Military‐Media interface: Changing paradigms new challenges

Abstract

The relationship between the military and the media is changing, propelled by certain momentous developments, in all the major democracies of the world, including India. This scenario of change, which has evolved over a number of years, has shifted the balance towards the media and in the process, thrown up a new series of challenges to the military; challenges which the military must address if it is not to enter future operations, both in conflict and peace, at a significant disadvantage. The role of the press in reporting on the military is likely to be enhanced, and the military is increasingly to be fixed in the media focus. In such circumstances the military must take a long hard look at how it interfaces with the media and make the necessary changes (the necessary adjustments by the media not ruled out) to re-establish a relationship in which the military and the media will be able to successfully work alongside each other to the benefit of both and for the society at large. After all, the media have an important role to interpret the military to society and society to the military.