question_answer 2)

You have read about the ways in which the media 'set the agenda'. What kind of effect does this have in a democracy? Provide two examples to support your point of view.  

Answer:

Media is the fourth pillar of democracy. Its importance in a democracy can not be underestimated. It sets the agenda to focus on the issues which are related to public interest. This agenda sometimes has positive effects in a democracy. But sometimes it fails to do so. For example—the media drew our attention to alarming levels of pesticides in cola drinks.. They published reports that indicated the high level of pesticides. In this way, we were made aware of the fact that cola drinks were not safe. Despite the government's resistance, the media boldly covered this story and thus played a positive role by focussing on an issue that affects our life. But sometimes the media fails to set agenda to raise issues that are significant in our lives. For example, they published a wide coverage about the 'Word Cup' but they did not publish one of the major issues related to drinking water. Every year, thousand of people suffer and die because they do not get safe drinking water. The media seldom discusses such issues.