The media drew our attention to suicide committed by farmers which leads to large scale movement and forced the government to look further on this issue.

1. Several instances show that media fails to focus on issues which are significant in our lives.
2. For example, drinking water is a major problem in the country.
3. However, we seldom find the media discussing the issue.
4. A well-known Indian journalist wrote how the fashion week, in which cloth designers show their designs, formed the front page headlines of all the newspapers, while several slums were being demolished in Mumbai the same week, which went unnoticed.

1. The different technologies used by media-lights, cameras, sound recorders, transmission satellites, etc. cost a lot of money.
2. In a newsroom along with the newsreader, there are a number of people who help put the broadcast together.
3. Mass media, therefore needs a great deal of money to do its work. Media uses a number of ways to earn money.
4. One way is by advertising different things like cars, chocolates, clothes, etc.

1. TV helps to shape our views of the world, our beliefs, attitudes and values.
2. We need to realise that it gives us a partial view of the world.
3. We should always be aware of the large exciting world beyond our TV screen.
4. Active viewers enjoy TV as a mode of entertainment and information.

1. Recently in 2015, media drew attention towards more than alarming level of lead (7 times the permissible level) in a package of maggie-2 minute noodle.
2. Maggie was banned nationwide.
3. It made us aware about the Maggi health scare.
4. In covering this, media positively helped us to focus on an issue that affects our lives and how FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) pronounced. Maggie ‘Unsafe and hazardous for human consumption'.

Media is not independent because of two reasons:-

1. Government at times controls the media from sharing many news with the larger public. This is called censorship. In India, it was done during the emergency of 1975-1977.
2. Media channels are controlled by big corporate houses so that focus is on the side of the story which suits them or favours those who give them money through advertisements.

1. The media plays an important role in deciding what stories to focus on and, therefore, decides on what is newsworthy.
2. For example, the annual function at your school is unlikely to make news.
3. But if a famous actor is invited as the Chief Guest, then the media might be interested in covering it.
4. By focusing on particular issues, the media influences our thoughts and brings those issues to our attention.
5. Due to this significant influence, it is said that media sets the agenda.

The media has a very important role to play in our lives:-

1. Through the media, we hear about issues related to the working of the government.
2. The media decides what to focus on and in this way it sets the agenda.
3. If the government prevents the media from publishing the news, it is called censorship.
4. Now-a-days media, close relationship with business often means that a balanced report is difficult to come up.
5. Thus, a factual information which a newspaper gives may not be complete and may be one-sided.

An independent media means that no one should control and influence its coverage of news. No one should tell the media what can be included and what should not be included in a news story. It means that media should not be under any one’s pressure. It will be totally independent. An independent media is very important because it is on the basis of the information that the media provides that we take action as citizens. Hence, it essential that this information is reliable. It should be biased at all.

It is said that media is often controlled by business houses. Media does what these business houses wish. At times, it is in the interest of these businesses to focus on only one side of the story. Media is in the constant need of money.
Hence, it is essential for media to get linked, it is with advertising groups. In such a situation it is difficult for media to report against people who give them advertisements. Its close links to big business houses snatches its independence. It has to do as per the wishes of these business houses, Media also tends to focus on a particular aspect of a story because they believe this makes the story interesting. One thing more, if they want to increase public support for an issue, they often do this by focusing on one side of a story. Thus,it is difficult to say that media is independent.

Local media covers small Issues that involve prdinary people, and their daily lives. It is usually started by local groups. Several people use community radio to tell farmers about the prices of different crops and advise them on the use of seeds and fertilisers. Others make documentary films with fairly cheap and easily
available video cameras on real life conditions faced by different poor communities and, at times, have even given the poor these video cameras to make films on their own lives.
Khabar Lahriya is also a local newspaper. It is a fortnightly that is run by eight Dalit women in Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh. It is written in the local language, Bundeli. This eight page newspaper covers the Dalit issues and cases of violence against women and political corruption. This newspaper is popular among farmers, shopkeepers, panchayat members, school teachers and women who have recently become literate.

Local media covers ‘small’ issues that involve ordinary people and their daily lives. Several local groups have come forward to start their own media. Several people use community radio to tell farmers about the prices of different crops and advise them on the use of seeds and fertilisers. Others make documentary films with fairly cheap and easily available video cameras on real-life conditions faced by different poor communities, and, at times, have even given the poor these video cameras to make films on their own lives.
Another example is a newspaper called Khabar Lahriya which is a fortnightly that is run by eight Dalit women in Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh. Written in the local language, Bundeli, this eight-page newspaper reports on Dalit issues and cases of violence against women and political corruption.

In a democracy, media plays an important role in providing:News and in discussing events taking place in the country and in the world. Media provides information to the citizens and enables them to take action.
An independent media means that no one should control and influence its coverage of news. Media is far from independent, this is because of control of government over them. Government prevents some news items, scenes from a movie, or lyrics of songs from being shared with larger public, this is called as censorship.
Censorship means the process by which media is controlled by the government, when any news, dialogues, lyrics or scene is prevented from being shared with the larger public.

Media has influenced our lives a lot, it is very different to images our life without media. Television, the most commonly used media;

1. Has enabled us to think of ourselves as members of a large global world.
2. Allow us to view news and entertainment channels from other parts of the world.
3. Mostly the cartoons are from japan or USA.
4. Sitting at one place we can see images of storm hit other side of globe.

The media plays an important role in a democracy:

1. It can be effective in creating a just society which is a primary goal of a democracy.
2. It takes the shapes of a motivator and a leader.
3. It has the power to shape an individuals's or society thoughts.
4. It should be responsible and sincere to its objectives.
5. It should inform and not create sensation or mislead the publics.

Media plays an important role in a democracy. It provides news and discusses events taking place in the country and the world. It is on the basis of this information that we learn how the government works.

1. Media also criticises the unpopular policies and programmes that the government takes.
2. Media forms public opinion.
3. Media acknowledges us with several current issues.
4. Media provides awareness among masses.