We all believe that news programmes and newspapers keep us updated on everything happening around us each day. From political developments and party activities to interviews with politicians, government programs, administrative updates, and public protests, we assume the news telecasts delivers all this information to us quickly and keeps us well informed.
However, are news telecasts truly designed to inform us about what is happening around in the world? Do they really exist to provide us with the essential information we truly need?
Many of us believe the news helps us to understand the activities of the governments, decisions and their policies. But does it truly provide a complete picture of how the government institutions actually work? Do they actually reveal the true reasons behind the decisions of the governments? Do they really reveal the individuals and the companies that will benefit from the new projects and the schemes?
All the media channels loudly broadcast debates and accusations between political parties; but do they ever expose the quiet alliances, the hidden dealings and the strategic collaborations between those same parties? If not, why do they remain silent? Why do they occasionally sensitize corruption in headlines, but always remain silent about the corruption that exists everywhere, all the time?
When all the media channels continuously report on government decisions, political speeches, and party statements, why do they often ignore how we, the citizens can be a part of the decision-making process, what opportunities are open to us, what rights do we have, and how can we voice our opinions or concerns?
News channels constantly push breaking headlines, but why don’t they track stories consistently or investigate them fully? Why aren’t issues followed through or facts thoroughly verified? Is it designed to condition us to shift our attention rapidly from one story to another and to influence us to avoid deep thinking?
In political debates, is there any real space for a thoughtful discussion or a healthy dialogue? Do they focus on one issue, give space to all viewpoints, encourage calm discussion, and help distinguish right from wrong? Do they promote patient listening and reasoning? Or do they end up creating noise and confusion, and thereby making us frustrated with politics and gradually pushing us away from any political engagement?
Have these debates ever truly influenced government decisions or led to real policy changes? If they haven’t, are they simply a mechanism that keeps us engaged in debates and discussions among ourselves while limiting us in taking actions and moving towards a real change?
When all the media outlets are forcing the government’s decisions and plans on the public, do they actually value our opinions? Do they genuinely voice the actual public sentiment back to those in power? Are media narratives shaped by our voices and perspectives, or are the narratives we believe are framed through the perspectives chosen for us?
If so, are the news telecasts carefully designed and structured so as to conceal the political realities, creates unnecessary confusion, makes us debate surface-level issues, and gradually diverts us away from truth?
What do we really absorb from news stories about theft, murder, robbery, suicide, conflict, fraud, violence, accidents, and death? And what value do we derive from reports on love affairs, sexual assault, abuse, and exploitation? Are they purely informational, or do they highlight and give importance to such news to generate fear and influence public thought? Are they just reporting what exists, or are the continuous reporting playing a role in making such incidents feel more frequent?
Why do news media routinely report weather updates, yet pay less attention to long-term climate changes, increasing natural disasters, and their underlying causes?
Are film updates and sports coverage designed to divert our attention away from political actions and manipulations?
If the news does not inform us about the essential information and truths, if they don’t examine the actual problems, if they never question the root causes and if they never explore or discuss the real solutions, then what is the purpose of watching the news or reading newspapers?
When most of the media platforms are owned and influenced by the political parties and powerful corporations, wouldn’t their values and the policies naturally align with their agendas? If so, how can they be trusted to broadcast the essential truths needed for real societal change?
The same news repeats every day, the same patterns continue all year. For every event, similar narratives are presented in different words and forms; only the place, names, and dates change. Yet we consume it as if it’s new. When we step back and reflect on it, it almost seems absurd. But isn’t that the reality?
If so, isn’t it sensible and logical enough to conclude that news telecasts are here to create a powerful illusion by hiding the real politics out of sight, distracting us with meaningless debates, thereby making some of us feel informed and the rest of us feel frustrated about politics and discouraging deeper involvement among all of us?
How long will it take for us to truly understand these patterns and when are we going to step away from these unnecessary distractions?
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