NCERT Class 7 Civics Chapter 6 - Understanding Media

Chapter 6 - Understanding Media

Question and Answers
Question 1: In what ways does the media play an important role in democracy?
Answer: Media plays an important role in democracy in the following ways
*They make the masses know about certain issues/problems.
*They propagate the policies and programmes of the government.
*They also criticize the unpopular policies and programmes of the government.
*They help in forming the opinions of the masses.
*They also report various crimes and mishappenings, accidents etc.
*The media also announce the opinions of the public about certain issues/problems.

Question 2: What does the word 'Media'mean?
Answer: Radio, televisions, newspapers, the internet and several other forms of communication are collectively known as media. Media is a plural form of the word 'medium'and it describes the various ways through which we communicate in society.

Question 3: What do you mean by an independent media? Why is it so important for the media to be independent?
Answer: An independent media means no one should control and influence it's coverage of news. No one should tell the media what should be included and what not to be included in the news story. It means that no one should be under ones pressure. It will be totally independent. An independent media is important because it it on the basis of the information that the media provides that we take in action as citizens. Hence, it is essential that this information is reliable. It should be biased at all.

Question 4: Define the following
a) Media - The word 'media' refers to all means of communication, everything ranging from a phone call to the news on television.

b) Public protest - When people collectively state their opposition to some issues by starting a signature campaign, organising rally etc is known as a public report.

c) Balanced report - A balanced report is one that discusses all the points of views of a particular story and then leaves it to the readers to make up their minds.

d) Censorship - The government has power to disallow media from showing or publishing certain stories. This means that the government can censor the media.

e) Broadcast - A TV or radio programme that is widely transmitted.

f) Setting Agenda - One of the important functions of a media is that it decides what stories should be focused on and thus decides on what is newsworthy. This is often said that the media sets agenda.

g) Local media - It deals with small issues that involve ordinary people and their daily lives. It publishes news of local important.

Question 5: Write a brief note on 'local media.
Answer: Local media covers small issues that involve ordinary 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 videos cameras on real-life conditions faced by different poor communities and at time, have even given the poor these video cameras to make films on their life.

Question 6: What do you mean by a balanced report?
Answer: A balanced report can be defined as the report where all outlook or viewpoints of a particular narrative or story is discussed or taken into contemplation.
This should understand media is an independent network and the collection and influence of news cannot be controlled. However, in this regard, the information provided by the media should factually correct and reliable.

Question 7: What are the various ways through which people express their dissatisfaction to any of the government decision which does not go in their favour?
Answer: They do so by writing letter to the concerned ministers, organising a public protest, starting a signature campaign and asking the government to reaching its program etc.

Question 8: You read about the ways in which the media 'sets the agenda' . What kind of effect does this have in a democracy? Provide two examples to support your point of view?
Answer: Media form the public opinion in a democracy. It can build up public opinion in favour of or against any issue. However, today the situation is different as the media has diverted from its real agenda. Now, it prefers to cover the stories which are in favor of those in power. Thus, the issue of real concern and are in the interest of the mass are ignored due to the selective altitude of the media.
For example drinking water is a major problem in the country. Every year, 1000 of people suffer and die because of the unavailability of the safe drinking water. However, we seldom find the media discussing the issue.
Another example is of a well known Indian journalist writing about fashion week that formed the front page headlines of all the newspapers while several slums were being demolished in Mumbai, the very same week, and this was not even noticed.