Role of press (News papers)

Role of press 

News papers

Outline: 
1-Important role in society 
2-Awareness among the people 
3-Fair criticism 
4-Political education 
5- Attention toward important problems 
6-Informative articles 
7-International good will 
Newspaper play a very important role in the modern society.They are an index of all the political and non-political activities of a people. At the same time they influence these activities.This indicates that the press has many uses and significant responsibilities The most important thing that the press does is the awareness creates among the people by giving them news of all sorts.
 The activities and policies of the government are made known. This makes easy for every man to have his own opinion about what the government is doing. So the news not only satisfy his curiosity to know things but to judge their nature and value also. A responsible press in a free country always does this with honesty. Another function of the press may be said to be a fair criticism of the activities of the government. 
The government in a free country does not do anything contrary to national interests. If it does so, intentionally or unintentionally the press criticizes its acts. But blind criticism is not the mark of a responsible press. Even when different newspapers have different political sympathies,useful things done by the government should be duly praised. Such fair criticism establishes link and creates understanding between the people and the government. 
This link is an important feature of democratic state. It follows from the above observations that the newspapers give the people political education. The awareness created among the people by the press educates their minds and makes them responsible citizens. A responsible press always tries to keep this requirement in view. When the press of a country poisons the minds of people by giving them wrong information and bad instruction, it abuses its power. Its important function is to make the people as well as the government conscious of their respective irresponsibilities.
 The newspapers publish informative articles on all sorts of subjects. Intelligent and well-educated men are invited to express their views on vital issues of the day. These are usually written by those who have good knowledge of their subjects. This may be called the direct way of educating the readers. 
Through such articles people are informed about certain important problems which should attract their attention. This purpose is partially fulfilled by the editoria.It should not be supposed that the newspapers centre their attention upon national problems only. Every country is a member of the international brotherhood of nations. The scientific inventions have brought all the nations close together. 
It is essential that we should know what our neighbours do. Moreover, the cold war going on between blocks will have bearing on the fates of all the nations of the world! These facts increase our interest in International affairs. The newspaper keep us aware of what happens in other countries. 
A responsible press always tries to promoted international good-will. Its little irresponsibility might lead the world into an atomic war. It is obvious that the press can only be responsible and useful if it fulfils all these conditions up to this standard.