Post on 09-Aug-2018
In�OurGlobalizing
World
Media
INSTITUTE OF OBJECTIVE STUDIES INDIA
“A must-read book for all those who want to have an insight into the nature and structure of the media…it marks the beginning of critical thinking and enquiry into the media's role in our globalized world.”
- Mohammad Ahmadullah Siddiqi, Professor of Journalism and
Public Relations, Western Illinois University, USA
“Whether in the European Union or in UK, media coverage seems to be superficial and stereotypical rather than being well-researched and of considerable depth.”
- Dr Ahmad Totonji, Emeritus Director, International Institute of
Islamic Thought, USA
“Mainstream media has turned from pro-people to pro-market and pro-business. Instead of standing up for the poor and downtrodden, it is acting as agent of neo-liberalism.”
- Santosh Bhartiya, Chief Editor, ChauthiDuniya
Institute of Objective Studies 162 Joga Bai Main Road,
Jamia Nagar,New Delhi-110025,INDIA.Tel: +91 011-26981187, 26987467, 26989253
Fax: 91-11-26981104E-Mail: ios1@vsnl.com, manzoor@ndf.vsnl.net.in
Website: www.iosworld.org
PREVIEW COPY
3M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
MediaIn Our
GlobalizingWorld
* Readings on Media* Proceedings of IOS Conferences 2011-2012
* Reporting on Global Media Ethics
General Editors:Dr Mohd Manzoor Alam,
Mohd Z Haque, R Mansukhani,R Malcolm
Contributing Editor:Paranjoy GuhaThakurta
INSTITUTE OF OBJECTIVE STUDIES, NEW DELHI
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CONTENTS
Preface 5Message 6Foreword 8
Introduction: What ‘Is’ and ‘Is not’ 11 Knowledge: ‘What’ and ‘How’ we know 15 Hegemony:The‘How’ofDomination19 Democracy: ‘Where’ lies Freedom 21 Nations:For‘Whom’dotheyExist 26 Globalization:‘What’istheDebate28
Our World: Why this Inequality 30
The Global Media: What’s Happening across Our World 34
IOS Conferences 2011-2012: AssessingtheMedia 38
The Indian Media: Grasping its Growth 50
Media Ethics & Freedom of Expression in Developing Countries: An Overview 53
5M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
I am pleased to write the preface to this book containing the proceedings of the
conference on Power of the Media in a Globalizing World,organizedby Instituteof
ObjectiveStudies (IOS).The IOS isheadquartered inDelhi, thecapitalof India,one
ofthelargestcountriesintheworldintermsofpopulation,andalsohavinga200million
Muslimpopulation,whichmakesitoneofthelargestMuslimpopulatedcountriesinthe
world.
IOSisaprominentIslamicorganizationinIndia.IOSisalsowell-knownforitspublications,
journals and its co-ordination with other intellectual forums and organizations and,
especiallywiththeInternationalInstituteofIslamicThought(IIIT),Washington.
The IOS,asa think-tankandresearchorganization,gains its ideational lightandspiritof
thinkingfromMuslimandnon-Muslimscholars.Italsomakesseriouseffortstomakethe
issuesconcerningIndianMuslimsknowntoIndianpoliticalparties,alongwithorganizing
conferences on economic issues, coordinatingwith Arab and Islamic countries to serve
themandalsotoserveIndianMuslimsalongwithstrengtheningtheirenergiesandskills.
IndianMuslimshavebeenadisadvantagedsectionsince Indiagained freedomfromthe
BritishEmpirein1947andtheMuslimsintheeastofIndiasplitintoanewcountrynamed
Bangladesh in 1971, twenty-four years after the creation of Pakistan. Considering this
context,workingfortherightsofMuslimsinIndia,creatinghorizonsfortheirupliftment,
buildingandcreatingorganizationstoworkfortheircauseswillbeatrueserviceforthe
humanityandMuslimsacrosstheglobe.
TheIOSconference,Power of the Media in a Globalizing World, wasanefforttomakea
connectionandestablishinteractionwiththemodernworldbecause,asaruleofnature,
peoplewhosecludeandcutthemselvesfromtheworldandlackactiveinteractionwithit
becomeuselessandtheirenergiesbecomediffuseanddissipate.IndianMuslimsdeserve
attention, support, and co-operation to strengthen and fuel their activities and their
organizations so that they can come forward to explore theworldof knowledgeand to
realisetheIslamicspiritualandhumanideal.
Weshould thereforepayattentionto theprojectsof IOSandalsobecomeapartof the
educationalandintellectualseriesoforganizations,whichhelpactivatethecultureofjustice,
solidarity,creativity,securityandpeace.Thisisatruereflectionoftheuniversalvisionofthe
HolyQur’aninthematerialandbarbarousworldbristlingwithnuclearweapons.Itwillbe
undoubtedlyaverysadmatterifcapablepeopleandcharitableorganizations,especiallyin
theMuslimworld,donotcomeforwardtohelpitscauses.
Wepray toAllah tograntussuccess indoinggooddeeds. Indeed,He is theHearerand
answersourprayers.Professor Emeritus
InternationalInstituteofIslamicThought,Virginia,USA
PrefaceDr.AbdulHamidAbuSulayman
6
MessageDr Ahmad Totonji
I would like to thank the Chairman of Institute ofObjective Studies (IOS), DrMohd
ManzoorAlam,forrequestingmetopenafewwordsonthereleaseofthepublication,
Media in Our Globalizing World. There is no doubt in my mind that the subject is of
utmostimportancetoallofus,whetherwearelivingandworkingintheUnitedStatesof
America,EuropeanUnionorinthefast-growingcountriesofAsia.Themediaisallaround
us, surrounding us at every stage, in every way; it is informing us, entertaining us and
educatingusaboutourworld.
The IOS, as a credible think-tankofNewDelhi, India, hasbeenputting the spotlighton
subjects and issues of global importance while underscoring the regional and national
perspectives.Beingvision-inspiredbyQur’anicprinciplesofjustice,brotherhoodandpeace,
theIOShasbeenforthright inspreadingtheseimportantmessagesforallhumanity.The
presentpublicationisoneintheserieswhichdoestheIOSproud,andItaketheopportunity
tocongratulateitsresearchers,writersandeditorsfortheirpainstakingwork.
Theeditors,asIcanperceive,haveattemptedtounderstandtheglobalissuesconcerning
themedia.Thelastfewdecadeshavebeenaperiodofenormousgrowthandchange;the
publication is trying toholdupamirror toour changingtimesandmakingus awareof
diverseissues.Thediversityofissuesanddifferentperspectivesistherealchallengefacing
theglobalmediatoday.Themediacannotaffordtobeuni-dimensional,mono-culturalor
representingtheviewsofjustonepartoftheworld,howeverimportantorpowerfulthat
worldmaybe.
AsMuslims,livingthroughouttheworld,wedofindthatthemediahasbeenbiasedand
prejudiced, tosaythe least, incovering Islamand its faithfuladherents.Whether it is in
theEuropeanUnionorintheUnitedKingdom,themediacoverageseemssuperficialand
stereotypicalratherthanbeingwell-researchedandofconsiderabledepth.Surely,this is
an issue which has been raised at several forums and has been the subject of innumerable
studies.Intheageofinstantandfastcommunication,themediahasto‘re-invent’itselfand
gobacktothebasics:truth,fairness,objectivityandethics.Onlythenwouldthemediabe
respectedanddeservingofourundividedattention.Otherwise, it facestheriskofbeing
clubbed as not only biased but also filled with elements of entertainment, gossip and
rumours.
IwishtoagaincongratulateIOSforthe25thYearSilverJubileeCelebrationswiththetheme
of Towards Knowledge, Development and Peace – Outlining Roadmaps for the Future. The
IOShas,timeandagain,demonstratedtheintellectualpowertopositionthesekeyissues
whichareofutmostimportanceforthedevelopmentofallMankind.India,withitshuge
7M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
populationofMuslimsspreadacrossthecountry,hasasignificantroletoplayinemerging
Asia.Knowledge,developmentandpeacearetheguidinglightsforthecountry,asawhole,
andtheMuslimsasanintegralpartofthecountry’sculturalethosandsocialcomposition.
KnowingDrManzoorAlam,asIdoforoverseveraldecades,IamsurehewillinspireIOS
to organize more seminars, workshops and conferences on the theme of ‘Media and
the Globalizing World’. These interactions between media practitioners, policy-makers,
legislators,academiciansandactivistswill goa longway in creating socialharmonyand
peace through sustained and meaningful dialogue between cultures, communities and
civilizations.
Emeritus Director, InternationalInstituteofIslamicThought,
Virginia,USA
8
At the advent of television, Marshall McLuhan, while emphasizing the power of
television,statedthatthe‘mediumisthemessage’.Withsocialmediaonslaught
andincreasinguseoftheInternet,thisphrasehasbecomeevenmoremeaningful.
Thepower, influenceaswellas thepresenceofmediahas increasedexponentially.Yet,
sadly, the pictures of other cultures and people have become more fragmented and
distorted.Muslimshavesufferedthemostasfarastheirportrayalandimagesinthemedia
areconcerned.AlthoughthecoverageofbothIslamandMuslimshasincreasedmanifold,
Muslims believe that the misrepresentation and distortion have never been so out of
context,exaggerated,negativeandhostileasthesearetoday.
On the one hand, the contemporary media either lack
the capability to understand and comprehend the
dynamics of the changes and turmoil going on in the
Muslimworld,ordeliberatelyignorethegroundrealities
behindtheeventstakingplaceinMuslimsocieties.On
the other hand, Muslims too have not made any serious
efforttolearnabouttheevolutionofcontemporarymediaandthetheoriesthatarethe
foundationofmediaoperationsaswellasthemediaculture.Therehaveonlybeenasmall
number of studies in the last half century to understand the media coverage of Islam
andMuslimsandthesehaveonlybeenat theacademic level. Muslimshavealmostno
investmentintheworldwideoperationandownershipofthemajormedia-print,electronic
and,more importantly, thenewsandwireservices. EventhougheveryMuslimcountry
has its own media and a few of them also have their news agencies, their media have
relativelyverylowamountofintrinsicallyIslamicnewscontent.Theytooreport‘religion’
inapoliticaldomaininthesamewayasnewsisreportedeverywhereelse.Theirdefinition
ofnewsisalmostthesameasthedefinitionbywhichnewsisjudgedandreportedinthe
West.Insteadofdestroyingmythsandstereotypes,theytoocreateandpropagatecultural,
religious,racial,andallothersortsofmythsandstereotypes.
Intheabovecontextthe issueofethicshasgainedmuchmoresignificanceamongboth
themediascholarsandpractitioners.Theethical frameworkof Islam isverydistinct, its
foundationsarerooted intheHolyQur’anandtheSunnah,and itsapplicationtomedia
practicesmayleadtothedevelopmentofadistinctcodeofmediaethicsandatthesame
timecouldalsoengagemediapractitionerscrossculturally.Suchinteractionmayresultin
the development of a universal code of media ethics which is one of the urgent needs of the
highlyfragmentedandpolarizedglobalmediaenvironment.Despitemanycodesofmedia
ethics,mediasystemsaroundtheworldpractiseethnocentricjournalismandthenewsand
entertainmenttheyprovideleadtoanimbalanceintheflowofinformation.Mostmedia
havebecomeaninstrumentofculturalhegemonyandneo-colonialism.Forexample,ifwe
ForewordMohammadAhmadullahSiddiqi,Ph.D
Muslims too have not madeanyseriousefforttolearnabouttheevolutionof contemporary media.
9M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
analyzethewayworldmediareportontheIsraeliaggressioninthePalestinianterritories,
we can very well understand both the power of media and their ability to misinform and
misleadthepeoplearoundtheworld.Withsuchbiasedreportingjournalismhasbecome
a crusade and journalists campaigners for vested interests. This, I think, is the most
prominentfeatureoftheglobalmediadespiteallthefascinatingtechnologicalanddigital
advancementsthatmediahavebeenusingtoreachouttotheirglobalaudiences.
At this juncture, therefore, Media In Our Globalizing Worldseemsamust-readbookforall
those who want to have an insight into the nature and structure of the media and also want
todevelopastrategytodealwiththemediaeffectsontheirlivesandtheirperceptionofthe
peoplearoundthem.Thisbookisnotamereacademicexercise;itisavaluableadditionto
thecriticalexaminationoftheroleofmediainshapingthepicturesofpeoplesandcultures
inourhead.Itintroducesreaderstoideasofmanyofthecontemporarythinkers,scholars
andauthorswhohaveprovidedacriticalanalysisoftherolesandfunctionsofthemedia,
whichalonecouldhavebeensufficienttomakethisvolumeworthreading.
The book, as the editors have called it, is a ‘work in progress’, which should mark the
beginning of critical thinking and enquiry into the complex issue of media’s role and
functions inourglobalizedworld.Astheeditorsclaim,thebookcovers importanttopics
including the nature of knowledge, the issue of hegemony, especially as it relates to media,
democracy,thechallengesposedbynationalismandthenotionofthenation-stateandthe
prosandconsofglobalization.
Themid-sectionofthebookprovidesasummaryorabriefoverviewoftheconferenceon
the Power of the Media in a Globalizing World,organizedbytheInstituteofObjectiveStudies
(IOS)inNovember,2011.TheIOShasdonearemarkablejobininitiatingsomeofthemuch-
neededworktohelpalleviatethecondition
of the Muslims of India in particular and
to bring strength and unity in the nation
in general.As a think-tank, it hasprovided
impetus to the establishment of national
organizations which are actively working
towards minority rights and welfare. The
issuesdiscussedattheIOSconferenceshould
beconsideredastheinitialorstart-upwork
to draw people’s attention to an area that
has been much neglected by Muslims for a
longtime.Innowaythesedeliberationsare
all encompassing but surely they set the ball
Hopefully this would be the beginningofaproductiveactionplantounderstandand engage with the mediaaswellastoinitiateamutuallybeneficialrelationshipwiththemediatohelptheminorities,especially the Muslims of India.
10
rollingbybringingadiversegroupofscholarsandmediapractitionersintoabrainstorming
conferenceleadingtoanumberofresolutionsandrecommendations.
The last section of the book dealswithwhat I consider themost important issue that
pertainstotheglobalizedmediainourworldtoday.Itisalsoachallengeforinternational
mediatomaintaintheirintegrityandbeobjectiveandfairwhilereportingaboutvarious
crisesacross theglobe.Ethicsmayprovideastableenvironment formediapracticebut
onlyifjournalistsaccepttheirresponsibilitytowardsthesocietyinwhichtheyoperate.Ifall
thatmediacareaboutisto‘sell,’thentheissueofethicsbecomesredundant.Thatiswhy
theIslamicapproachseemsmoreflexibleandpractical.‘Tawheed’beingatthecentre,all
theethicalprinciplescanleadtoatensionfreeandacontradictionfreeapproachtoethics.
I disagree,however,with the classificationof countriesby institutions like theFreedom
Houseas‘free’or‘lessfree’becausesuchclassificationignorestheactualcircumstances
inaparticularregionorcountrythatcausesarestrictiontothefreedomofthepress.For
example,undercertainsituationsuchastheinvasionofPanamabytheU.S.orinvasionof
Iraq,U.S.restrictionsonthefreedomofthepresswerenolesscoercivethanrestrictions
inanyofthosecountriesthatare listedas less free. Nonethe lesstheethicalmapping
provided in this book provides an overview of the freedom of the press in a number of
countriesandthatisusefulindeterminingtheimpactofglobalizationonmediapractices
aswellasmediafreedom.
Media set theagenda for thedaily considerationof the issuesby thepublicandmedia
alsoprovidepeoplewithallkindsofimagesandperceptionsaboutvariouspeople,groups
andnations.Thatiswhyitisnecessarytounderstandhowthemediafunctionandwhat
role theyplayorcouldplay in society.Thenonlywecanalterand influence the image-
makingprocessandfunctionofthemedia. There isalsoagrowingrecognitionthatthe
conceptofaninterdependentworldencompassesmorethanjustpoliticalandeconomic
cooperation.Itrequirestheconvictionthatinspiteofthediversityofraces,colours,faiths,
andphilosophies, there isunity inhumansuffering,dignity,anddestiny. It is clear that
culturalecologyandtheorganizationandstructureofinternationalrelationsareatpresent
inaperiodofprofoundchange.Theneedandthenecessitytounderstandandadaptto
thechangingenvironmenthasbecomeobviousandurgenttodaythaneverbefore. The
book, Media in Our Globalizing World,isanimportantsteptofacilitatesuchunderstanding.
