Media and Moral Degradation

Now a days, if you watch news on TV, read the newspapers, listen to the radio, it seems that all we see, read and hear are about negative things: killings, wars, famine, corruption, same sex marriage, prostitution, global warming, pollution, etc. It is good that we are informed and updated about these issues and all the things that are happening around us but it seems we do not see anymore good things that are happening around us because everything is negative, everything is hopeless. Again, media plays a big role in this so-called moral degradation; instead of boosting the morale of the people, media degrades it by showing the negative side of everything. Media sometimes presents something that uplifts the morality of people but most of the times it is doing the opposite. How does this happen?

Media likes to sensationalize everything, from personalities, events, issues, objects, etc. For example, a certain scandal becomes the talk of the town because media would amplify it by making it the front page of newspapers for several days and becomes and becomes the topic of endless argument and discussion on TV and radio stations. I think it is not bad that the people should become aware of such scandal but to discuss all the minute details of that scandal on newspapers, TV and radio stations is too much; I would call this as “over killing”. But unfortunately, this happens all the time.

Media should become an agent, which boost morality among its audience especially the young people. The younger generation is not yet mature enough in terms of decision making and their morality so they are easily influenced by what they see around them. So, if the media presents only this one sided view of reality as something negative then young people become morally disoriented or degraded. To be more concrete, if young people see that corruption is rampant in the society and that everything is doing it then they will grow up also as corrupt individuals. If they see around them through media that it is all right to marry now and divorce later as if nothing happened they will grow up doing the same thing. These things will happen likely because young people are like “sponges”, that they easily absorb what they see, read, hear around them. This is why media plays a very important role in the lives of these young individuals.

I think the media should be balanced in presenting issues, comments, discussions, arguments etc. It should not only make people aware of the problems that are existing in the society but it should also make people aware of the solutions to these problems that are being initiated or implemented. Oftentimes, the issue of poverty is much discussed by many as only a problem but only few discuss solutions or remedies to alleviate people from poverty if it cannot be totally eradicated. If media presents the positive side of things and the solutions to many problems this could boost the morale of the people that despite all the problems that we have in the society there is still hope.