Influence of Commercialism on the Contents of the Indian Media: An Enquiry

Abstract

No one will engage in a dispute that the media have to make profits for survival. Indian media are no exception in this regard. On one hand, it is expected that a media will be sustainable from the stand point of commerce and on the other, follow the path of the interest of commerce considering the profiteering motif only would be unsound and thoughtless for it. It indicates media’s bypassing of the social responsibility and commitment to the society. The objectives of the owners of media are to run media as trade and exercise it for satisfying the interests of their other merchandizes and upholding the culture of spirit of trade and commerce. The aims and objectives of this Paper are to enquire about how commercialism has affected the contents of the media in India. The Paper has followed the Observational and Analytical Method for this enquiry. The misleading trend can be reversed by strengthening the institution of internal ombudsman, the internal mechanism of editorial freedom, formulating a code of conduct for journalists from within the profession and taking initiative to ensure that the guidelines of the Press Council of India are adhered to. Above all, journalists should always remember that media is a public utility service and they are unofficial public servants. Similarly, the fact that the primary objective of media is service and not profit should not be forgotten by the media management. While media should be economically viable, the profit motive should not blind owners and proprietors of the media to perform their role of the social accountability. Therefore, the success of a media-outlet is determined by a correct blending of economic interests, social commitments and professional integrity.