ProfessorofJournalismandPublicRelationsDirectorofJournalismProgramWesternIllinoisUniversity,USA
F O R E W O R D
11M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
At the outset, the editors would like to share with you, esteemed readers, how
‘the idea of this volume’ came about; ‘ideas’ in the twenty-first century have
acquired a currency and lexiconof their own, this volume is bringing together
‘ideas’ that are making an enormous impact in our lives through the media, academia and
everyotherchannelofcommunication.TheNewDelhi-basedInstituteofObjectivestudies
(IOS),athink-thinkwhosemulti-dimensionalachievementsyouwillreadalotmoreabout
inthisvolume,hadorganizedaseriesofinternationalconferencesaspartofits25thYear
AnniversaryCelebrationsthrough2011-12.The‘roleofthemedia’figuredprominentlyin
several of these conferences; the conference in Bangalore, organized during November 14th
to16th,2011,wasspecificallyfocusedonthePower of the Media in a Globalizing World.
The IOSSilver JubileeCelebrationsconcludedwiththe14th InternationalConferenceon
Minority Rights and Identities: Challenges and Prospects in an Unfolding Global Scenario
inNewDelhifromApril13-15,2012.Attheconcludingconference,Minority Rights, Civil
Society and Media,wasanimportantparallelsession.
InApril-May2012,aftertheall IndiaprogrammeoftheIOSconferenceswascompleted,
theChairman,DrMohdManzoorAlamdiscussedwithagroupofeditorsandindependent
journaliststheneedforapublicationwhichwouldbringtogetherallthesubjects,trends,
events, issues, concepts and ideas pertaining to the media that had been shared during the
IOSconferences.
Thegrowingimportanceofthe‘roleofthemedia’isalsoofprimeconcerntothink-tanks
liketheIOS.Themedia’sperspectiveonnewsandcurrentaffairs(andalsohistoryandpast
developments), its trajectory of growth and its technological developments need to be
studied,understoodandpresentedbeforeafast-changingworld.Sincetherateofchange
is rather speedy, the editorial focus has been to present the ‘constants’, subjects and issues
which have not changed, and old concepts and ideaswhich are oftenmasquerading as
new ones. The onslaught of technology is challenging the status quowithin themedia
organizations, and between the media and the civil society as a whole. This volume,
dedicatedto theglobalmedia, ispresentingthekeyconstantsaboutwhichpresentand
futuregenerationsmayneedtobeawareof.Subjectsthatareofprime,andoftentimeless,
importance are:
•Power and the power of the State toinfluence,manipulatethemedia
•Censorship,therighttodissentandtheeradicationofpublicmemory
•Domination of the United States of America inglobalpoliticsandmedia:TheIraqwarand
itsimplicationsonthemedia,publicmemoryandopinions
•Corruption in high places,smearcampaignsandtheirfall-outinmediaandcivilsociety
•Investigative journalism: Questfortruth,objectivity,andfairnessinglobalizingtimes.
IntroductionWhat ‘Is’ and ‘Is not’
12
Challenge to Power:‘Keepcallingpowertoaccount’-SeymourHersh,whoseexposeof
theMyLaimassacre inVietnammadehimahouseholdname,summeduphisvocation
andlifeasoneofthefinestjournalists. HiswordsresonatewiththoseofthegreatIrish
muckrakerClaudCockburn.“Neverbelieveanything,”hewrote,“untilitisofficiallydenied”.
JohnPilger,intheepicanthology,Tell Me No Lies,(London,2004)capturedtheessenceof
thesepioneeringjournalistswhobelievedthatthe“Stateliesroutinely…thisisnotwhatthe
mediacoursesteach.Iftheydid–andtheevidencehasneverbeeningreaterabundance
–thecynicismthatmanyyoungjournalistsbelieveordainsthemasjournalistswouldbe
directedattheirreaders,viewersandlisteners,butatthoseinfalseauthority.”
Intheintroductiontothisanthology,Pilgersharedhisexperiencesandwrote,“Secretive
power loathes journalists who do their job; who push back screens, peer behind facades,
lift rocks.Opprobrium fromonhigh is theirbadgeofhonour.When theBBC refused to
showJamesCameron’sfilmedreportfromwartimeNorthVietnam,Cameronsaid, ‘They
whisperedthatIwasadupe,butwhatreallyupsetthemwasthatIwasnottheirdupe’.
In these days of corporate ‘multimedia’ run by a powerful few in thrall to profit,many
journalistsarepartofapropagandaapparatuswithoutevenconsciouslyrealisingit.”
Traditions of Journalism: ThegenerationtowhichJohnPilgerbelongsistodayananguished
one.TheyhadcoveredtheVietnamandKoreanwars;theywitnessedtheUSdomination
overIndonesiaandsouth-eastAsia,besidesseeinghow‘embeddedjournalism’duringthe
Iraqwarwaschangingtherulesofthegame.Pilgerfelt,“itseemsquiteironicthatasmedia
technologyadvancesalmostbeyondour imagination, it isnot justthetraditionalmeans
ofjournalismthatarebecomingobsolete,butitshonourabletraditions.WhatofEdmund
Burke’sconceptofthepressas‘fourthestate’,asacountertothestateandits‘interests’?”
Why is journalism like this so important? questioned John Pilger. His hard-hitting, no-
holds-barred answer: “Without it, our sense of injustice would lose its vocabulary and
people would not be armed with the information they need to fight it. Orwell’s truth that
‘to be corrupted by totalitarianism, one does not have to live in a totalitarian country’
would then apply. Consider the hundreds of journalists who have been persecuted
and murdered in Guatemala, Nigeria, the Philippines, Algeria, Russia and many other
oppressive states because their independence and courage are feared…In his unpublished
introduction to Animal Farm, Orwell described how censorship in free societies was
infinitely far more sophisticated and thorough than in dictatorships because ‘unpopular
ideas can be silenced and inconvenient facts kept dark, without any need for an official
ban’. It is more than half a century since he wrote that and the essential message remains
the same…”
INTRODUCT ION
13M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
Keepingalivethefinetraditionsofliberalintellectualquestioning,theeditorshave
attemptedtopresentamuch-widercontexttounderstandingtheglobalmedia.
The terrain being covered includes the:
•Nature of knowledge -itsparadigms,thoughtsandideas
•Hegemony and how best we can relate this concept to our world and the media
•Democracy and it’s universal ‘cry for freedom’ across the world
•Nationalism, nation and the nation-state and the challenges it poses
•Globalizationandhowthedevelopedanddevelopingworldsaremanagingit.
Global Responsibility:TheissueofglobalresponsibilityisadmirablyaddressedbyJeffrey
Sachs,oneofthemostrespectedthought-leadersfromtheUS.Heposedthequestionof
globalresponsibilitytoaddressglobalproblemsandissuesintheBBCReithLecturesof2007.
Helookedbackinhistorytofindtheinspirationandguidance.Sachssaid,“Talkingabout
theUnitedStates,acountryatthezenithofitseconomicpower,facingcolossalchangesas
theemergingnationsofAsiaseektotaketheirturnontheworldstage.WhatmustAmerica
do?Howshoulditbehave?Ibelievethatwecanfindourway...solveeventhetoughestof
theseproblems.Practicalanswerstothechallengesofclimatechange,theconservationof
biologicaldiversity,extremepoverty,emergingepidemicdiseases,andfoodinsecurityare
allwithin reach.President JohnF.Kennedysummedup thispotentialwhenhedeclared
that‘Ourproblemsaremanmade-therefore,theycanbesolvedbyman.Andmancanbe
asbigashewants.Noproblemofhumandestinyisbeyondhumanbeings.Man’sreason
andspirithaveoftensolvedtheseeminglyunsolvable-andwebelievetheycandoitagain.’
AndofcourseKennedywasright.Westandtoday(in2007)onthe200thanniversaryofthe
endoftheslavetradeintheBritishEmpire,asteptowardshumanfreedomthatwaswon
throughanunrelentingcampaignof socialactivistsoverentrenchedeconomic interests.
Wearecelebratingthe60thanniversaryoftheindependenceofIndia,the50thanniversary
ofthebirthof independentGhana,thefirst independentcountryinpost-ColonialAfrica.
And of course we are at the 50th anniversary of the
European Community, now the EuropeanUnion. After
a millennium of warfare in Western Europe, the very
thought of conflict among Germany, France, the U.K.,
Italyandothersisutterlyunthinkable.AsKennedysaid,
‘Howeverfixedourlikesanddislikesmayseem,thetideoftimeandeventswilloftenbring
surprising changes in the relationsbetweennationsandneighbours.’ I havebeen laying
outmyviewofhowwecanbestaddressglobalproblems.Thestartingpoint,Ibelieve,is
asoundandscientificdiagnosisoftheproblemsweface,whetherofclimate,biodiversity,
water,orextremepoverty.Nextispublicawareness.Welive,fortunately,inanincreasingly
democraticage.Globalproblemscanonlybesolvedwithglobalpublicunderstanding.”
Global problems can only be solved with global publicunderstanding.
14
The Chairman of IOS, Dr Mohd
Manzoor Alam said, “Our focus has
been on human rights and minority
affairs. The theme for the IOS 25th
Year Celebrations was ‘Towards
Knowledge,Development andPeace.’
Weareengagedincreatingblueprints
for the future, drawing up the road
maps for development for the
minoritiesinparticular,andtheIndian
societyingeneral.IOShasbeenvision-inspiredtoprovideguidelinesforinclusivegrowth
andsuggestionsonhowacademic,religiousandintellectualendeavourscanbedovetailed
withnation-buildingexercises.”
“WeseeasynergybetweentheUNUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsandtheIslamic
teachings embodied in the Shariat,”saidDrMohdManzoorAlam,explainingthatthegoals
ofIslam(ormaqasid al Shariat)arebasedontheconceptsofhumanwell-being(falah)and
thegoodlifewhicharebasedonjustice,equalityandbrotherhood.“It isforthisreason
whyIOSidentifiesitselfasachampionofhumanrightsandseeksjusticeandequalityforall
humanbeings,”hesaid,adding,“OurfocusinIndiahasbeenonminorityrights,fightingfor
therightsoftheMuslimsinparticularbecausetheyhappentobethemostdowntrodden
section in India’s society today. The discrimination faced by theMuslims in India today
goesagainsttheveryletterandspiritofnotjusttheConstitutionofIndiabutalsotheUN
UniversalDeclarationofHumanRights.”
WhileIOSisinconsultativestatus(Roster)withEconomicandSocialCouncil(ECOSOC)oftheUnitedNations,ithasbecomeatrendsetterinconceptualandinvestigativeresearchon the Qur’anic approach to human problems and the problems of Muslims andminoritiesinIndia.
INTRODUCT ION
15M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
Welivein,orintheshadowof,aworldmadebytheWesterner,wroteShamLal
in his review of OrientalismbyEdwardW.Said(RoutledgeandKeganPaul),in
The Times of India(February24,1979),titledMade in the West.
“He(theWesterner)createdtheAssemblyLine, theelectronicmedia, thePRtechnique,
theconsumersocietyandallthegadgetrywhichkeepsitgoing.Hebroughtupalltheisms
–nationalism,liberalism,democraticsocialism,communism,fascism–tooneoranother
ofwhichwe all subscribe.Hefixed the termsof our discourse and the contours of our
doubtsandperplexities.TheWesternerinfactinventedtheOrientaswellastheOrientals,
that isallofuswhohaveourhomesincountrieswhich lietotheeastofEurope.This is
themainburdenofEdwardSaid’snewbook…Itwillbewrongtoimaginethat‘theorient
isessentiallyan idea,orcreationwithnocorrespondingreality.’Therearemanynations
and cultures located in the east and ‘their lives, histories and customs have a brute reality
obviouslygreaterthananythingcouldbesaidabouttheminthewest.’Noraretheorientor
orientalism,whichSaidscrutinizessodiligently,tissuesofliesormyths.Theyareproductsof
westernpoliticaldominationandculturalhegemonyoverthecountriesoncecolonisedby
BritainandFranceandnowmanipulated,insomecasescontrolled,bytheUS,”commented
ShamLal.
Western Intellectual Traditions: Evenaquick readingof JacobBronowski’sThe Western
Intellectual Tradition reveals the roots of this proverbial tree of knowledge, reason and
rationality… and its numerous
branches of domination. “In
recent years, historians have
come to see the far-reaching
change which grew out of the
Renaissancewastheevolutionof
thescientificmethodofinquiry.
They have, therefore, given to
the period of growth in science
between 1500 and 1700 a new
name,theScientificRevolution.ProfButterfieldexpressestheviewofmanycontemporary
historians when he says of the Scientific Revolution that it ‘outshines everything since
the riseofChristianityand reduces theRenaissanceand theReformation to the rankof
mereepisodes.Thus,herecognizestheunfoldingofscientificthoughtbetween1500and
1700wascritical inthecreationofmoderncivilization.Thisrecognition,whichhasbeen
reached only recently, is itself the result of the powerful impact of science on the life of our
generation.Sciencehasmadetheworldoverinthetwentiethcentury,rootandbranch-
intellectuallyandphysically.Indoingso,ithastransformedourunderstandingofthepastas
Knowledge: ‘What’ and ‘How’ We Know
In recent years, historians have come toseethefar-reachingchangewhichgrew out of the Renaissance was the evolutionofthescientificmethodofinquiry.Theyhave,therefore,givento the period of growth in science between1500and1700anewname,theScientificRevolution.
16
radicallyasourexpectationofthefuture.Physically,weliveinanewandchangingworld.
Andintellectuallyweseetheworlddifferently,sothattheprocessesofnatureandevenof
historyhaveadifferentlogicforus.”
“In short, the Scientific Revolution between 1500 and 1700 was in the first place an
intellectualrevolution: ittaughtmentothinkdifferently.Only laterwasthisthoughtput
toanewpracticaluse,intheIndustrialRevolutionabout1800whichgaveourcivilization
itsoutwardcharacter,”wroteBronowski,alegendarythinker-mathematician-teacherofhis
timewhoseepictelevisionseriesThe Ascent of Man (producedbyBBC)remainsapath-
breakingworkofitskind.
Islam’s Contributions:Intheirintroduction
to Studies in Islamic Civilization, (The
International Institute of Islamic Thought,
USA), Ahmed Essa and Othman Ali,
providedacriticaloverviewastheywrote,
“The studies that have tackled Islamic
civilization to date fall into twomain categories. First, a trend inmodern-day academia
denies Islam’s outstanding and far-reaching role in its service to medieval civilization
and the subsequent development in theWest. Thesewriters try to succeedwhere the
medieval Church failed: by denying a respectable recognition of Islam and the positive
traitsofitscivilization.Instead,theirpresentationofIslamandIslamiccivilizationhasbeen
confrontationalandexclusivist.The recentcoinageby this trend inacademia is ‘clashof
civilizations’.However,thereisasecondtrendinWesternacademiathatrecognizesMuslim
contribution to the unfolding of both Islamic and Western civilizations. These scholars
haveperformedresourcefulandpainstakingfieldwork,aswellasdiscoveringandediting
hundredsofmanuscriptsfromlibrariesacrosstheworld.Asaresult,theyhaveuncovered
animmensenumberoftreasuresofmedievalIslam.GeorgeSarton,forexample,isaleading
authorityonthehistoryofscience.Hemaintainsthatuntilthefourteenthcentury,Muslim
civilizationwas“stillatthevanguardofhumanity.Therewasnowhereelseintheworld,in
thosedays,aphilosopherwhocouldatallcomparewithal-Ghazali,neitheranastronomer
likeal-Zarqali,neitheramathematicianlikeOmarKhayyam.”ThesesameWesternscholars
were clear that the Renaissance and modernWestern civilizations owe much more to
Islamiccivilizationthanhasbeenacknowledged.TheyhavenotedthatIslamiccivilization
wasneitherdogmaticnorexclusiveinitsdealingswithnon-Muslims.”
Consciousastheyareofafast-changingworld,EssaandAlisaid,“Nevertheless,owingto
thecontinuingconfrontationbetweenIslamicextremistsandtheWesternworldasaresult
ofthetragiceventsofSeptember11,2001intheUnitedStates,thediscourseofasegment
Atrendinmodern-dayacademiadenies Islam’s outstanding and far-reachingroleinitsservicetomedievalcivilizationandthesubsequentdevelopmentintheWest.
INTRODUCT ION : KNOWLEDGE
17M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
of politically-oriented Western scholars emphasizes
extremist views. This trend, with considerable
influence in political and academic circles, grossly
understates the openness and creativity of Islamic
civilization throughout history. This approach has
created an atmosphere in the West in which, as
journalist and historian Karen Armstrong has pointed
out, “Tolerance is not a virtue that many Western
people today would feel inclined to attribute to
Islam.” The current politically- oriented reading of
Islam, and its civilization contends that there is no
moderateIslam,andthatIslamichistoryandtradition
havenothingtoofferotherthanbigotry,violence,and
holywar.”
