NEWSPAPERS

OR
POWER OF PRESS IN DEMOCRACY
I am not afraid of hundreds of battalions of an army but I am
afraid of a single newspaper.
-Hitler
A newspaper has a powerful influence in the modern world. Today newspapers are
published in a number of languages like Hindi, English, Urdu etc. the most
important function of a newspaper is to bring us the news of world. They inform us
about our country and every important happening of the world. Without them we
would bf like a frog in a well.
In a democratic country like India press or newspapers are an important means of
forming public opinion. They comment on current events and criticize or
appreciate the policy of Government. It is through them that the public comes to
know about the problems of the country and the possible ways for solving them.
Thus, they educate the public mind and enable them to have their own opinion on
matters of public importance. In a democracy they can a play a vital role to keep
down fissiparous tendencies and create national integration.

Newspapers are like watch dogs on governments.

Besides this newspapers are also important media of communication between the
government and the people. Govt. publishes its plans, programs, policies and its
achievements in newspapers public reaction and opinion. The people also use the
newspapers to praise the governments policies or express-dissatisfaction over
them. The newspapers voice the grievances of the people. They serve as a check on
the government. They are essential for the proper functioning of democracy.
Newspapers also serve as important means of advertisement. They help in trade
and commerce by advertising their products or other benefiting schemes for
public. The Government and companies use newspaper to let the people know
about their vacancies for different posts. The newspapers also help a lot of
marriageable youths through their matrimonial columns to find out desirable

partners. In addition to all these, the newspapers industry also has vast scope of
employing people in different capacities. In short, they play a very important role
in our social life.
But the newspapers have some drawbacks too. They serve as means of propaganda
for the various political parties. Often sectarian and ambiguous views and
comments are expressed through them. The newspapers create communal
disharmony by voicing biased opinions of religious leaders with vested
interesr.often they create agitation in public mind by publishing cheap and
misleading advertisement.
But these disadvantages are nothing in comparison to their manifold advantages.
They are really a great use for the people. So they should be encouraged by the
Govt. also The Govts recent proposal to introduce parser Bharti Bill is very much
Welcome. For a democracy, the newspapers undoubtedly have a vital role to play.

The press is the peoples university.

-J. Parton