Analysis: How Mainstream Media operates as a Propaganda Tool

I have been a news enthusiast for a very long time. I have seen the media very meticulously from the way it used to function and operate during the pre-Modi government regime and now. So, first of all, I want to make it clear to my readers that I am neither a staunch supporter of any Nationalist party be it Congress or BJP nor I am a blind critic of any. I am just a 'Pragmatic Nationalist' and I am a critic of 'Imprudent Nationalism'. I reckon that for a nation's progress it is very important to accept the material reality and conditions of the nation and act prudently in the process of the nation's development instead of cultivating a false idea of pride that our nation is already great and fine. There should be a balance between Pride and Prudence to take the nation forward towards development. During the 2016 US Election, US President Donald Trump ignited this idea of National Prudence through his Campaign's kernel Tagline - 'MAGA, Make America Great Again'. This tagline itself explains that Trump is sceptical about the progress that America is making as a nation. That it is not making the kind of progress it could have and that it used to have at some point in history and that there is a need for someone to emerge in Nation Politics like him that could make the nation great again. This led to Trump's overwhelming victory in elections defeating Hillary Clinton who sounded slightly as an imprudent leader who resonated that America is already great. And this nationalist imprudence of Trump has contributed to making America's Economic growth reach its peak and reducing unemployment rates to an all-time low in the history of America's Politics. In India, we witnessed a similar campaign run by our current Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji during the 2014 Indian Elections, who gave us the famous line of - "Ache Din". This was a very good campaign in the history of Indian Politics. This was the first time a Nationalist Leader had promised to work for prosperity and development of the nation with more prudence. Like all, I too had believed him but now you will hardly listen about that promise of "Ache Din" and all you will hear is "Sab Changa Si" (Everything is fine). If everything is fine that means our nation is already great and doesn't need that "ache din" now? You will now hear that we are near to achieving a 5 trillion dollar economy while denying that the economy is getting weaker day by day. Trump and Modi both are Rightist Populist leaders and both advocate for Ethnic Nationalism but when it comes to Nation's development Trump is Pragmatic and Prudent Nationalist and Modi is only a Pride Nationalist. That is why Trump has been successful in bringing the lowest unemployment rate during his tenure in America. Modi has failed to fulfil his promise and led the nation towards 45-year high unemployment. But still, Modi in India is more popular than Trump in America. And the reason behind his popularity among masses is mainstream media who have now become unofficial spokesperson or mouthpiece and a very powerful propaganda tool of the ruling political party and its leaders. So, I had decided to analyze how the media can maintain trust and devotion towards the Prime Minister Narendra Modi among the majority despite his many failures as a crusader of National Development. To maintain the appeal and charm of PM Modi, the media uses the fifth filter of Propaganda that Noam Chomsky had told us about - "Fear" from a common enemy. And like in Nazi Germany, Jews were portrayed as the mother of all evils or the reason behind every problem of Germans. Muslims are depicted as a national enemy through mainstream media as the ones who are the threat to the nation's security and are responsible for every filth in the nation like overpopulation, unemployment, etc. Though no stringent law will be formed by lawmakers for the population control to keep the blame game going. Media has been successful at projecting Muslims as a culturally regressive and barbaric community who cannot mend their regressive thoughts and beliefs in contrast to Hindus who are projected as culturally supreme and civilized in daily News Debates. And how Media do so? It simply brings debate about a regressive element present in Muslim tradition like say 'Triple Talaq'. Well, 'Instant Triple Talaq' is very much regressive but the way News Channels do their shows on Triple Talaq, that is problematic. I tell you why, so firstly, the opponents in such News Debates will be a BJP Leader representing a Hindu who wants to civilize the uncultured Muslims through a religious reformation. And the opponent will be a Conservative Muslim Religious Philosopher or Cleric. The theme will be to change the mind of the Conservative Muslim Panelist on the traditional beliefs associated with Triple Talaq. First of all, conservatives are the ones who will never change their mind and beliefs. So, what's the point of bringing a conservative for a debate to change his mind. That makes no sense and these debates always end preposterously without making any productive and meaningful conclusions. We exactly get no new viewpoint. And when did the debate become a means to change someone's traditional beliefs and not a way of provoking and unravelling all possible perspectives associated with an issue? The meaning of debate has completely changed through such T.V news debates. If only panellists have been subject experts, who had agreed to disagree and accepted the concept of fallibility in these debates. These debates would then have made some sense. Second, the tool of media propaganda is to bring someone from the Muslim community, who denounces his religion as regressive. Who continuously attacks his religion like Tarek Fatah and that person is hailed as virtuous and valiant who stood for what is right irrespective of his religious identity. The main hidden purpose or agenda behind this filter is to make a distinction between good and bad Muslims. This is a more dangerous filter. Because this makes a conception that religious Muslims are evil whereas irreligious Muslims are not. The attack is directly on Faith. And when you attack the Faith of a Person that means you are attacking him for his choice as an actor and not that system. So, if say someone is a religious Muslim that would mean he is regressive because he is a Muslim and he is harmful to others. Whereas it should be how any regressive element, like say triple talaq is harmful to him also. Religious reformation cannot be achieved if you are attacking the actors and not the system. It will demonize the community identifying with that religion and not the regressive elements of that religion. This common enemy 'Muslim' is then used to divert the common man's attention from real issues of governance like women's safety, education, economy, health, environment, inflation, etc. And every time people are made to fear about getting outnumbered in the future by growing Muslim population and its imagined subsequent consequences - Jihad and religious conversions of Hindus. Subsequently, Modi is hailed as someone who can reform Islam in India and save Hindus from Jihad by Muslims, through these news shows. And the common man forgets that the economy is not doing well, GDP is plummeting. Happiness index, democracy index, press freedom index are slipping and hunger index is growing. And all he remembers is a fear that the media propagates. And this maintains Modi's Position as a Popular leader despite several of his failures. The need of the hour in this Post-truth era is of Liberal Independent Journalists who can debunk such propaganda and ideological superstructure and bring a real picture of reality in front of the general public and talk about the issues about the real interest of the general public. And one who keeps on making authorities accountable to deliver public the promises of development, they make in their speeches during elections. Independent Journalists as 'The Fourth Pillar of Democracy' should challenge the wrong ideas propagated by profit-oriented corporate Media.

Analysis: How Mainstream Media operates as a Propaganda Tool

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