The Human Spirit: There are thinkers and activists, working towards enhancing and
enrichingourcivilizationalethos,realizinghowreasonandfaith;modernityandreligion;
culturesanddiversityareoftenbecoming‘traps’.Thereisalwaysthefearofbeingblinkered
byphilosophicalandhistoriographicalquibbles.ItisatthisjuncturethewordsofJonathan
Sacks,theChiefRabbiofLondon,areworthrecounting.
HewasdeliveringtheBBCReithLecturesinNovember1990,andhetitledthelectureasThe
Persistence of Faith,raisingimportantquestionsabouttheimpoverishmentofthehuman
spirit.Inmanyways,hewasspeakingasa‘humanist’andnotareligiousleader.
Rabbi Sacks said, “There aremomentswhen you can see thehuman landscape change
before your eyes, and1989wasoneof them. In retrospect itwill seemas significant a
turningpoint inhistoryas1789, theyearof theFrenchRevolutionand thebirthof the
secular state. Throughout Eastern Europe, communism appeared to crumble. The 20th
century had broken its greatest idols, the two versions of an absolute secular state: fascism,
defeatedin1945,andcommunismlastyear.Butwhat,inthisrevolutionofthehumanspirit,
liesahead?Inthemiddleofitall,theAmericanhistorianFrancisFukuyamawroteanarticle
entitledThe End of History.Inithedescribedtheglobalspreadofliberaldemocracynotas
thetriumphofanideal,butasthevictoryofconsumerculture.Intheend,colourtelevision
hadprovedamoreseductiveprospectthanThe Communist Manifesto.Politicshadmoved
beyondideology.AsEduardShevardnadze,theSovietforeignminister,putit,‘thestruggle
between two opposing systems’ had been superseded by the desire ‘to build up material
wealth at an accelerated rate’. Dialectical materialism was over; mail-order catalogue
There are thinkers andactivists,workingtowards enhancing and enriching our civilizationalethos,realizing how reason and faith; modernity and religion; cultures anddiversityareoftenbecoming‘traps’.
18
materialism had taken its place. Eastern Europe had
discoveredthediscreetcharmofthebourgeoisie.”
The Islamic Worldview: M Umer Chapra’s focus
on the Islamic worldview, and it may be read as an
alternative worldview, provided the fulcrum to his
pioneeringintellectualwork.Hesaid,“Islamenvisages
aneconomicsystemfundamentallydifferentfromthe
prevailingsystems.IthasitsrootsintheShari’ah(Islamic
teachings) fromwhich itderives itsworldviewaswell
asitsgoalsandstrategy.ThegoalsofIslam(maqasidal
Shari’ah),unlikethoseofthepredominantlysecularist
systems of the present-day world, are not primarily
materialist. Theyare ratherbasedon itsownconceptsofhumanwell-being (falah) and
good life (hayattayyibah) which give utmost importance to brotherhood and socio-
economicjusticeandrequireabalancedsatisfactionofboththematerialandthespiritual
needsofallhumanbeings.Thisisbecauseofthebeliefthatallhumanbeingsareequalin
being God’s vicegerents on earth and His dependents, and cannot feel inner happiness and
tranquilityuntiltherealwell-beingofallhasbeenattainedthroughthesatisfactionofboth
spiritualandmaterialneeds.”
“Themaqasid al-Shari’ah(referredtohereafterasthemaqasid)includeeverythingthatis
needed to realize falah and hayattayyibah within the constraints of the Shari’ah.AlGhazali
(Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali c. 1058–1111) incorporates in the
maqasid everything that is considered necessary to preserve and enrich faith, life, intellect,
posterityandwealth.Ghazaliwiselyputsfaithattheheadofthelistofmaqasidbecause,
withintheIslamicperspective,faithisthemostimportantingredientforhumanwell-being.
Itputshumanrelationsonaproper foundation,enablinghumanbeingsto interactwith
each other in a balanced andmutually caringmanner to help ensure thewell-being of
all.Italsoprovidesamoralfilterforallocationanddistributionofresourcesinaccordance
withthedictatesofbrotherhoodandsocio-economicjustice,andamotivatingsystemthat
gives biting power to the goals of need-fulfilment and equitable distribution of income
andwealth.Withoutinjectingthedimensionoffaithintoallhumandecisions,irrespective
of whether they take place in the household, the corporate boardroom, the market, or
the politburo, it may not be possible to realise efficiency and equity in the allocation
and distribution of resources, to minimize macro-economic imbalances and economic
instability,ortoovercomecrime,strife,tensionsandthedifferentsymptomsofanomie,”
saidMUmerChapra,withtheprecisionofwordsandthoughtsto linkthepastwiththe
presenteconomicchallenges.
Ghazali wisely puts faith at the head of the list of maqasid because, within the Islamic perspective,faithisthemostimportant ingredient for humanwell-being.Itputshumanrelationsonaproperfoundation,enablinghumanbeings to interact with each other in a balanced and mutuallycaringmanner.
INTRODUCT ION : KNOWLEDGE
19M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
One of the most intriguing and fascinating subjects in our modern world is
‘hegemony’. As the world advances through the 21st century, we cannot
understand the media without a deeper understanding of hegemony; the two
haveincreasinglybecomeintertwined.
Gramsci’s Pioneering Contribution: The widespread popularity of the concept of hegemony
is the1970sand1980sderived from theMarxist rehabilitationof thePrison Notebooks
of the Italian Communist leader, Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937), who died at the hands
of Mussolini’s Fascists, wrote Kenneth McLeish in Guide to Human Thought - Ideas that
shaped the World (1993,Bloomsbury).“DrawingontheworkofMachiavelliandtheelite
theorist Pareto, Gramsci used the concept of hegemony to describe the way in which he
believedthebourgeoisieestablishedandmaintainscontroleveninademocraticsystemin
whichworkersandpeasantsmightmakeupanelectoralmajority.Thedominanceofthe
bourgeoisie was not based on their control of the coercive power of the state, but rather
restedupontheirabilitytoexercisemoralandpoliticalleadership,andtowinconsentfor
theirvisionofwhatwaspossibleandworthwhile. In Gramsci’s thought, each successful
political systemrequires thecreationofan ‘historicbloc’,unifiedaroundan ‘hegemonic
project’, in which the dominant class builds alliances beyond itself, and wins consent for its
institutionsandideas,”saidMcLeish.
Challenging Thoughts: Prof Partha Chatterjee, one of modern India’s most renowned
political scientists, has consistently challenged the concepts of modernity, nationalism,
nation-state and underscored the hegemonicWestern social scientific thought inwhich
severalimportantconceptsseemtobetrapped.Inaseminalwork,National Thought and
the Colonial World,ProfChatterjeediscussedGramsci’s thought in thecontextof India’s
colonialhistory.Hewrote,“ItisAntonioGramsci’sconceptionofthestateas‘coercionplus
hegemony’andofthestruggleforpoweras‘dominationplusintellectual-moralleadership’
whichenablesIndiancriticstoexamineafreshtheso-calledrenaissanceinthe19thcentury
India intermsoftheaspirationsofanewclasstoassert its intellectual-moral leadership
overamodernizingIndiannationandtostakeitsclaimtopowerinoppositiontoitscolonial
masters...Gramscialsooutlinesanargumentaboutthe‘passiverevolutionofcapital’.”
ProfChatterjee, likemanyofhisgeneration,hasalwayswarnedthat ideasandconcepts
cannot be mechanically applied to different eras of history. “Gramsci’s ideas provide
onlyageneral,andsomewhatobscurelystated,formulationofthisproblem,”wroteProf
Chatterjee,adding,“Tosharpen it,onemustexamineseveralhistoricalcasesof ‘passive
revolution’intheireconomic,politicalandideologicalaspects.Onthefaceofit,theIndian
case seems a particularly good example, but the examination ofmodern Indian history
Hegemony:
The‘How’ofDomination
20
in terms of this problematic has only just
begun...outline an analytical framework
in which the ideological history of the
Indianstatecanbestudied.Theframework
attempts to locate, within a historical
contextof‘passiverevolution’theproblem
oftheautonomyofnationalistdiscourseas
adiscourseofpower.”
Hegemony and the Media:Formediahistoriansandpractitioners,hegemonyisamuch-
usedconceptwhichhelpsthemcomfortablycoverawideintellectualterrain.Hegemony
inthemediaorculturalhegemonyingeneral,aresubjectsonwhichbookshelvesoffine
reference material is available. In Globalization and Media Hegemony, Lee Artz and
YahyaKamalipourpresentedafreewheelingbutintensediscourseonculturalhegemony.
Theysaid,“ahomogenousmiddle-classculturehasgrownupinternationallyaroundpop
music, fast food, action movies, animated features, and other McDonald-ized, Disney-
fied,Hollywoodfare.However,globalcorporatemedia lead inmanyways–subsidiaries
throughdirectinvestment,jointventures,thepurchaseoflocalcorporations,andeventhe
promotionofalternativecultures.Moreimportantlythantheparticularform,atissuefor
globalizationofculturalhegemonyisthesocialuseofmedia.Themostrecentadjustment
bythehegemonicleadersofglobalcorporatemediahasbeentheexportofthe‘model’.
Game show formats, soap opera genre, reality television, and other models are now sold by
corporateownerstonationalandregionalmediaoperators,whoculturally‘dress-up’the
Westernmediaguest.ABC’sWho Wants To Be Millionairehassometwodozenvariations
around theworld.Globohasperfected theU.S. soapopera forexport;andcommercial
radioadvertising/musicformatsdominateinAfrica,LatinAmerica,andelsewhere.”
Ahomogenousmiddle-classculturehasgrownupinternationallyaroundpopmusic,fastfood,actionmovies, animated features, and otherMcDonald-ized,Disney-fied,Hollywoodfare.
INTRODUCT ION : HEGEMONY
21M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
Democracyisoneveryone’slips.
It seems to have become the universal ‘cry for freedom’, a raison d’etre for the
fightagainstinjusticesofallkindsragingacrossourworld.Howdoweunderstand
‘democracy’today?WhatdemocracymeansasapoliticalideologytotheWestmaynotbe
thesameforthepost-colonialindependentnationsofAsia,WestAsia.
DemocracyiscloselyidentifiedwiththegrowthofcapitalismintheWest:canweunderstand
democracyasthesoftware(touseITanalogy)whichrunsthehardwareofcapitalism?
This analogy can be taken further once we realize that the ‘code’ for the democracy
softwarewasdevelopedandwrittenwaybackinthe1780sinbothAmericaandEurope;
thesoftwarerunson‘equalrights,justiceforall,theruleoflaw,electedrepresentativesand
thepresenceoffreeandindependentmedia’.Itisnotthatthiscodehasbecome,orcan
become,theuniversalcodeapplicabletoallsocieties.
Democracy, as a political ideology adopted by the mainstream political parties in the
developedanddevelopingworld, remainsanunchallenged,unquestioned leaderamong
ideologies.Tousepopularmanagement jargon, ithasacquired iconic ‘brand leadership’
inthemarketeconomiesofthe20thand21stcentury.Thevaluesofdemocracyareheld
sacrosanct,understoodandexpectedtobeinternalizedbythepooresttriballivinginthe
forestsofcentralIndiaandalsotherichestSenatorholdingforthinCapitolHill,Washington.
Despitethisglobalexpanseofacceptanceandlegitimacy,democracy,especiallyinthelast
25 years, has been accused of not delivering on its promises; as a brand, it is seen to be
failingonitsdeliverables.
“History has demonstrated that there is no final triumphof reason,whether it goes by
thenameofChristianity,theEnlightenment,or,now,democracy,”wroteRobertD.Kaplan
inapropheticarticle inThe Atlantic,titledWas Democracy Just a Moment?Hesaid,“To
think that democracy as we know it will triumph—or is even here to stay—is itself a form
of determinism, driven by our own ethnocentricity. Indeed, thosewho quote Alexis de
Tocqueville in support of democracy’s inevitability should pay heed to his observation
thatAmericans,becauseoftheir(comparative)equality,exaggerate‘thescopeofhuman
perfectibility’. Despotism, Tocqueville went on, ‘is more particularly to be feared in
democraticages’,becauseitthrivesontheobsessionwithselfandone’sownsecuritywhich
equality fosters. I submit that thedemocracyweareencouraging inmanypoorpartsof
theworld isan integralpartofa transformation towardnew formsofauthoritarianism;
thatdemocracyintheUnitedStatesisatgreaterriskthaneverbefore,andfromobscure
sources...HitlerandMussolinieachcametopowerthroughdemocracy.Democraciesdonot
alwaysmakesocietiesmorecivil—buttheydoalwaysmercilesslyexposethehealthofthe
societiesinwhichtheyoperate.”
Democracy: ‘Where’ lies Freedom
22
In the last quarter of the 20th century, the cry for democracy and equal rights was heard
loudest in SouthAfrica.Under thebrutal apartheid regime,whenNelsonMandelawas
incarcerated for 27 years till his release from Robben Island prison in 1990, this cry
washeraldedasa triumphfor freedom, for thedemocraticrightsof theAfricanpeople
suppressedfordecades.Mandela’sreleasemarkedanepochalerafornotjustdemocracy
andtheabolitionofapartheidinSouthAfrica,butalsoforthemillionsofAfricanpeople
forwhomhewasareal-lifeicon,ahistoricalfigureheadunsubduedbythepowers-that-be.
AcrosstheAtlantic,andby2001,anothertowerofpower,GeorgeWBush,unleashedthe
‘WaragainstTerror’.Hespokeinalmost-Messianictone,withtheconvictionthathehad
allanswerstosecureandsafeguardthegreatAmericannation.His‘shockandawe’tactics
becamepartofpopularlexicon.Theanti-warprotestsinhundredsofcitiesofAmericaand
Europe marked an important chapter in the modern history of democracy, even though its
significancewasdimmedinthehorror-shrieksofwar.In2003,millionsofpeopleallover
theworlddemonstratedtheirangeragainstthepoliticalforceswagingwarinIraq.Sections
of the media hailed it as the ‘most spectacular display of public morality the world has
everseen’.ThemonthsleadinguptothewarsawprotestsacrosstheUnitedStates,the
largest of which, held on February 15, 2003 involved about 300,000 to 400,000 protesters
inNewYorkCity,withsmallernumbersprotestinginSeattle,SanFrancisco,Chicago,and
othercities.
By2011NewYork,theglamorousBigApplewastowitnessthe
‘OccupyWallStreet’protests.Itwasanothercryfordemocracy
fromdifferent voices, fromoutraged youngWhiteAmericans
whoseemedshockedthatperpetratorsofwhite-collarcrimes
intheworldofhigh-financeinWallStreetwerescot-freewhile
the US government was bending backwards to prop up the
privatebanksandfinancial institutions.EduardoGaleano,the
LatinAmericanjournalist-satiristoftenreferstothe“richestof
therichwhoappearintheporno-financialpagesofForbesand
Fortune, and the poorest of the poor who appear on the streets
andinthefields…”asquotedinJohnPilger,Tell Me No Lies.
Corruption in High Places: In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and
acrosstheSouthAsiancountriesinfact,therehavebeenwaves
of democratic protests, anti-war demonstrations, particularly
overthelasttwodecades.Theseprotestskeeprisingfromthe
seaofpost-colonialpolitics,topushthatanalogyfurther.Local
AcrosstheAtlantic,andby 2001, another tower of power, George W Bush, unleashed the ‘WaragainstTerror’.Hespokeinalmost-Messianic tone, with the convictionthathehadall answers to secure and safeguard the great Americannation.His‘shockandawe’tacticsbecame part of popular lexicon.
INTRODUCT ION : DEMOCRACY
23M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
and global media has been fast and
quick to report about these political,
social and often violent protests that
emergefromallquarters.
Through 2010-11, in New Delhi, the
capital city of India, an anti-corruption
movement led by Anna Hazare grew
fromstrengthtostrength.Anna,asocial
activistwhohadbeenorganizinggrass-
rootmovementsprimarily focussedonruraldevelopment,wentonan indefinitehunger
strike,onApril5,2011toexertpressureontheIndiangovernmenttoenactastringentanti-
corruptionlaw.Hishungerstrike,andthewidecoverageinthemedia,tookthegovernment
totallybysurpriseasthousandsreachedouttoAnnaHazare.ThesupportAnnareceived
from civil rights’ activists, students and young professionals was unprecedented. His
simplecryfordemocraticrights inthefaceofoutrageouscorruptionandmega-dealsby
cronycapitalistsresonatedthroughoutthecountry.Themedia,inrecenttimes,hadnever
coveredsuchasocialprotestandtheyutilizedtheir24x7mediacoveragetofantheprotest
beyondimagination.
