Media Should Uncover Truth

Media has been widely recognised as a credible agency to inform, entertain, educate and empower the citizens. Unquestionably, it is an influential instrument in forming public opinions and nudging the general public for the cause of crucial societal changes. During the party-less Panchayat system, the weekly newspapers were on the frontline to carry out ‘mission’ journalism that sought to restore multiparty democracy, press freedom and civil rights. However, under the liberal order, the mainstream media has largely served or been mobilised to execute what the political scientist call the ‘civilising mission’ in which Western ideas, especially the rights agenda are aggressively promoted, depicting the native values as irrelevant and unscientific.