Topic: Information sharing and transparency in government;
7. Most of the leading media companies are owned by large conglomerates that are still controlled by the founding families and that invest in a vast array of industries other than media. What are its ramifications and possible solutions to those ramifications? (150 words)
Why the question:
India is one of the biggest media markets in the world. However, the concentration of ownership of media shows that a handful of people own and control Indian media.
Key Demand of the question:
To bring out the impact of concertation of media power in the hands of few and to suggest measures to address it.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by mentioning how, the production of media content and its distribution are becoming increasingly combined and concentrated in the hands of a few which is leading to weakening of the fourth pillar of democracy.
Body:
Mention in detail the ramification of concertation of media in the hands of few major business houses such as biased news, one sided agenda, threats to pluralism, Patches of transparency and secrecy, Political leverage and politicization of news, rewarding or punishing media outlets through the allocation or non-allocation of advertising and violence against journalists etc.
Suggest steps to prevent such ramifications like framework law on overarching regulation on media houses, compulsory disclaimer on interests in media houses by politicians, preventing politicization of news by holding news channels accountable for their content, promoting free and fair independent journalism, protecting independent journalists from backlash from authorities or the powerful etc.
Conclusion:
Touch on the importance of free and fair media in a democracy as your conclusion.