While these pro-democracymovements have been raising heat and dust in SouthAsia,
surprisingthegovernmentsoftheday,itleavesthemediaaskingfarmorequestionsthan
itcananswerfortheirviewers.WhenAnnaHazare’sdramawasunfoldingacrosstheIndian
panorama,hoggingheadlinesintheprintmediaandwith24x7newscoverageofhungerfasts
andcelebrity-visitorswhowerethrongingatthevenues,mediacolumnistslikeChandrabhan
PrasadopinedthatHazare’santi-corruptionmovementrejectedrepresentativedemocracy
andallegedthatitwasanupper-casteuprising.Healsoclaimedthatcentralisingpowersin
Lokapal,whichwasanon-electedentity,wasanti-democratic.AnotherDalitactivistKancha
Ilaiahcommentedinasimilarfashion,that“TheAnnamovementisananti-socialjustice,
manuvadi (uppercaste)movement.TheDalits,tribals,OBCsandminoritieshavenothing
todowith it.Weoppose it.”ActivistAnoopKheri claimed that “The language, symbols
usedbythemovementclearlyreflectsitsuppercasteHindunature,averyright-wingHindu
patriotismisbeingusedtogettheentirecountryagainstcorruption.AndasaDalit,Ihavea
problemwithit.”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Hazare
Crimes of Democracy:InLatinAmerica,waybackinthe1970s,itwasEduardoGaleanowho
setthetrendinexposing“thesystematicexploitationofthecontinentbyforeigncapital.
Indifficulttimesdemocracybecomesa crimeagainstnational security– that is, against
thesecurityofinternalprivilegeandforeigninvestment.”Galeano’sworks(The Open Veins
Whilethesepro-democracymovements have been raising heatanddustinSouthAsia,surprising the governments of the day, it leaves the media askingfarmorequestionsthanitcananswerfortheirviewers.
24
of Latin America and The Upside Down World)
haveforthrightlymadetheconnectionbetween
FirstWorldabundanceandThirdWorldpoverty.
He emphasized that poverty is neither a natural
state nor the collective responsibility of the
ordinarypeopleofLatinAmerica,buttheresultofpillage:firstbytheEuropeancolonial
powers,thenbytheUnitedStatesandtheelitesthatareitslocalagents.Thecontinent’s
veinsaregold,silver,cacaoandcotton,rubberandcoffee,fruitandforests.Everything,he
writes…hasbeentransmutedintoEuropean–andlaterUnitedStates–capital,andassuch
hasaccumulatedindistantcentersofpower.Everything:thesoil,itsfruitsanditsmineral-
rich depths, the people and their capacity to work and to consume, natural resources and
humanresources…Forthosewhoseehistoryascompetition,LatinAmerica’sbackwardness
andpovertyaremerelytheresultofitsfailure.Welost,otherswon…”Askedtoelaborateon
hisargument,hesaid,“whenunderdevelopedcountriesarecalled‘developing’countries,
it isawayofsaying theyare likechildren–growing,developing.And it’sa lie.Theyare
under-developed becausemore powerful countries are growing at their expense. Third
Worldunder-developmentisaconsequenceofFirstWorlddevelopment,andnotastage
towardsit.”
GaleanoquotestheBrazilianbishopHelderCamarawhofamouslysaid, “WhenIgivefood
tothepoor, theycallmeasaint.Andwhen Iaskwhytheyhavenofood, theycallmea
communist.”(Tell Me No Lies)IfthemodernhistoryofLatinAmericacouldbesummedup
inonequote,thiswouldbeit.
Long before the Iraq War began to hog the headlines and made ‘war crimes’ a highly
contentioussubject,whichtheUSand itsallieswereonlytooreadytosweepunderthe
carpet, itwas in Lebanon andPalestine that ‘crimes against humanity’were conducted,
reportedandoften‘eradicatedfrommemory’. “DuringtheIsraeli invasionofLebanonin
June1982…aterrible,murderousepisode…forcedmanyWestern journalists to recognise
the terror of Israel, although none was prepared to make moral and historical sense of the
factstheyhadwitnessed,exceptRobertFisk,”whomJohnPilgerratesasBritain’sgreatest
modern war correspondent, in Tell Me No Lies.
Democracy as Ideology: Democracy is perhaps the most powerful energising idea of the
20th century,saidProfAnthonyGiddensintheBBCReithLectures1999.Hesaid,“Thereare
fewstatesintheworldtodaythatdon’tcallthemselvesdemocratic.TheSovietUnionand
its East European dependencies called themselves ‘people’s democracies’, as communist
Chinacontinuestodo.”Attheendofthe20thcentury,theProfessorcouldhavetheluxury
“WhenIgivefoodtothepoor,theycallmeasaint.AndwhenIask why they have no food, they callmeacommunist.”
INTRODUCT ION : HEGEMONY
25M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
of lookingbackacrossviolentcenturiesandwarringcivilizations tounderscorehis ideas
and thesis.Heuseshis authority as a sociologistof global repute toquestion: “What is
democracy? The issue is a contentious one, and many different interpretations have
beenoffered. I shallmeanby it the following.Democracy isa system involvingeffective
competition between political parties for positions of power. In a democracy, there are
regularand fairelections, inwhichallmembersof thepopulationmay takepart.These
rightsofdemocraticparticipationgoalongwithcivilliberties-freedomofexpressionand
discussion, togetherwiththefreedomtoformand joinpoliticalgroupsorassociations…
Democracyisn’tanallornothingthing.Therecanbedifferentforms,aswellasdifferent
levels,ofdemocratisation.DemocracyinBritainandtheUnitedStates,forinstance,isn’t
allofapiece.ABritishtravellerintheUSonceenquiredofanAmericancompanion:‘how
canyoubeartobegovernedbypeopleyouwouldn’tdreamofinvitingtodinner?’towhich
the American replied, ‘how can you bear to be governed by people who wouldn’t dream
ofinvitingyoutodinner?’Moreorlesseveryoneisademocratnow,butitcertainlywasn’t
alwaysso.”
Islam and Democracy: Social scientists and intellectuals from theArabworld, or those
Muslim scholarswho areworking inWestern universities, have studied the democratic
traditionsinherentinIslamandQur’anicteachings.“Muslimsremainlargelyunawareofthe
importance and value of the Qur’anic principle of al-Shura(mutualconsultation)andthe
significantroleitcanplayintheadvancementandreformofMuslimsociety,”saidAhmad
Al-Raysuni in his work titledAl-Shura: The Qur’anic Principle of Consultation (IIIT, USA)
whereinheattempts to introduceandexaminekeymeaningsandpracticesofal-Shura,
tracesitshistoricalevolution,andexplorewaysinwhichtheprinciplecanbeintroduced,
institutionalizedandappliedinMuslimsocieties.
“Thereisnodoubtthatal-Shura has been sidelined throughout the Muslim world and the
reasonsforthisarebothhistoricallyandpoliticallycomplex.Althoughmuchhasbeenwritten
onthesubject,inrealityithasbeenatbestineffectivelyappliedandatworstheedlessly
ignored. Even today it is a hotly contested issue. As al-Shura is increasingly associated
withdemocraticparticipationinadecision-makingprocess,debatehasignitedwithcritics
challengingthenotionofequatingtheprinciplewithwesternnotionsofdemocracy,with
others claiming that the principle allows for a meaning that breaks the grip of centralized
power,”AhmadAl-Raysunicommented.Heisconvincedthatal-Shura should be adopted as
awayoflifeforallMuslimstoprotecttheirinterestsandasavitaltoolforreconstruction
andreform.Indoingsoheaddressesthesubjectfromsomeintriguingnewangles,giving
insightintoareashithertolittle,ifatall,examined.
26
Howdoweidentifywiththenationintheglobalizing21stcentury?
Isnation,ornationalism,ananachronisticconcept?
What is the significance of national symbols, icons, leaders, airlines and the
media today?
It’stimewe lookathownationalism, as apowerful concept, has governedour thinking
andourlives.Readinthecontextofhegemonyandhegemonicideas,nationalismbecomes
yetanotherimportantsubjectwhichisdebatedanddiscussedinthemedia.Mostpeople
areproudtobenationalists.Theyunderstandnationalismas‘thebelief,creedorpolitical
ideology thatmakes them identifywith his or her home country or nation.Nationalism
shouldbedistinguished from the related construct of patriotism,which is the extent to
whichanindividualofferssupportforhisorherhomecountryornation.
IntheirintroductiontotheOxford Reader on Nationalism,JohnHutchinsonandAnthonyD
Smithwrote,“Nationalismisoneofthemostpowerfulforcesinthemodernworld...asan
ideologyandmovement,nationalismexertedastronginfluenceintheAmericanandFrench
Revolutions. Todayaswestudynationalismwerealizethatthesubjectisvastandramified.
It spills over into any number of subjects: race and racism, fascism, language development,
politicalreligion,communalism,ethnicconflict,internationallaw,protectionism,minorities,
gender,immigration,genocide.Theformsthatnationalismtakeshavebeenkaleidoscopic:
religious, conservative, liberal, fascist, communist, cultural, political, protectionist,
integrationist,separatist,irredentist,diaspora,panetc.Thefluidityandvarietyofnational
sentiments, national aspirations and national cultural values create another obstacle to
research,asdothemanydifferencesinnationalidentities.”
What is a Nation: JosephStalininThe Nationprovidedananswertothequestion‘Whatisa
Nation’?“Anationisprimarilyacommunity,adefinitecommunityofpeople...ahistorically
constitutedcommunityofpeople...astablecommunityofpeople.Anationalcommunityof
people is inconceivable without a common language, while a state need not have a common
language.Thus, a common language isoneof the characteristic featuresof anation. A
nation is a historically constituted, stable community of people, formed on the basis of
a common language, territory, economic life andpsychologicalmake-upmanifested in a
commonculture...Itisonlywhenthesecharacteristicsarepresenttogetherthatwehave
anation.”
Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communitieshasgivenmodernwritersthe‘ideaofnations
andnationhood’. Inmanyways, his ideas and thoughts have influenced a generationof
historians, political scientists and intellectuals across the world. He wrote, “The slow,
unevendeclineoftheinterlinkedcertainties,firstinWesternEurope,laterelsewhere,under
Nations:For‘Whom’theyExist
INTRODUCT ION : NAT IONAL I SM
27M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
theimpactofeconomicchange,‘discoveries’(socialandscientific),andthedevelopmentof
increasinglyrapidcommunications,droveaharshwedgebetweencosmologyandhistory.
No surprise then that the search was on, so to speak, for a new way of linking fraternity,
powerandtimemeaningfullytogether.Nothingperhapsmoreprecipitatedthissearch,nor
made itmore fruitful, thanprint-capitalism,whichmade it possible for rapidly growing
numbers of people to think about themselves, and to relate themselves to others, in
profoundlynewways.”
28
If all theworkson the subjectsofglobalizationwereprinted,and laidoutend to
end,itwouldsurelycovertheglobemanytimesover!Itisasubjectonwhichthe
leadinguniversities,think-tanks,civilsocietyorganizations,thought-leaders,writers
andacademicianshavegiven theirperspective;eachoneunderscoring theirown
importantfacetwhichdefinesglobalization.
In their Program on the Geopolitical Implications of Globalization and Transnational
Security, theGenevaCentre for Security Policy (GCSP) prepared a comprehensive paper
on the Definitions of Globalization: A Comprehensive Overview and a Proposed Definition
(2006).Dr.NayefR.F.Al-Rodhan,seniorscholaringeo-strategyanddirectoroftheprogram
wrote, “This paper will attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing
definitionsofglobalizationandintroduceourproposeddefinition:‘Globalizationisaprocess
thatencompassesthecauses,course,andconsequencesoftransnationalandtranscultural
integrationofhumanandnon-humanactivities.’”
He further explained, “Globalization is not a single concept that can be defined and
encompassedwithinasettimeframe,norisitaprocessthatcanbedefinedclearlywitha
beginning and an end.Furthermore,itcannotbeexpoundeduponwithcertaintyandbe
applicabletoallpeopleand inallsituations.Globalizationinvolveseconomic integration;
the transfer of policies across borders; the transmission of knowledge; cultural stability;
the reproduction, relations, anddiscoursesofpower; it is aglobalprocess, a concept, a
revolution,and“anestablishmentof theglobalmarket free fromsocio-politicalcontrol.”
Globalization encompasses all of these things. It is a concept that has been defined
variouslyovertheyears,withsomeconnotationsreferringtoprogress,developmentand
stability, integrationandcooperation,andothersreferringtoregression,colonialism,and
destabilization. Despite these challenges, this term bringswith it amultitude of hidden
agendas.”Thehiddenagendascomeoutintheopenaseconomists,sociologists,historians
and political scientists from different parts of the world present their definitions and
underscoretheirappreciationortheirapprehensionsaboutglobalization.
Globalization and Islam:ItisProfAliAMazruiwhonowdrawsourattentionashetakesus
throughhistoricaltimeandgeographicalspacetounderstandthedynamicsofglobalization.
HisfocusisonIslamandtheimpactofglobalizationonIslamasareligionandinMuslim
societiesacrosstheworld.Inanarticletitled,Globalization, Islam, and the West : Between
Homogenization and Hegemonization, which he presented at the conference on Islamic
Paradigms of International Relations,sponsoredbytheSchoolofIslamicandSocialSciences
andtheCenterofPoliticalResearchandStudies,Cairo,Egypt,onDecember2,1997,Prof
Mazruisaid,“Letusbeginwiththechallengeofadefinition.Whatisglobalization?Itconsists
Globalization:‘What’istheDebate
INTRODUCT ION : GLOBAL I ZAT ION
29M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
of processes that lead toward
global interdependence and the
increasing rapidity of exchange
across vast distances. The word
globalizationisitselfquitenew,but
the actual processes toward global
interdependence and exchange
started centuries ago. Four forces
have been major engines of
globalization across time: religion,
technology,economy,andempire.Thesehavenotnecessarilyactedseparately,butoften
have reinforced each other. For example, the globalization of Christianity started with
theconversionofEmperorConstantineIofRomein313.Thereligiousconversionofan
emperorstartedtheprocessunderwhichChristianitybecamethedominantreligionnot
onlyofEuropebutalsoofmanyothersocietiesthousandsofmilesdistantfromwherethe
religionstarted.TheglobalizationofIslambegannotwithconvertingaready-madeempire,
butwithbuildinganempirealmostfromscratch.TheUmayyadsandAbbasidsputtogether
bitsofotherpeople’sempires(e.g.,formerByzantineEgyptandformerZoroastrianPersia)
andcreatedawholenewcivilization.”
ProfMazrui then introduced his thoughts on homogenization and hegemonization. He
said, “Thisbringsus to the twin conceptsofhomogenizationandhegemonization.One
of the consequences of globalization is that we are beginning to resemble each other
toamuchgreaterdegree thanweeverdid in thepast, regardlessofphysicaldistance.
Homogenization is increasing similarity. The second accompanying characteristic of
globalizationishegemonization,bywhichImeantheparadoxicalconcentrationofpower
inaparticularcountryorcivilization.Whilehomogenization is theprocessofexpanding
homogeneity,hegemonizationistheemergenceandconsolidationofahegemoniccenter.
Withglobalization,therehasarisenanincreasingsimilaritybetweenandamongdifferent
societies.However,thistrendhasbeenaccompaniedbyadisproportionateshareofglobal
poweramongafewcountries.”
“Oneoftheconsequencesofglobalizationisthatwearebeginning to resemble each other to a much greater degree than we ever did in the past, regardlessofphysicaldistance.Homogenizationisincreasingsimilarity.”
30
Thesepowerfulwords-drippinginsatire,sarcasmandirony-hadbeenpennedby
Eduardo Galeano, whose work The Upside-Down World may seem to be the perfect
starting point to understanding our world as it stumbles through the second
decadeofthetwenty-firstcentury.Hiswordscontinued,withtheirscathingforce,“Twin
totalitarianisms plague the world: the dictatorship of consumer society and obligatory
injustice,”Galeanoadded,“Throughthemassmediatheownersoftheworldinformusall
ofourobligationtolookatourselvesinasinglemirror...Whoeverdoesn’thave,isn’t.He
who has no car or doesn’t wear designer shoes or imported perfume is only pretending to
exist.Importereconomy,impostorculture:weareallobligedtotaketheconsumer’scruise
acrosstheswirlingwatersofthemarket.”
