Instead of revealing the truth, the mass media very often misguides people. What are the reasons behind this and the visible effects on the society at large?

Nowadays,
media
outlets spread fake
news
through print, TV and electronic modes.
This
has a negative effect on the thinking and beliefs of the citizens of a nation. It
also
can change the direction of development of a society.
Firstly
, it is common knowledge that people like, watch and read sensational
news
. The
media
understands
this
need of the common man and embellishes its reporting with lies and half-truths so that their readership and viewership
grows
Correct subject-verb agreement
grow
show examples
.
Additionally
,
due to
the increased TRP, they are able to sell more advertisement space and time to sponsors who are willing to pay lakhs of rupees to propagate these kinds of
news
.
Such
misinformation is in turn propagated by individuals on social
media
like Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter causing disruption in local communities. To illustrate, a piece of
news
from mainstream
media
, about a couple of kidnappers was passed around on social
media
, which led to a few individuals being lynched by locals just based on suspicion.
Secondly
, there is rampant corruption in reporting.
Media
houses are being bought by wealthy groups with vested interests.
This
trend is influencing the reporting and making it partisan.
For example
, a very popular
media
house was bought by a vested group and the programmes of two reporters whose journalism was considered contrary to the new owners were scrapped from the channel.
Consequently
, the viewers of the channel are now treated to only one-sided views on
news
, which is unethical.
To conclude
, we can say that mass
media
has lost its original purpose of reporting
eye-witness
Correct your spelling
eyewitness
show examples
news
without any bias.
This
has caused widespread misinformation and ignorance, which could lead to turbulence and violence at local levels, something very harmful to society
Submitted by Leena Kapoor on

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coherence cohesion
Ensure that each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the topic and develops it thoroughly. Work on providing a more structured and cohesive flow in the essay. The introduction and conclusion should more clearly frame the discussion in relation to the task prompt.
task achievement
Provide a more comprehensive and balanced exploration of the reasons behind misleading media and its effects on society. Include a wider range of examples and consider alternative perspectives. Make sure to address all key points of the task prompt with clarity and depth of analysis.

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Topic Vocabulary:
  • Misinformation
  • Media Conglomerates
  • Clickbait
  • Editorial Slant
  • Fake News
  • Cognitive Bias
  • Critical Thinking
  • Fact-checking
  • Social Fabric
  • Echo Chamber
  • Public Discourse
  • Disinformation Campaigns
  • Media Literacy
  • Censorship
  • Agenda-setting
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