Power of Media: Mass Media and Politics (Paragraph / Composition / Essay )

Paragraph Writing

Composition / Essay Writing

 Power of Media: Mass Media and Politics

The word ‘media’ usually refers to newspaper, television, and radio which are used to communicate with the mass of the people. They are the most frequently and effectively used media devices for informing the public as a whole. In today’s world of rapid change and much activity, people need to be kept informed. And hence the need for the media is felt.

The press in America is sometimes referred to as the Fourth Estate. This term dates back to 18th-century Britain. It was meant to suggest that the press was a force in society and government equal to the three recognized “estates” of the time—the nobility, the clergy, and the commoners. Today the term still signifies that the press plays a special role in our system of government.

That role, however, is both ambiguous and controversial. Journalists, after all, are not elected by the people. They are not even appointed or confirmed by elected officials. What gives these private citizens, working mostly for private corporations, the right to an influential role in how the country is governed? One answer some journalists like to give is that their profession is actually mentioned in the Constitution. The First Amendment guarantees “freedom of speech and of the press.” This freedom, they say, reflects the Founding Fathers’ recognition of the special role of the press.

These days the press is often referred to as the media. Like “Fourth Estate,” the term “media” reflects a certain understanding about the role of the press in society. Media, the plural of medium, literally means the various technologies that convey information—from ink on paper to telephones and television to the Internet.

Journalists themselves have contributed to this confusion by sometimes suggesting that they, unlike ordinary people, have a special duty and a special gift to draw no conclusions and have no opinions about the matters they cover. Of course they do not have such a gift—and therefore they cannot have such a duty. In many European countries, journalists and journalistic institutions have overt political labels. In a way, this is more honest. It doesn’t relieve the journalist of the duty to be fair and objective. But it does relieve him or her of the pretense of having no opinion. And it allows the reader or viewer to know what predisposition the journalist brings to the story.

Issues of press responsibility, bias, and invasion of privacy have all been sharpened by the arrival of the Internet as a new force in the media. The Internet has changed things in at least two ways. First, it has speeded up the so-called news cycle—the time it takes for new developments to be reported. Second, it has lowered the barriers to entry: anyone with a computer and a modem can be a media mogul.

These developments have increased competition in the press and, some argue, have lowered standards of reporting. Accuracy suffers from the rush to beat the competition, especially when beating the competition is a matter of minutes or seconds rather than hours or days. Increased competitive pressure also makes it harder for the media to maintain traditional taboos on subjects like the sex lives of politicians. New arrivals may not have the same standards of accuracy or discretion as traditional news media have had. Yet, once a piece of information is out on the Internet, it becomes hard for the media to ignore it. The Internet, as the newest powerful Fourth Estate in our society, is making information and argument more plentiful than ever.

Media plays the effective role in building awareness among people. Programmes on public health, family planning, and sanitation are covered on media for the betterment of the nation. In the modern age the media have a close connection with entertainment. Various cultural and recreational programmes covered on media are very entertaining to people of various classes and ages. Important information like weather forecast, news about business world can easily reach people through media. Media is also the most effective weapon of the government’s propaganda and circulations. Thus media plays a significant role in our every moment of life. In today’s world we cannot conceive of a day when we do not come in contact with a television or radio programme or read some columns of some newspapers.

Vocabulary:

80 vocabulary words from the text on "Power of Media: Mass Media and Politics" and their meanings in English, Bangla, and Hindi:

Vocabulary	English Meaning	Bangla Meaning	Hindi Meaning
Media	Tools of communication such as television, radio, or print	গণমাধ্যম (Gonmoddhom)	मीडिया (Media)
Mass	A large number of people or things	জনসাধারণ (Jonsadharon)	जन (Jan)
Communication	The exchange of information or news	যোগাযোগ (Jogajog)	संचार (Sanchar)
Inform	To provide knowledge or news	জানানো (Janano)	सूचित करना (Soochit Karna)
Effective	Successful in producing a desired result	কার্যকর (Karyokor)	प्रभावी (Prabhavi)
Press	Journalism, newspapers, and magazines	সংবাদপত্র (Shongbadpotro)	प्रेस (Press)
Fourth Estate	The press or media seen as a powerful group in society	চতুর্থ স্তম্ভ (Choturtho Stombo)	चौथा दर्जा (Chautha Darja)
Estate	A social or political class or order	স্তম্ভ (Stombo)	दर्जा (Darja)
Ambiguous	Unclear or having multiple meanings	অস্পষ্ট (Osposto)	अस्पष्ट (Aspasht)
Controversial	Causing disagreement or public debate	বিতর্কিত (Bitorkito)	विवादास्पद (Vivadaspad)
Journalist	A person who writes for newspapers, magazines, etc.	সাংবাদিক (Sangbadik)	पत्रकार (Patrakar)
Elected	Chosen by voting	নির্বাচিত (Nirbachito)	चुना हुआ (Chuna Hua)
Profession	An occupation requiring specialized knowledge and skills	পেশা (Pesha)	पेशा (Pesha)
Constitution	A set of fundamental laws or principles	সংবিধান (Songbidhan)	संविधान (Samvidhan)
Amendment	A formal change or addition to a legal document	সংশোধনী (Songshodhoni)	संशोधन (Sanshodhan)
Freedom	The power or right to act or speak without restraint	স্বাধীনতা (Swadhinota)	स्वतंत्रता (Svatantrata)
Guarantee	A promise or assurance, especially one legally binding	নিশ্চয়তা (Nishchoyota)	गारंटी (Garantee)
Reflect	To show or represent something	প্রতিফলিত করা (Protifolit Kora)	प्रतिबिंबित करना (Pratibimbit Karna)
Recognition	Acknowledgment or identification	স্বীকৃতি (Shwikrity)	पहचान (Pehchan)
Special	Unique or particularly important	বিশেষ (Bishesho)	विशेष (Vishesha)
Duties	Obligations or responsibilities	দায়িত্ব (Dayitto)	कर्तव्य (Kartavya)
Duty	A moral or legal obligation	কর্তব্য (Kortobyo)	कर्तव्य (Kartavya)
Gift	A natural ability or talent	উপহার (Uphar)	उपहार (Uphaar)
Conclusion	A judgment or opinion formed after consideration	উপসংহার (Uponghar)	निष्कर्ष (Nishkarsh)
Predisposition	A tendency to behave in a particular way	প্রবণতা (Prôbônotā)	पूर्वाग्रह (Purvagrah)
Bias	A tendency to favor one thing over another	পক্ষপাতিত্ব (Pokkho Patitto)	पक्षपाती (Pakshapati)
Invasion	The act of entering a place in an unwelcome manner	আক্রমণ (Akrômon)	आक्रमण (Aakraman)
Internet	A global system of interconnected computers and networks	ইন্টারনেট (Internet)	इंटरनेट (Internet)
Force	A powerful influence or effect	শক্তি (Shokti)	शक्ति (Shakti)
Cycle	A sequence of events that is repeated regularly	চক্র (Chôkrô)	चक्र (Chakra)
Speeded	Made faster or more efficient	দ্রুত করা (Druto Kora)	तेज़ करना (Tez Karna)
Barriers	Obstacles or limits that hinder progress	বাধা (Badhā)	अवरोध (Avrodh)
Entry	The act of going into a place or becoming involved	প্রবেশ (Probesh)	प्रवेश (Pravesh)
Mogul	A powerful and influential person, especially in media	ধনী ব্যক্তি (Dhôni Bektī)	उद्योगपति (Udyogpati)
Competition	The act of competing or contesting	প্রতিযোগিতা (Protiyogita)	प्रतियोगिता (Pratiyogita)
Accuracy	The state of being correct or precise	সঠিকতা (Sôthikota)	शुद्धता (Shuddhata)
Rush	To move quickly and urgently	তাড়াহুড়া (Tāṛāhuṛā)	जल्दी करना (Jaldi Karna)
Pressure	The stress or tension resulting from competition or demands	চাপ (Chāp)	दबाव (Dabav)
Maintain	To continue or keep something in a certain state	রক্ষা করা (Rokkha Kora)	बनाए रखना (Banaye Rakhna)
Taboos	Prohibited or restricted things in a particular society	নিষিদ্ধ বিষয় (Nishiddho Bishoy)	वर्ज्य (Varjy)
Discretion	The quality of being careful about what one says or does	বিচক্ষণতা (Bichokkhôṇotā)	विवेक (Vivek)
Arrival	The act of coming to a place	আগমন (Āgômon)	आगमन (Aagman)
Ignore	To deliberately avoid noticing or paying attention to	উপেক্ষা করা (Upeksha Kora)	अनदेखा करना (Andekha Karna)
Plentiful	Available in large quantities	প্রচুর (Pôtrush)	प्रचुर (Prachur)
Argument	A reason or set of reasons given to persuade or explain	যুক্তি (Jukti)	तर्क (Tark)
Building	The act of constructing something	নির্মাণ (Nirman)	निर्माण (Nirman)
Awareness	Knowledge or perception of a situation or fact	সচেতনতা (Shochētônotā)	जागरूकता (Jagarukta)
Public Health	The health of the population as a whole	জনস্বাস্থ্য (Jônswasthyo)	सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य (Sārbajanik Svasthya)
Sanitation	The promotion of hygiene and prevention of disease	স্বাস্থ্যসেবা (Shasthyo Sheba)	स्वच्छता (Swachhta)
Government	The group of people who rule or manage a country or state	সরকার (Shorkar)	सरकार (Sarkar)
Propaganda	Information, often misleading, used to promote a particular idea	প্রচারণা (Pôchārônā)	प्रचार (Prachaar)
Circulations	The number of copies of a newspaper or magazine sold	প্রচলন (Pôchôlon)	प्रसार (Prasar)