Time for Outrage:“Iwantyou,eachandeveryoneofyou,tohaveareasontobeoutraged,”
wroteStephanieHessel, a93-year-oldResistancefighter fromFrance.Hewaswriting in
The Nation inMarch 2011, and he titled his pieceTime for Outrage. (Itwas translated
byDamionSearls).His senseofoutrage,matchedwithhisunderstandingofhistoryand
participationinmajorhistoricalevents,makesHessel’swritingworthquotingverbatimas
histhoughtsandwordsresonatewithGaleano’s.Hesaid,“This(outrage)isprecious.When
something outrages you, as Nazism did to me that is when you become a militant, strong
andengaged.Youjointhemovementofhistory,andthegreatcurrentofhistorycontinues
toflowonlythankstoeachandeveryoneofus.History’sdirectionistowardmorejustice
andmorefreedom—thoughnottheunbridledfreedomofthefoxinahenhouse.Therights
setforthintheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsin1948areindeeduniversal.When
Our World: ‘Why’ this Inequality
“In the world as it is, the looking-glass world, the countries that guard the peace also
make and sell the most weapons.
The most prestigious banks launder the most drug money and harbour the most stolen
cash.
The most successful industries are the most poisonous for the planet.
And saving the environment is the brilliant endeavour of the very companies that profit
from annihilating it...the looking-glass world trains us to view our neighbour as a threat,
not a promise. It condemns us to solitude and consoles us with chemical drugs and
cybernetic friends.
We are sentenced to die of hunger, fear or boredom - that is, if a stray bullet doesn’t do
the job first. Is the freedom to choose among these unfortunate ends the only freedom
left to us?
The looking-glass world teaches us to suffer reality, not change it; forget the past, not
learn from it; to accept the future, and not invent it.”
31M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
you encounter someone who lacks those rights, have sympathy and help him or her to
achievethem...”Suchpowerfulwordsfromtheheartofadie-hardResistancemanwho
knowsandcherishesthevaluesthathe(andhisentiregeneration)foughtfor.Thereismuch
for us to learn from the wizened soldier who is able to join the dots and complete the
pictureofhisoutrage,whenmanyofhisgenerationarehappytositbackandsipthewine
ofsocialwelfarebenefits.
Manufacturing Consent:JustasthewritingsofGaleanoandHesselhavetheintensityand
powertothrowlightonourworld,itwasNoamChomsky’sManufacturing Consent which
reachedheightsofbrillianceandacquiredaniconicstatusinjournalism-mediaandcultural
studies.Chomskyremains,tilldate,acolourfullydefiantintellectual,acontroversialthinker-
writer-activistwhoseworksareaclarioncalltonation-states.Timeandagain,Chomskyhas
challengedtheUnitedStatesofAmerica’sdominationinforeignpolicy,economyandmass
media. InManufacturing Consent, he focussed on themassmedia, and all its affiliated
industries,whichhascreatedasmoke-screeninoursociety,polityandeconomy.Chomsky
termeditthepropagandamodelanddescribeditssalientfeatureswithaneruditionthat
hasstoodthetestoftime.
Intheintroduction,Chomskywrote,“Themassmediaserveasasystemforcommunicating
messagesandsymbols to thegeneralpopulace. It is their function toamuse,entertain,
and inform, and to inculcate individuals with the values, beliefs, and codes of behavior
thatwill integrate them into the institutional structuresof the larger society. Inaworld
of concentratedwealth andmajor conflicts of class interest, to fulfill this role requires
systematicpropaganda,”theauthors,inthefewestpossiblewordshighlightthegravityand
importanceoftheirstudy.“Incountrieswheretheleversofpowerareinthehandsofa
statebureaucracy,themonopolisticcontroloverthemedia,oftensupplementedbyofficial
censorship,makes itclearthatthemediaservetheendsofadominantelite. It ismuch
moredifficulttoseeapropagandasystematworkwherethemediaareprivateandformal
censorshipisabsent.Thisisespeciallytruewherethemediaactivelycompete,periodically
attack and expose corporate and governmental malfeasance, and aggressively portray
themselves as spokesmen for free speechand the general community interest.What is
notevident(andremainsundiscussedinthemedia)isthelimitednatureofsuchcritiques,
aswellasthehugeinequalityincommandofresources,anditseffectbothonaccesstoa
privatemediasystemandonitsbehaviourandperformance.”
Growing Inequality: Just asChinaoccupiesadominantposition inanyglobaleconomic
reportage, The Economist,asacrediblemagazine, isalwaystheperfectstartingpointto
understandnewtrends,thoughttrajectoriesoftheWesternworld. In itsSpecialReport,
32
published on October 13, 2012, the magazine stated, ‘Growing inequality is one of the
biggestsocialeconomicandpoliticalchallengesofourtime.Butitisnotinevitable.”
“Thedemocratizationoflivingstandardshasmaskedadramaticconcentrationofincomes
overthepast30yearsonascalethatmatches,orevenexceedsthefirstGildedAgeofthe
1880sintheUSandEurope.Includingcapitalgains,theshareofnationalincomegoingto
therichest1%ofAmericanshasdoubledfrom1980,from10%to20%,roughlywhereitwas
acenturyago.Evenmorestriking,thesharegoingtothetop0.01%-some16,000families
withanaverageincomeofUSD24m-hasquadrapeld,fromjustover1%toalmost5%.
Thatisabiggersliceofthenationalpiethanthetop0.01%received100yearsago.Thisis
anextraordinarydevelopment,anditisnotconfinedtoAmerica.Manycountries,including
Britain,Canada,China,IndiaandevenegalitarianSweden,haveseenariseintheshareof
nationalincometakenbythetop1%.Thenumbersoftheultra-wealthyhavesoaredaround
theglobe.AccordingtoForbes magazine rich list, America has some 421 billionaires, Russia
96,China95andIndia48.Theworld’srichestmanisaMexican(CarlosSlim,worthsome$
69billion).Theworld’slargestnewhousebelongstoanIndian.MukeshAmbani’s27-storey
skyscraperinMumbaioccupies400,000squarefeet,makingit1,300timesbiggerthanthe
averageshackintheslumsthatsurroundit.”
It’s about ruling the world, stupid! From Harper’s Magazine, we get to listen to Dick
Cheney’s Song of America.ThesearetheexcerptsfromDrafting a plan for global dominance
byDavidArmstrong,anessayontheDefensePlanningGuidanceforthe1994–1999Fiscal
Years(Draft),OfficeoftheSecretaryofDefense,1992;DefensePlanningGuidanceforthe
1994–1999FiscalYears(RevisedDraft),OfficeoftheSecretaryofDefense,1992;Defense
Strategyfarthe1990s,OfficeoftheSecretaryofDefense,1993;DefensePlanningGuidance
for the 2004–2009 Fiscal Years, Office of the Secretary of Defense, 2002. It cannot get
moreofficialthanthat…“Fewwritersaremoreambitiousthanthewritersofgovernment
policypapers,andfewpolicypapersaremoreambitiousthanDickCheney’smasterwork,”
saidArmstrong,adding,“Ithastakenseveralformsoverthelastdecadeandisinfactthe
productofseveralghostwriters(notablyPaulWolfowitzandColinPowell),butCheneyhas
beenconsistentinhisdedicationtotheideasinthedocumentsthatbearhisname,andhe
hasmaintainedacloseassociationwiththeideologuesbehindthem.Letus,therefore,call
Cheneytheauthor,andthisseriesofdocumentsthePlan.”
“ThePlanisfortheUnitedStatestoruletheworld.Theovertthemeisunilateralism,butitis
ultimatelyastoryofdomination.ItcallsfortheUnitedStatestomaintainitsoverwhelming
military superiority and prevent new rivals from rising up tochallengeitontheworldstage.Itcallsfordominionoverfriendsandenemiesalike.ItsaysnotthattheUnitedStatesmust
OUR WORLD : ‘WHY ’ TH I S INEQUAL I TY
33M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
bemorepowerful,ormostpowerful,butthatitmustbeabsolutelypowerful.ThePlanis
disturbinginmanyways,andultimatelyunworkable.Yetitisbeingsoldnowasananswer
tothe‘newrealities’ofthepost–September11world,evenasitwassoldpreviouslyasthe
answertothenewrealitiesofthepost–ColdWarworld.ForCheney,thePlanhasalways
beentherightanswer,nomatterhowdifferentthequestions.”
USA wages war more often than just annually, wrote Yuri Skidanov in the Pravda. “The
United States, an example of public and social order for the countries of the ‘golden
billion’, has a unique history. In the 237 years of its existence, it has been either at war,
or preparing for a new attack, looking for victims. During the period from 1798 to 2012
Washington used military force abroad 240 times, more frequently than annually.
In the 20th century, the aggressive U.S. operations have become even more widespread.
Virtually the entire Central America and much of Latin America were under the U.S.
control. The United States and Russia were at war, albeit without much result, landing
their troops in Archangelsk and Vladivostok. Now not just the Mediterranean or Central
America, like it was in the nineteenth century, but the entire world is covered by the U.S.
military machine.
U.S. soldiers fought in China (1925), Korea (1950), again in China (1958), and Lebanon
(1958). The biggest defeat in the history of the United States was suffered in Vietnam,
where 60,000 people were killed and over 300,000 wounded. After the war, about
100,000 of its veterans committed suicide.
In parallel, Americans conducted armed operations in Latin America - Panama, Brazil
(overthrow of the legally elected President Joao Goulart in 1964) , Cuba, Bolivia, the
Dominican Republic, and Chile. Africa was not forgotten either, and in 1960, the U.S.
organized a coup during which dictator Mobutu came to power, and the legally elected
Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba was killed.”
(http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/23-10-2013/125975-usa_war-0/)
34
There are, undoubtedly, some events in the global theatre which have the power to
shape,mouldandimpacthumandestinylikenoneelse,andneverbefore.Giventhe
propensity of the media to report, analyze, hype, stereotype and categorize, many
oftheseeventsbecomeslottedasmega-eventsormeta-events,orgettermedashyper-
events.Attheheart,thesearehistoricalmoments,thosedefiningmomentswhenhistory
ismade, sometimeswith a force of violence and goremost unbecoming of humanity’s
humaneanddivinelegacies.Since2000,wecansafelylookatfoursuchhistoricalmoments
in this overview:
• September 11, 2001 attacksinNewYork
•UnleashingoftheUS ‘war on terror’ in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Wikileaks disclosures spilling global secrets on the internet and
•The Arab SpringuprisingsacrossNorthAfricaandWestAsia.
Thecontinuingimpactofthesefourhistoricaleventscanbefeltatseverallevelsacrossthe
socio-politicalspectruminourworld.(As the 24x7 TV news bulletins love to say: these are
Breaking News!)Theeffectontheglobalmedia,andhowthemediaitselfhasreactedto
theseevents,isafascinatingstudyofourglobalizingtimes.Dependingonwhichsideofthe
ideologicaldividewemaybe,theextensivemediacoverage,‘disturbinglive’images,post-
colonialmeaningsderivedfromthe imageryandthenewscoverage,hasaffectedallour
livesandshapedourthoughts.Nations,regionalalliances,communitiesandreligiousgroups
alike have been caught in this unending snowstorm of media coverage which, however
essential for freespeech,hasalsoblurred, smudgedandconfusedourunderstandingof
ourtimeandage.
Writing inayear-endSpecial IssueofNewsweek inDecember1999,FareedZakariasaid,
withtheenergyandgustothatissocharacteristicoftheliberalAmericanpen,“Ithasbeen
only10yearssincethefalloftheBerlinWall,butweareinanewage.In1986peoplewould
have seen their world of Reagan and Thatcher and Gorbachev as closely linked to the world
of1976or,forthatmatterof1966or1956or1946.Buttodayevents, just10yearsold,
aredimandquaintmemories-remembertheNicaraguancontras?Havingcrossedagreat
historicaldivide,eventsontheothersideofthatchasmarelikeancienthistory.Foralmost
halfacentury,theWesthasstruggledmightilytospreadcapitalismanddemocracyaround
theworld.Nowithasgottenwhatitwanted-unbridledmarketandpeoplepower-andthey
willprovehardertohandlethananyoneimagined.Capitalismanddemocracyarethetwo
dominantforcesofmodernhistory;theyunleashhumancreativityandenergylikenothing
else.Buttheyarealsoforcesofdestruction.Theydestroyoldorders,hierarchy,tradition,
communities, careers, stability andpeaceofmind itself.Unsentimental about theworld
asitexists,theysurgeforward,changingeverythingtheyencounter.Thechallengeofthe
The Global Media: What’s Happening Across Our World
35M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
West in thenextcenturywillbeto
findways to channel the sweeping
ofthesetwo-thelastsurvivingbig
ideas-astheyreorganizeallhuman
activity.Otherwise formuchof the
world,itmaybetoofastaride.”
Covering Islam: At a conference
on Covering Islam: Challenges &
Opportunities for Media in the
Global Village (organisedbyTheCentreforResearchonIslamicandMalayAffairs(RIMA)
andKonradAdenauerFoundation(KAF)inSingaporeonSeptember3-4,2005),MrStephen
Schwartz titled his keynote address as Four Years After September 11th: The Failure of
Western Media.Hesaid,“Wehavereachedthefourthanniversaryoftheterribleattacks
of September11,2001. I amsorry to say that, inmyview, theU.S. andWesternmedia
havecompletelyfailedtomeetthechallengeofreportingonIslaminthefouryearssince
then,orinreactiontotheatrocitiesthatfollowed,includingtheextremistviolenceinIraq
whichIwouldnotdignifywiththetitles“insurgency”or“resistance”;theMadridmetroand
London underground bombings, and the terror assaults in Indonesia, Morocco, Turkey and
elsewhere.OnSeptember12,2001,itwasasiftwocivilizations,theJudeo-Christianandthe
Islamic, which had shared the planet and had contacts with one another for 14 centuries,
sometimesviolently,sometimespeacefully,butnearlyalwaysfruitfully,becamecompletely
unknown,onetotheother.”
Claims & Reality:SyedFaridAlatas’spaper,titledIs Objective Reporting on Islam Possible?
Contextualizing the Demon,waspresentedattheSingaporeconference.Hehighlightedan
importantdichotomy:WhilemuchofthemediaintheWestclaimstobeimpartial,liberal,
free and objective, in reality it is biased, subjective, illiberal, insensitive and intolerant,
althoughoftennotpoliticallycontrolled.SyedAlatassaid,“Onesenseinwhichthemedia
isbiasedhastodowithOrientalistassumptionsunderlyingmediaimagesofIslam.Inthis
sense,themediainmanyMuslimandotherThirdWorldcountriesisalsobiased.Orientalist
stereotypes and misconceptions regarding Islam have often been internalized by non-
EuropeansandAmericans.”
“WhilemuchofthemediaintheWestclaimstobeimpartial,liberal,freeandobjective,in reality it is biased, subjective,illiberal,insensitiveandintolerant,althoughoftennotpoliticallycontrolled.”
36
WikiLeaks: On November 2010, WikiLeaks collaborated with major global media
organisationstoreleaseU.S.Statedepartmentdiplomatic‘cables’inredactedformat.On1
September2011,itbecamepublicthatanencryptedversionofWikiLeaks’hugearchiveof
unredactedU.S.StateDepartmentcableshadbeenavailableviaBitTorrentformonths,and
thatthedecryptionkey(similartoapassword)wasavailabletothosewhoknewwhereto
findit.WikiLeaksblamedthebreachonitsformerpublicationpartner,theUKnewspaper
The Guardian, and that newspaper’s journalist David Leigh, who revealed the key in a book
published in February 2011; The Guardian argued that WikiLeaks was to blame since they
gave the impression that thedecryptionkeywas temporary (somethingnotpossible for
afiledecryptionkey).TheGermanperiodicalDer Spiegelreportedamorecomplexstory
involving errors on both sides. The incident resulted inwidely expressed fears that the
informationreleasedcouldendangerinnocentlives.
The group had released a number of significant documents which have become front-
pagenewsitems.Earlyreleasesincludeddocumentationofequipmentexpendituresand
holdingsintheAfghanistanwarandcorruptioninKenya.InApril2010,WikiLeakspublished
gunsight footage fromthe12 July2007Baghdadairstrike inwhich Iraqi journalistswere
amongthosekilledbyanAH-64Apachehelicopter,knownastheCollateralMurdervideo.
InJulyofthesameyear,WikiLeaksreleasedAfghanWarDiary,acompilationofmorethan
76,900documentsabouttheWarinAfghanistannotpreviouslyavailabletothepublic.In
October 2010, the group released a set of almost 400,000 documents called the ‘Iraq War
Logs’incoordinationwithmajorcommercialmediaorganisations.Thisallowedthemapping
of109,032deaths in ‘significant’attacksby insurgents in Iraqthathadbeenreportedto
Multi-NationalForce–Iraq,includingabout15,000thathadnotbeenpreviouslypublished.
DuringApril2011,WikiLeaksbeganpublishing779secretfilesrelatingtoprisonersdetained
intheGuantanamoBaydetentioncamp.(Ref:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WikiLeaks)
Freedom of Speech: In an interview as part of the American television program The Colbert
Report,Assangediscussedthelimittothefreedomofspeech,saying,“[itis]notanultimate
freedom,howeverfreespeechiswhatregulatesgovernmentandregulateslaw.Thatiswhy
intheUSConstitutiontheBillofRightssaysthatCongressistomakenosuchlawabridging
thefreedomofthepress.Itistotaketherightsofthepressoutsidetherightsofthelaw
because those rights are superior to the lawbecause in fact they create the law. Every
constitution,everybitoflegislationisderivedfromtheflowofinformation.Similarlyevery
governmentiselectedasaresultofpeopleunderstandingthings”.
TheprojecthasbeencomparedtoDanielEllsberg’srevelationofthePentagonPapers(US
war-relatedsecrets) in1971. In theUnitedStates, the ‘leaking’ofsomedocumentsmay
be legallyprotected.TheU.S.SupremeCourthasruledthat theConstitutionguarantees
T H E G LO B A L M E D I A
37M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
anonymity, at least in the context of political discourse. Author and journalist Whitley
Strieber has spoken about the benefits of theWikiLeaks project, noting that ‘Leaking a
governmentdocumentcanmeanjail,butjailsentencesforthiscanbefairlyshort.However,
therearemanyplaceswhereitmeanslongincarcerationorevendeath,suchasChinaand
partsofAfricaandtheMiddleEast’.
The Arab Spring: Demand Change:TheseriesofprotestsanddemonstrationsacrossNorth
Africa andWest Asia that commenced in 2010 has become known as the ‘Arab Spring’,
andsometimesasthe‘ArabSpringandWinter’,‘ArabAwakening’or‘ArabUprisings’even
thoughnotalltheparticipantsintheprotestsareArab.
TheArabSpringisamediatermforthisrevolutionarywaveofdemonstrationsandprotests
(both non-violent and violent), riots, and civil wars witnessed in the Arab world since
December 18, 2010.Quick to adopt a new lexicon, the globalmedia uniformly referred
to these uprisings and demand for political change as the ‘Arab Spring’. These protests
have shared some techniques of civil resistance in sustained campaigns involving strikes,
demonstrations,marches,andrallies,aswellastheeffectiveuseofsocialmediatoorganize,
communicate,andraiseawarenessinthefaceofstateattemptsatrepressionandInternet
censorship.
Many Arab Spring demonstrationsmet with violent responses from authorities, as well
as from pro-government militias and counter-demonstrators. These attacks have been
answeredwithviolencefromprotestorsinsomecases.Amajorsloganofthedemonstrators
in the Arab world has been Ash-sha`byuridisqat an-nizam(“thepeoplewanttobringdown
theregime”).
Role of Social Media: The importance of the role of social media on the Arab uprisings has
beenlargelydebated.Somesaythatsocialmediawasthemaininstigatoroftheuprisings,
whileothersclaimthatitwasmerelyatool.Eitherway,theperceptionofsocialmediahas
changed;itsroleintheuprisingshasdemonstratedtotheworlditspower.Suchinformation
allowed theworld to stay updatedwith the protests and facilitated organizing protests.
Nineoutof tenEgyptiansandTunisians respondedtoapoll that theyusedFacebookto
organize protests and spread awareness. Furthermore, 28% of Egyptians and 29% of
TunisiansfromthesamepollsaidthatblockingFacebookgreatlyhinderedand/ordisrupted
communication.
38
It was a historic setting for the three-Day International Conference organized by
InstituteofObjectiveStudies,NewDelhi,fromOctober14-16,2011atTownHalland
Yuvanika, inBengaluru, India. “Theyear2011marks thecompletionof25yearsof
existenceofInstituteofObjectiveStudies(IOS),”saidProfZMKhan,GeneralSecretaryof
theInstitute,attheinauguralsessionoftheconferenceattheSirPuttannaChettyTownHall
inBengaluru.Thehallwaspackedwithleadingpoliticians,religiousleaders,academicians,
intellectuals,socialactivists,studentsandyoungprofessionals.
ProfKhanhighlightedthegenesisof IOSsince1986,andsaid,“TheInstitutehasworked
primarily as a research organization devoted to analyzing issues concerning human
understandingandwelfare.Thebasicobjectivehasbeentopromotepurposiveresearch,
using conceptual and applied aspects of scholarship of contemporary relevance to Indian
society,polity,economy,cultureandreligion.Thespheresofconcernandinterestofthe
Instituteextendtothemultiplebranchesofsocialsciences,humanitiesandlaw,including
interdisciplinarydomainsofstudyandresearch.Specialattentionisfocusedonobjective
study of relevant issues relating to understanding of Islam, issues of national concern
Muslims and other marginalised sections of Indian society. Other core areas include
development processes, community relations, social tensions and conflicts, status and
situationofwomenetc.”
Overtheyears,theInstitutehasemergedasarecognised,trend-settingthink-tanktofoster
Islamicworld-viewinapproachinghumanproblems.MinorityaffairsinIndia,establishment
of a peace paradigm and fostering of knowledge society and economy form the core its
activities. Ithasalsoevolved suitable strategies tomeet thechallengesof social justice,
equality,ruleoflaw,peaceandharmony.Thesevaluesandobjectiveshavekepttheinterest
of valuable sections of Indian society alivewith the Institute. These are pursuedwithin
aframeworkofmoralexcellenceinsituationsofpluralismandmulti-culturalismthrough
modernmethodsofresearchandsurvey.
These aspects are further popularised and
disseminatedthroughpublications,conferences,
seminars etc., which often elicit favourable
response from important quarters, including
policy planners. It is a matter of satisfaction
that the Institutehas acquiredprominence for
its concerns and activities within and outside
India.Itisinconsultativestatus(Roster)withthe
EconomicandSocialCouncil(ECOSOC)oftheUnitedNations.
Power of the Media in a Globalizing World
Over the years, the Institutehasemergedasarecognised,trend-settingthink-tanktofosterIslamicworld-viewinapproachinghumanproblems.
39M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
Upholding freedoms sanctioned by our Constitution: Governor H R Bhardwaj
His ExcellencyMr H. R. Bhardwaj, the Governor of Karnataka, delivered the address as
theChiefGuestoftheinauguralsession.AseasonedpoliticianandaveteranoftheIndian
NationalCongressparty,MrBhardwajdrewuponhisyearsasafreedomfightertohighlight
thechangingroleandresponsibilitiesofthemedia.“Wehaveamixedtypeofmediainour
country.Therealmediaisthatwhichlistenstoourvoicesandpublishesthesame.Ourvoice
isonewhichsaysthatourcountry,anditspeople,shouldstayunitedandprosperous.Ifthe
media writes about this, we are happy; but this is not happening and we are quite worried
aboutthis,”hesaid.
Time to question the media: Dr Mohd Manzoor Alam
In his address, Dr MohdManzoor Alam, Chairman of IOS, said, “It is my privilege and
pleasuretowelcomeyoutotheinternationalconferenceonthe‘PoweroftheMediaina
globalizingworld’.WearehereinthecityofBangalorethathasputIndiaonthemapofthe
world.Bangalore’ssuccessstoryiswiththeITindustry.Themediaisheavilydependenton
theITindustry.Today,theyhavebecometwinindustries.Thisiswhyour25thanniversary
celebrationshavebroughtus toBangalore, the rightplace for this conference.Asproud
Indians,wearehappytoacknowledgetheadvancesmadebytheglobalandIndianmedia.
Today,ournewspapers,televisionstations,radiostationsandwebsitesaretechnicallyonpar
withthebestintheworld.MediawatchershavebeenproclaimingIndia’smediarevolution
as ‘one of its kind’ in the world.Nowhere in the world is the media growingasfastandasdeepas in India.Thenewspapers inHindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada are showing enormousgrowth.”
“Iwanted togiveapointer inanotherdirection.Thisdirection isabout thecontentand
substanceofthemedia.Whatisthemediaportraying?Whataretheytalkingabout?We
alsoneedtoask:whomaretheytalkingabout.“I feeldisheartenedwhenIfindthatthe
Indianmainstreammediahaslittletimeorspaceforalmost70percentofourpopulation. Theseincludethelesser-privileged,theeconomicallyweakerandthereforethe‘voiceless’
Indians.Today,thevoicelesshavealsobecomefaceless,”saidDrAlam.
Let us focus on media ethics: Mr K Rahman Khan
Inhispresidentialaddress,MrKRahmanKhan,DeputyChairmanoftheRajyaSabha(Upper
HouseofIndia’sParliament)beganwithpraisesforIOS,andhedrewuponhislongyears
ofassociationwithDrManzoorAlam,whenhesaid,“TheIOSisdoinganexcellentjobfor
thefutureofthecountry.Weneedtocreateresearchworkwhichthecominggenerations
can rely on...that work the IOS is doing.” He congratulated the Institute for completing
40
25 years in service to the nation and said, “The other praise-worthy activity of the IOS
is bringing people together and telling them about the Constitution of Indiawhich is a
sovereigndocumentgiventoustoenjoyourdemocraticrightswhicheachoneofusshould
understand.”
Need to redefine and rethink issues: Prof Vinayshil Gautam
The guest of honour, at the inaugural session,was Prof (Dr) VinayshilGautam, founding
Director of IIM (Kozhikode) and Professor and First Head, Department of Management
StudiesIIT-Delhi.Inhisshortbutscintillatingaddress,ProfGautamsaid,“Igobackto1971
whenIwasintheUniversityofSussexandakeeperofthepapersofVirginiaWoolf.Through
thosepapersIbecamefamiliarwithherviewsthatnewswassimplyconveyingfacts.Today
news has become synonymous with commentary and commentary, in turn, has become a
majorboneofcontention.”
Hewasallpraises for theChiefGuest,GovernorHRBhardwaj’saddress, saying thathe
upholdstheNehruvianidealsinthe21stcentury.“Nehruvianphilosophytranscendsboth
time and space,” the Professor said.“My focus today is rethinking andredefiningissuesbecausetheworldhaschanged.A few quick facts
thatwillhelpusknowwhyweshouldredefineandrethinkissues:
1.Fiftypercentoftheworld’spopulationisbelow30yearsofagetoday.
2.Ninety-sixpercentoftheInternetusershavejoinedasocialnetwork(throughwhichthey
areconnectedtoworldnewsandlocalevents).Newspapersarepasse.Outofthe25major
newspapersintheworld,onlyoneisintheblack,therestareallsufferinglosses.
3.Radiotook38yearstoreachthemarkof50millionlisteners.
Televisiontook30yearstoreachthesamemark.Internettookfouryears.Facebookreached
2millionviewers/membersinlessthanayear.”
Struggles in Egypt inspired by India’s freedom movement: Mr Hisham Ahmad
MrHishamAhmad,fromtheMediaDevelopmentAssociationofEgypt,wastheguestof
honour who delivered his address during the inaugural session. The audience were all
earsfortheEgyptianmediapersonhavingarrivedinIndiawhenhisowncountrywasgoing
throughmomentousandhistoricchanges.Therecanbenodoubtthat2011-12hasmarked
a watershed in the history of Egypt and North African countries through the uprisings and
revoltswhichtheworldhashailedasthe‘ArabSpring’.
“IfeelhonouredandspecialtobehereinIndiatoday,”saidMrAhmadspeakinginArabic,
“theinvitationfromIOStoattendthisconferenceinBangalorehasaveryspecialmeaning
forme.IndiaoccupiesaspecialplaceformostEgyptiansaswegrewuphearingaboutPt
JawaharlalNehru,SuhartoofIndonesiaandGamalAbdelNassertogetherestablishingthe
IOS CONFERENCE : BENGALURU
41M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
Non-AlignedMovement(NAM)wherethefocuswastokeepalldictatorialregimesatbay.”
Inthe1970sand80’s,India-Egyptrelationsreceivedaboostthroughacademicandliterary
translationsofArabicandUrdutexts.“MajorworksinArabic,writtenbyEgyptianscholars
andacademicians,weretranslatedintoUrdu.Thisbroughtourtwocountriesclosertoeach
other,”MrAhmad said, adding “TheUlemaof India, especially from the famous Islamic
seminariesofnorthIndia,arefairlywell-knowninEgypt.Weareawareofthepioneering
worksofMaulanaSyedAbulHasanAliNadwi(popularlyknownasAliMiyan)andMaulana
Mokkim Khan, to name a few. Theirworks arewidely read and highly respected in our
country.”
42
Devotedtothesubjectof‘mediaandminorities’,thesecondbusinesssessionof
thedayliveduptothepromiseofbeingfullofsoundandfury.Theminoritiesin
India, especially the vast Muslim community, have had grouses and complaints
against the mainstream media: stereotyping of the community, bias in coverage and
prejudicedreportagearesomeofthelongstandinggrievances.
The convenor of the session was Mr Abdus Salam Puthige, Editor-in-Chief of Vartha
Bharthi, a Kannada daily. In his introductory words, Mr Puthige said, “This topic is a
double-edgedsword.Theminoritieshavesufferedatthehandsofthemedia;atthesame
time,theminoritiesmaynothavedoneenoughtounderstandthenatureofthemedianor
havetheydoneenoughtobuildtheirownmedianetworkstoo.”MrPuthige,managinga
mediaenterprise inKarnataka,knewhowdifficult itwastodevelopandsustainadaily
newspaper devoted to community news and issues. He hoped that the sessionwould
throwmorelightontheroadaheadfortheminorities.
MrRoyWadia,thechairpersonofthesession,wasaseniorcorrespondentwithCNNin
theUS and had covered theMiddle East for the international channel. Hailing from a
renownedParsi family ofMumbai,MrWadia expressedhis empathy for the problems
oftheminoritiesinIndiaandthemediacoveragewhichisscantyandsuperficialatbest
and scurrilous atworst. He said, “The educatedmiddle-classMuslims in India have to
encourage their children to become mediapersons; it is only then a slow change will
happen in the newsrooms and coverage of minority
problems would become more balanced.” He
gave the example of how the African-American
communityintheUShadfacedsimilarproblemsbut
it took a fewgenerationsbefore thewrongs could
besetright,atleastinthemediafindingaminority
perspectiveandgivinga ‘voice’tothosewhowere
earliernotheardatall.
We need to fight for our rights and freedoms:
Ms Wasim Rashid
The Editor of Chauthi Duniya–Urdu,publishedfrom
New Delhi, Ms Wasim Rashid began with a rousing
couplet which urged that neither the sword nor the
headgearcangetyoutherespectwhichbringingoutanewspapercan.Thoughthecouplet
was written in the pre-Independence era, and was directed at the harsh anti-colonial
policiesoftheBritishRaj,shesaid,“NothingseemstohavechangedtodayinIndia.We
needtohavethesamekindofspirittofightforourrightsandfreedom.”
Media and Minorities: Business Session II
“Theeducatedmiddle-class Muslims in India have to encourage their children to become mediapersons; it is only then a slow change will happen in the newsrooms and coverage of minority problems would become more balanced.”
IOS CONFERENCE : BENGALURU
43M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
Speaking in Urdu, Ms Rashid said, “I will be focussed on speaking about the Muslim
minorityinIndiaandhowthemediahasbeencoveringornotcoveringtheirproblems.I
dounderstandthatthetopicofdiscussionisabouttheminoritiesingeneral(andtheSikhs,
Jains,Christians,Parsis...areallminoritiesinIndiatoo)but,beingaMuslimandaworking
journalist,IfeelmoststronglyfortheMuslimminority.Letusbeclearthatwearetalking
about the ‘survival’ of the Muslim minority: never before in the history of India have the
Muslimmassesbeensoneglected,impoverishedandmarginalized.”
Online media is on the fringes of media-space: Mr Subhash Rai
TheOnlineEditor for EPW,Mr. SubhashRaihad interestinganddefinitive comments to
makeinhisshortspeech.Headmittedthatthe‘onlinemedia’todaywasstillonthefringe
ofthemedia-space,sotosay.“Whetheritisalargemediahousewhoseprintandtelevision
coverage is also being shared online or it’s a media company focussed singularly on the
digitalspace,theonlinemediaisgrowingandhasyettogrowintheyearstocome,”he
said,pointingoutthatinthenewonlinemedianotonlyisthenewsbeingconsumedbutit
isalsobeingcreated.HewasreferringtohowFacebookandTwitter,asglobalsocialmedia
networks, are being followed by media houses for comments by users who range from the
ordinarytothecelebrity-extraordinaire.WithThePresidentoftheUnitedStateshimself
beingacommittedtwitter,thereisnoendtothebytesandbitsofinformationwhichcanbe
gleanedfromthesesocialmediasites.AstheArabSpringdemonstrated,thesocialmedia
sitesplayedapivotalinthedisseminationofnewsandinformationbyordinarycitizensand
journalistsacrosstheArabworld.
Muslims in eastern India are the most backward: Mr Ahmad Hasan Imran
Mr.AhmadHasanImran,EditorofQalam WeeklyfromKolkata(WestBengal)spokeinUrdu,
and took the audience focus to eastern India: to not just West Bengal where he lives and
worksbutalsotoAssam,TripuraandManipurwhichhasoneofthehighestconcentration
ofMuslimsinIndia.Sadly,thishistorically-richareaofthecountryremainsoneofthemost
backwardandunder-developedinmodernIndia,despitemajorgovernmentalpoliciesand
initiatives.“AspertheSacharCommitteeReport,theMuslimsineasternIndiaarethemost
backward in India,” saidMr Imram,“Iwillnotgo through thedataandstatisticsbut let
meinformthisaudiencethat90percentoftheMuslimshereliveinruralareas.Theyare
laggingbehindonallparameters: farmorethantheScheduledCastes,ScheduledTribes
andtheOtherBackwardCastes(OBCs).”
“Iamafirmbelieverinthemedia’sroletopromotedemocracy.Themediahasanequally
importantroleinpromotingdevelopment;andhelpthedifferentarmsofthegovernment
to play a significant role towards the empowerment of disadvantaged groups like the
Muslims,”saidMrImran.
44
Muslim community cannot ignore the media: Mr Khurshid Alam
Mr Khurshid Alam, a senior journalist from New Delhi who has spent several years working
withleadingUrdunewspapers,said,“Asamediaperson,Ikeephearingonemajorcomplaint
by the Muslim community that the mainstream media in India has no space for Muslim
issuesortheMuslimpointofview.Itisasifthemediais‘ignoring’theMuslimcommunity
andtheproblemsitfaces.
“Let us examine how true or false this allegation is against themedia,” challengedMr
Alam.“Themediaisinterestedonlyin‘news’;itdoesnotbotheraboutwherethenewsis
originatingfrom,orwhetherthereareanymoralorreligiousdimensions.Theywanttobe
thefirstinthefieldtoprovidethenewstotheirreadersorviewers..Insuchasituation,I
wouldgofurthertostatethatthemediaisneitheranti-Islamnorisitanti-Muslim.”Hefelt
thattheMuslimcommunitymayhaveitsgrousesagainstthemedia,butitcannotaffordto
ignorethemediaintoday’stimeandage.
IOS CONFERENCE : BENGALURU
45M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
Thesessionon‘CommercialisationoftheMedia’promisedtobeveryinformative
and interesting; the convenor, Syed Tanveer Ahmad, Editor of the Karnataka
Muslims, set the tone for it as he started with a quote from Dr B R Ambedkar,
“JournalisminIndiawasonceaprofession,ithasnowbecomeatrade.Ithasnomoremoral
functionthanthemanufactureofsoap.”DrAmbedkar,aprolificwriter,thinkerandsocial
activisthimself,waskeenlyawareofhowIndiawaschangingandhowthesocial-cultural
eliteswerecontinuingtheirideologicaldominationinalargecaste-riddensociety.
SyedAhmadreferredtoareportpresentedbytheInternationalCommissionfortheStudy
of CommunicationProblem,UNESCO: “Theexclusionof thedisadvantaged groups from
normalcommunicationchannelsisamajorissue.Thecompositionmayvaryfromcountry
tocountry,theirproblemsmaybemoreorlesscrucial,buttheyexisteverywhereinthe
world. The poor, handicapped, geographically isolated, those subject to social, cultural
andeconomicdiscrimination,national,ethical,linguisticandreligiousminorities,women
and children: some of these groups in some places are denied such rudimentary rights to
communicateasthatofassemblyorexpressionofopinion.”
New age mediaperson has emerged: Mr Guha Thakurta
MrParanjoyGuhaThakurta,an independent journalist-filmmakerfromNewDelhi,said,
“Notsolongago,therewasanendearingimageofthejournalist:onewhowascommitted
tovalues,tohisprofession,todiggingoutthetruthandsometimesevendyingforit.This
imagewasreinforcedonthesilverscreeninHollywoodand,closerhome, inBollywood.
Many in the audience here would remember Orson Welles and Citizen Kane, the1940s
Hollywoodfilmwhichinmanywaysdefinedtheroadtoruthlesspower.Kane’scareerin
thepublishingworldisbornofidealisticsocialservice,butgraduallyitbecomesanendless
pursuitofpower.ContrastthiswithIndia,wherethejournalistwasportrayedonscreenas
someonesosincere,spartanandkeepingalivetheflameoftruthagainstallodds.Countless
Indianfilmscreatedandsustainedthisimagery;butsuddenly,overthelastdecadeorso,
thisimagehasslowlyfadedout.Thejournalisttodayisasavvymediaperson!Smartandin
syncwiththecorporateworld.InIndia,HindifilmslikePage 3 and Corporate have brought
alivethisnewagemediaperson.”
Commercialisation of Media: Business Session-III
46
Thesecondday’ssessionbeganwithProfZMKhan,SecretaryGeneralof IOS, in
thechair.Hesaid,“Mediaanditsglobalizationisarealitytoday.Itisthrowingup
challengesonallfronts:technology,content,freedomofspeechandexpression,
thereisnoissueuntouchedbytheall-roundgrowthofthemedia.Withthegrowthhascome
enormouspower;Ihopethespeakerswilltouchuponthesecontentiousissuesregarding
themediatoday.”TheconvenorofthesessionwasMrSNHRazvi,formerSecretaryofthe
KarnatakaStateMinoritiesCommission.
Talking about Thought Control: Mr H A Karim.
Mr.HameedAbdulKarim,aseniorjournalistfromSriLanka,said,“Mostpeopleassociate
mediawithTV,newspapersandradio.Butwhenwewerechildrenwewerenotexposedto
TVanddidn’thavemuchtodowithnewspapersexceptthesportspage.Wewere,however,
exposedtocomicbooksandwedevouredeveryoneofthemwecouldlayourhandson.
OurfavouriteonesweretheLoneRangerandTarzan.Wedidnotknowthenthatourminds
werebeing‘programmed’orthatwewerebeingsubjectedto‘ThoughtControl’asoneof
thegreatintellectualsofourtimesNoamChomskyputitinhisbookPirates and Emperors.
The Lone Ranger brainwashed us to believe that the White man was superior because we
foundhimridingawhitehorseandalwayssolvingtheproblemsoftheoppressed.Tonto,his
sidekick,was‘redIndian’andherodeabrownhorse–nowhitehorseforhim.Westarted
to believe the White man was superior and that the brown man was only good enough to
dohisbidding.ItwasaroundthistimethesupremeracistimperialistRudyardKiplingwrote
aboutthe‘WhiteMan’sBurden’.TarzanbrainwashedustobelievethattheWhitemanwas
superior in every aspect of life and that if something good had to be done it had to be done
bytheWhiteman.Wecouldn’timaginewhyTarzanhadtobeWhitemaninthethickofthe
BlackAfricanjungles.That’show‘ThoughtControl’operatedthenandcontinuestooperate
upuntiltodayinavarietyofways.Hightechtoyshavereplacedcomicbooks,buttheycarry
thesamemessage.
Women and minorities - how are they represented in the media: Ms Bhasha Singh.
Ms.BhashaSingh,theRovingEditorofNai DuniyainNewDelhi,said,“Politicalrightsand
political voicewithin themedia: Iwant to sharemy thoughtson this topic in the larger
contextofglobalization.Myreferencepointsarewomenandminoritiesandhowthemedia
isportrayingthem.”Shefeltthatwithoutapoliticalvoice,theexistenceofpoliticalrights
doesnothavemuchsignificance.“Whenwetalkaboutglobalization, thebasicnotion is
thatitcreatesaglobalvillage.ButhasthathappenedinIndia?Iwanttoraisethisquestion.
WhatIseehappeninginIndiaisthatnewsisbecomingmorelocalized.Whatisimportantin
onepartofthecountryhasnosignificanceinotherparts.Tothisextent,wehavebecome
‘islands’who are connectedwith eachother by themedia.” India, being amulti-lingual
Media and Globalization:Business Session-IV
IOS CONFERENCE : BENGALURU
47M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
multi-ethniccountry, thenewsreported inoneregional language is incomprehensible to
viewersinotherpartsofthecountry,eventhoughtheymaybeviewingthenews.Thisadds
anotherdimensionto‘isolation’.
We’ve been a globalized nation for long: Mr A Jairam
Mr.A Jairam, formerResidentEditorofThe Hindu in Bangalore, reminded the audience,
“We in Indiahavealways tried tobeglobal inour thoughtsandactions.Evenbeforewe
achieved independence fromBritish colonial rule, leaders like Pt JawaharlalNehruwere
demonstratingtheglobalreachoftheirthinking.NehruhostedaconferenceinDelhicalled
the Asian Relations Conference where he advocated independence for countries under
colonialruleinLatinAmerica,Africaandsouth-eastAsia.India’sindependencemovement
wasnotonlyforIndia,itwasforalloppressedpeopleandcountriesoftheworld.Thatwas
ourconceptandglobalizationisnotalientoourthoughts.
“TheBritishmadeusmembersoftheLeagueofNationsandourambassadorwasSirFiroz
KhanNoon,wholaterbecamethePrimeMinisterofPakistan.Criticsoftensaythat India
hasbeenmoreofa‘talkingpower’ratherthananeconomicgiant!Onecanreferhereto
thehistoryoftheNon-AlignedMovementwhichIndia ledasaglobalmovement.Onthe
economicfront,India’squesthasalwaysbeentobeself-reliant;Icanremindthisaudience
aboutleaderslikeSirMirzaIsmailandSirMVisveswarayaofMysorewhoevenespousedthe
causeof‘MadeinMysore’asadistinctidentity.”
Need to study impact of globalization on media: Mr Sharieff
Mr.IftekharSharieff,asenioreditorfromSalar newspaper in Bangalore, agreed with earlier
speakersthattheimpact,effectofglobalizationwastotalandoverwhelmingfortheIndian
media.“Therehasbeenadramaticchange.Today,themediahasassumedtheshapeofa
universalpackage:ithasimpactedthewaywegetthenewsandinformationaboutpolitics,
economy,society,religion.Earlierthemediawasoperatinginasmallerbandwidthbuttoday
itscoveragehasexpandedanditsboundarieshavegonebeyondnations.Thishasaffected
thewaythemediaoperatesandseesitselftoday,”hesaid.
Outliningthekeychangesinthemedia,hesaid,“Thecanvasofthemediahasgrownlarger
and larger. It coversnotonly theprint,electronic, radio-wavesbutalso thedigital space
whichistrulyrevolutionary.Iwanttolookattwoissuesconcerning‘globalizationofmedia’:
a)whathasbeenitsimpactonsocietyb)itsimpactonthebusinessofmedia.”
48
TheIOSSilverJubileeCelebrationsconcludedwiththe14thInternationalConference
on Minority Rights and Identities: Challenges and Prospects in an Unfolding Global
ScenarioinNewDelhifromApril13-15,2012.
At the concluding conference, Minority Rights, Civil Society and Media was an important
parallelsession.ItwaspresidedoverbytheDelhiHighCourtformerjudgeRSSodhi,andwas
addressedbythefollowing:seniormediapersonPranjoyGuhaThakurta,socialactivistand
journalistTeestaSetalvad,SarvodayaInternationalTrustDelhiChairmanDrAKMerchant,
journalistBhashaSingh,socialactivistSanjayRai,JamiaMilliaIslamiaacademicianArvind
KaurAnsari,Pune’seconomistDrMalikaMistry,DelhiUniversitypoliticalscientistDrAftab
Alam,AligarhMuslimUniversityacademiciansKomalJBSingh,DrAmanMohammedKhan
andTabassumRasul.
Make minority campaigns more inclusive: Mr Sanjay Rai
Mr Sanjay Rai, a civil rights activist, pointed out that minority rights and civil society
groups should include the gender, class and religious groups, to make their campaigns and
movementsmore inclusiveandcomprehensive. “Ihavebeen travellingacross theworld
and,eventhoughIamaHindu,Ihavebeenfacingracialprofilingatleadingairportsofthe
world.Thisisaseriousissue,andanyonewhoundergoesthistreatment,feelsextremely
humiliated and insulted. I can understand what the minorities must be facing when
travellingtoandfromtheUSAorEuropeancountries,”hesaid.
Media has fallen prey to the right-wing discourse on minorities: Ms Teesta Setalvad
MsTeestaSetalvad,acivilrightsactivistandjournalistwhohasbeendoggedlyfightingfor
justiceforthevictimsofGujarat’scommunalviolencein2002,said,“Ifweseetheevents
ofjustthelastthirtyyearsorso,wefindthatcommunalism(orfizaparasthi, as is said in
Hindustani)hasbeengrowingatafastpace.Ithasbroughtunderitsinfluencealargesection
ofthegovernmentalestablishments.Communalistshavealsobeenabletochangethevery
faceofourpoliticalideologies.Ibelievethatsomewherealongthewaythemediastopped
consideringtheminoritiesascitizensofIndiabutfellpreytotheright-wingdiscourse. The
right-wingdiscoursehaspitteddiversityagainstuniformity;ithaspitteduniformityagainst
nationalism.Themediahasnotbeenabletointrospectorstepbacktolookatthisturnof
politicaldiscourse.”
“AcaseinpointistheBabriMasjidissue.Withthelegalcasescarryingon,themediabegan
referringtotheBabriMasjidissueastheissueof‘thedisputedstructure’.Itwastheright-
wingdiscourse that theMasjidwasadisputedstructure. In thephaseof just tenyears,
theentirepublicdiscoursethroughthemediahasbecomeoneofthe‘disputedstructure’.
Similarly,ratherthanpresentingandportrayingtheminorityrightsastheConstitutionally-
IOS CONFERENCE : NEWDELH I
Minority Rights, Civil Society and Media: Parallel session
49M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
guaranteed right to equality, the right to education etc., it has become a question of
appeasement.Weneedtounderstandthisverycarefullybecause‘appeasement’isonce
againaworddiscoursedwidelybytheright-wingforcestoalienateanddemoniseasection
ofourminorities,”MsSetalvadexplained.
Minorities face a black-out in the media and news: Dr Manzoor Alam
Dr Mohd Manzoor Alam, Chairman of IOS, speaking during the session, shared his
experiencesofhowthemediahasbeen‘blackingout’newsandeventspertainingtothe
minorities,especiallytheMuslims.Hesaid,“In1997,duringthe50thIndependenceDay
celebrations,severalMuslimorganizationsundertheumbrellaofAllIndiaMilliCounciltook
out a Caravan-e-Azaadi.ThisdecisionwastakeninParliament,withthePrimeMinisterMr
I K Gujral giving his blessings to this movement to spread communal harmony and the
messageofpeace. Across50days, theCaravan covered the length and breadth of the
country;andwhenthepressconferencewasheldinNewDelhiatthefinale,therewasa
hugepresenceofthemedia.Ihaveneverseensuchalargepressconference;97journalists
cameforthemeet.Butnextmorning,whenwesearchedthenewspapers,therewasnota
word about the Caravanortheconference!Howdoesoneexplainthiscompleteblack-out?
TheonlycoveragewereceivedwasintheUrdupress.”
Minorities have only
themselves to blame for
their misfortunes:
Justice R S Sodhi
Justice R S Sodhi, a former
judgeoftheDelhiHighCourt,
who was presiding over the session on Minority Rights, Civil Society and Media, in his
remarkssaid,“Asfarasminorityrightsareconsidered,weareallinfavourthatweneedto
fightforthemandsupportthemintheirstruggle.Thecivilsociety,inmyopinion,hasbeen
byandlargelethargicanduninterested;themediaisirresponsibleandhasoftenplayeda
negativerolewhenrepresentingminorityaffairs.”HesaidthatIndiahasmanyminorities
andMuslimsaloneshouldnotbeconsideredasminorities:thereareSikhs,Jains,Parsis,
Christiansandotherreligiousandethnicminoritieswhichneedequalattention.“Intoday’s
timeandage,minoritygroupshavethepowerthroughtheballottotopplegovernments.
So,oneshouldnotfeelpowerlessatanystage.Yettheminoritiestodayaresuffering;they
arebeingmisledbytheirownleadershiporothervestedinterestswholeadthemastray.
Ifirmlybelievethatwedonothavetoblamethemajoritycommunityforthewoesofthe
minorities;theminoritieshavetoblamethemselves,theirlackofeducationandpolitical
will.Youchosetobeasbackwardasyouwanttobeandasyouare,”hesaidcategorically.
“Ifirmlybelievethatwedonothavetoblame the majority community for the woesoftheminorities;theminoritieshave to blame themselves, their lack of educationandpoliticalwill.”
50
Understanding India,and themedia revolution in the21stcentury, isnosimple
task. As a country, India defies easy definitions. It is a bundle of ancient
contradictions,wrappedinmoderndemocratictraditionsandtiedupinsecular
and spiritual knots that cutacrosshistoricaltimeandgeographical space. Its seemingly
contradictoryexperiencesandimageshaveensuredthatIndiagetseasilyunderstood,and
portrayed,throughstereotypesandcliches.Itmaynolongerbethelandofsnake-charmers
and Maharajahs but it has transformed into a land where the image of the ‘cell phone, the
sadhuandtheelephantonthestreet’getsbeamedacrosstheworld.
Foreignwriters,andveryoftenthejournalistsamongthem,alwaysthoughtthetruemotif
ofthecountrywastheTajMahal,thesublimemausoleumonthebanksoftheriverYamuna,
atimelesstributetoeverythingthatIndiawasproudof.Otherswereequallyquicktowrite
aboutthecrowdsandcowsonthestreetsofitsmetro-cities,thepatientpeasantbehindhis
plough,lookingupwithtiredeyesatacloudlesssky.Eventhemostperceptiveamongthe
writerswerefoxed,andflummoxed,onseeingthecrowds,themultitudes,thethrongsof
people,peopleeverywhere:atpoliticalmeetings,fairsandmelas,ontrainandbusstations,
andlater,atairportsandswankymalls.TrevorFishlockinCobraRoad(publishedin1999)
wrote about ‘oceansofmultitudes, teeming like spermatoza’. Numbersnumbed them.
Whetherforpoliticalscientistsorsociologists,thehugepopulaceofIndianscontinuedto
defycategorisationandclassification.Itwasrelativelyeasytojustputtheminmonolithic
blocks,castevote-banksandlumpedintovariousreligioussectariancommunities.
Imax view of India: When Edward Luce wrote In Spite of the Gods: The Strange Rise of
Modern Indiain2007,itwasagainasimilarsagafromanexperiencedjournalistwhohad
reported from New Delhi for The Financial Times from2001to2005.Luce,wroteareviewer
in The New York Times(NYT),“offersanImaxviewofanationsoenormousthatitembraces
everypossiblecontradiction.Alwaysit(India)seemstobeteeteringontheedgeofeither
greatnessortheabyss.Rightnowthefuturelooksinviting.”
WovenintothesagaofmodernIndiaisthestoryoftheIndianmedia’sphenomenalgrowth.
ItwouldbeapttobeginwiththewordsofRobinJeffriesfromtheintroductioninIndia’s
Newspaper Revolution. He wrote, “There has never been a newspaper revolution like
India’s.Thespreadofcomputertechnologyandoffsetpressesfromthe1980’s,prodded
byawakeningcapitalism,hasmadetheprintingofnewspapersahotlycompetitive,mass-
market industry in ten different scripts and a dozen languages...the Indian-language
newspaperindustryismountingawell-wornglobaltreadmillofnewspaperdevelopment.
DailynewspapercirculationinIndia’s13majorlanguagesmorethandoubledinthe1990’s.
intermsofavailability(orpenetration),thismeantthatin2001,whenIndia’spopulation
The Indian Media: Grasping its Growth
51M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
was1,020millionpeople,therewereabout58dailynewspapersforevery1,000Indians,
morethanthreeandhalftimesthelevelof25yearsearlier.Infiveyears,between1996and
2001,penetrationgrewby35%...Theprocessoflimb-stretching,awakeningcapitalism,as
they work themselves out in the newspaper industries of Indian languages, is immensely
dynamic.”
Jeffries’ breathless narrativemerits attention as he rolled out the figures: “Newspaper
circulationinHindi,thenationallanguage,spokenbyabout40%ofthepopulation,more
than trebled in11years, from7.8millioncopiesaday in1990to25.6millionaday in
2000.Theydoubledbetween1994and1998,from12.3millionadayto24.3million.Other
languagesshowedevenmorespectacularincreases.CirculationinTeluguquadrupledand
inOriyaandPunjabitrebled.InAssamese,theymayhaveincreasedbyasmuchasseven
times.ThegrowthofIndian-languagenewspapers,whichhadbegunwellbeforethe1990’s,
signifiesthespreadofIndiancapitalismanditsorganizingprinciplesandvalues.Theneed
toshowlargeraudiencestonationaladvertisersdrivestheaggressiveexpansionofthese
newspapers.Theyneedrisingcirculationfigurestoretaintheiradvertisersinthefaceof
challengesfromtelevisionandothernewspapers,tocaptureadsfromrivalsandtoentice
newadvertisers intotheirregions.Theregistrarrecorded5,364dailynewspaperoffices
in2000,upnearly90%from2,856in1990.Inpart,newspaperownershadopenednew
officesandpushedtheirpapers intosmall
townsofruralIndiainordertosurvive.”
Powerful address: Quite befittingly it
was in a small town in Uttar Pradesh,
the northern Indian state, that the Vice
President of India, Mr M. Hamid Ansari
delivered a powerful address, mincing no
words as he castigated the Indianmedia.
Hebeganbysaying,“Wehaveeveryreason
to be proud of the strength and diversity
ofIndianmedia. However,andfromtime
to time, there have been media-related
developments that are disconcerting.
They raise questions about the media’s
objectivity and credibility.”MrAnsariwas
delivering theinaugural address at the
BiennialSessionofNationalUnionofJournalists(NUJ)inHathrasinJune2013.Hesaid,
“Thesedevelopmentsrelateto:(i)cross-mediaownership;(ii)thephenomenonof‘paid
“Thesedevelopmentsrelateto:(i)cross-mediaownership;(ii)thephenomenonof‘paidnews’; (iii)mediaethicsandtheneedforeffectiveandviableself-regulatory mechanisms;(iv)thedecliningroleofeditors and their editorial freedom; (v)theneedtoimproveworkingconditionsofmediapersonnel, their safety and security.”
52
news’;(iii)mediaethicsandtheneedforeffectiveandviableself-regulatorymechanisms;
(iv) the declining role of editors and their editorial freedom; (v) the need to improve
workingconditionsofmediapersonnel,theirsafetyandsecurity.”
MrAnsari said that in considering thesequestions, “Wenowhave thebenefitof three
weightyand relevantdocuments. Thefirst is a2009 reportby theAdministrativeStaff
CollegeofIndia(ASCI)attheinstanceoftheMinistryofInformationandBroadcastingon
‘CrossMediaOwnershipinIndia’.ThesecondisaFebruary2013ConsultationPaperbythe
TelecomRegulatoryAuthorityofIndia(TRAI)onmediaownershipquestion.Thethirdisa
reporton‘PaidNews’madeonMay6,2013bytheParliament’sStandingCommitteeon
InformationTechnology.”Heexpressedhisconcernthat,together,theirfindingspresenta
disturbingpicture.
It canbe termedas the Indianmedia’s ‘darkesthour’.Alternatively, it canbe seenasa
logical corollary of the ongoing commercialization of media where every asset, every
operation isbeingmonetised.Withoutdoubt, themarketingpractiseof ‘paidnews’has
puttheIndiamediaunderadarkcloud;thegloriousstoryofIndia’smediarevolutionpales
whenitisreadas‘howcorruptionintheIndianmediaisunderminingdemocracy’.
T H E I N D I A N M E D I A
53M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
One of the most important values which democratic nations have enshrined in
theirconstitutions,andembodiedintheirmassculture,istherighttofreedomof
speechandexpression.Thisrightisavaluethatdistinguishesanationconsidered
democraticfromothernationswhichhaveautocraticandrepressiveformsofgovernance.
Itiscommonlyunderstoodthatcurbingthisparticularfreedomepitomisestherestriction
ofallormostpersonalfreedomsanyindividualcitizenhastherightto,regardlessofthe
country she or he may live in, which is why it is considered a sacrosanct fundamental right
indemocraticideology.TherefrainofapopularAmericansongofthelate-1960swritten
byKrisKristoffersonandpopularisedby,amongothers,JanisJoplin(1943-70)-Freedom’s
justanotherwordfornothing leftto lose...- isprobably thebestanalogyexpressingthis
fundamentalrightmostofuswantandwishtotakeforgranted.
Insourcinginformationwhilepresentingnews,journalistshavetoreportongendercrimes;
exploitation of the under-privileged; indulgence of the affluent; arrogance of those in
positionsofpowerandauthority;naturalcalamitiesandman-madeaccidents;communal
tensions and riots; conflicts and wars; acts of terrorism – the list is long and merely
illustrative.Whilereportingnews,explainingfacts,analyzinginformationandplacingthese
intheirhistorical,social,economicandpoliticalcontexts,thejournalisthastobeawareof
herorhisaudience(readers,listenersandviewers)andaccordinglyusethelanguageand
toneconsideredappropriate,properandrelevant.
Whereas the independence and autonomy of the mass media constitute important
barometersoftherighttofreeexpressionandanindependentmassmediaisoneofthe
importantfoundationsofademocraticsociety,mediapersonnelingeneralandjournalists
(orcontentproviders)inparticularareconsideredbymanytobesociety’s‘watchdogs’,not
‘lapdogs’ofelitesandestablishmentscomprisingthoseinpositionsofpowerandauthority.
To stretch the canine analogy further, besides playing the watchdog role of adversary or
antagonist, a journalist can be compared to a guide-dog for the visually challenged (or
underprivilegedsectionsofsociety)orevenasnifferdogwhofindsoutifcontrabanddrugs
orexplosivesarehiddeninapileofluggagetopre-emptanuntowardsituation.Themass
medianotonlyprovideinformationofinterestandusetothepublicbutalsohelpensure
thatthoseinimportantandinfluentialpositionsofremaintransparentandaccountablefor
theiractions.Independentjournalismseekstoexposecorruptionandupholdsdemocratic
rights,includingtherighttofreeexpression.
Mediaethics is a complex, sticky, andoften controversial subject. Journalists arebound
to uphold certain accepted modes and codes of conduct to ensure the veracity and
authenticityoftheirwork.Thesemodesandcodesofconductcomprisewhatarebroadly
Media Ethics and Freedom of Expression inDevelopingCountries:AnOverview
54
understood as media ethics. While media
professionals on occasion claim that certain
facts are in the ‘public interest’ to disclose and
need wide dissemination for that purpose,
journalistsareoftenaccusedofsensationalizing
information,distortingreality,trivializingevents,
transgressing individual privacy, and worse:
lying, cheating anddeceiving. Even as the role
of the media in exposing corruption in high
placeswasacknowledgedandhailedindifferent
countries,viewswereoftenexpressedthatthemediawenttoofaronoccasions,crossing
thethinandsubtledividing-linethatdistinguishestheappropriatenessofthepublic’sright
toknowandtheindividual’srighttoprivacyaswellastheobligationofthegovernmentto
protectnationalsecurity.Themediawasalsocriticizedforitsexcessiveemphasison‘bad
news’;sentenceslike‘ifitbleeds,itleads’begantobecommonlyused.
Over the years, media ethics as a topic of discussion and study has received relatively
greater attention in theUnited States of America and countries of the developedWest
and Japan in comparison tootherpartsof theworld.This volumeseeks toaddress this
gap.Excludingwestern,north-westernandeasternEurope,theMediterraneancountries,
NorthandCentralAmerica,theWestIndies,Australia,NewZealand,someislandnations
and India, this book tries to cover as many countries from around the globe as it can with
specificfocusontherighttofreedomofspeechandexpressionand,byextension,thestate
ofmediainthesenations,andthereforethestateofdemocracyinthosecountries.Todo
this,wehavehadtoexamineeachcountry’sgeo-politicalplace,itshistory–lessgeneraland
morepolitical–aswellinmanycases,apin-holeviewofitsethniccultureandenvironment.
Allthesefacetscontributetoandmakeupthebasisforthisparticularfreedomasprevalent
ineachnationatthetimeofwritinginlate-2013.
We have gathered and collated information from a host of reputed agencies and their
websites thathavemadeall such informationfreelyavailable tothe interestedpublic.A
listoftheseorganizationsisgivenintheannexurewithbriefdescriptionsaboutthem.The
informationhasspecificandtopicalrelevancetothemediaineachnation,andbydefault,
theprevailingstatusoffreedomofspeechandexpressionmaybegleanedfromwhathas
beencollated.Additional informationhasbeencompiled fromotheronline resources.A
separate list in the annexureprovideshyperlinks to thesewebsites.Many references to
quotations,statisticsetc.,aregiveninthemaintextasfootnotesorwithinsquarebrackets.
Media ethics as a topic of discussion and study has received relativelygreaterattentionintheUnitedStatesofAmericaandcountries of the developed West andJapanincomparisontootherpartsoftheworld.Thisvolumeseekstoaddressthisgap.
MED IA ETH ICS
55M E D I A I N O U R G LO B A L I Z I N G W O R L D
In noway can this section be described as a comprehensive exposition of the state of
freedomofspeechandexpression ineachof thenationsdealtwith.Thatwouldneeda
tomeofencyclopaedicproportions.However,thisbookattemptstobeaworkofreference
that brings to the reader selectively compiled information from different developing
countries that should hopefully be of interest to not just students of the media and media
practitionersbutothersinterestedinthepoliticaleconomyandsociologyofmediaethics
and freedom of expression from the perspective of developing nations. The material
provided in the book may open doorways and indicate signposts for further research and
detailedreading.
Here is how the material has been divided according to geographical regions:
SOUTH ASIA: This section covers awide geographical area between Afghanistan in the
westandIndonesia intheeast.Countriescoveredare:Afghanistan,Bangladesh,Bhutan,
Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan,
Singapore,SriLanka,andThailand.ReliableandadequateinformationfromBrunei,Fijiand
thesmallerislandnationsofthisregioniscurrentlyunderreview.
FAR EAST:Thissectiondealswiththegeographicalareaeastoftheaboveregion,consisting
ofNorthandSouthKorea,Vietnam,JapanandTaiwan.ThePeople’sRepublicofChinaon
themainlandisincludedhere.
CENTRAL ASIA:Thegeographicalareacoveredinthissectionisbroadlynorthandwestof
thenationsnamedaboveaswellasIndia.Countriescoveredhereare:Armenia,Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, with Russia taking up the
firstpartofthissection.
WEST ASIA: The geographical area in this section takes into consideration the countries
boundedbytheArabianSeaandthePersianGulfinitssouthandsoutheast,Afghanistan
andPakistantoitsnortheast,andTurkey,theSuezCanalandMediterraneantoitsnorth
andwest respectively.Countriescoveredhereare: Iran, Iraq, Israel,Kuwait,Qatar,Saudi
Arabia,Syria,UnitedArabEmirates,andYemen.
AFRICA:Inthislargeandancientcontinent,thepresumedprogenitorofthehumanrace,
there are 54 nation-states that are recognised by the African Union and/or the United
Nations.Thissectionlooksatthefollowingcountries:DemocraticRepublicofCongo,Egypt,
Ethiopia,Libya,Namibia,Nigeria,Rwanda,Somalia,Somaliland,SouthAfrica,andZambia.
SOUTH or LATIN AMERICA: Another large and ancient continent, replete with many
troubledhistories.Countriesincludedare:Argentina,Bolivia,Brazil,Chile,Colombia,Peru
andVenezuela.
CENTRAL AMERICA: The geographical area between the Americas is a place of tumult but
alsoofhopeandpossibilities.Thecountriescoveredhereare:Belize,CostaRica,Cuba,El
Salvador,Guatemala,Honduras,Mexico,Nicaragua,PanamaandPuertoRico.
In�OurGlobalizing
World
Media
INSTITUTE OF OBJECTIVE STUDIES INDIA
“A must-read book for all those who want to have an insight into the nature and structure of the media…it marks the beginning of critical thinking and enquiry into the media's role in our globalized world.”
- Mohammad Ahmadullah Siddiqi, Professor of Journalism and
Public Relations, Western Illinois University, USA
“Whether in the European Union or in UK, media coverage seems to be superficial and stereotypical rather than being well-researched and of considerable depth.”
- Dr Ahmad Totonji, Emeritus Director, International Institute of
Islamic Thought, USA
“Mainstream media has turned from pro-people to pro-market and pro-business. Instead of standing up for the poor and downtrodden, it is acting as agent of neo-liberalism.”
- Santosh Bhartiya, Chief Editor, ChauthiDuniya
Institute of Objective Studies 162 Joga Bai Main Road,
Jamia Nagar,New Delhi-110025,INDIA.Tel: +91 011-26981187, 26987467, 26989253
Fax: 91-11-26981104E-Mail: ios1@vsnl.com, manzoor@ndf.vsnl.net.in
Website: www.iosworld.org
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