Media Truth and Media literacy play essential role in society

“Ashraf Ali Zeidi”, head of Daliders Media Research Institute, New Delhi in his speech at the webinar of 37th International Islamic Unity Conference noted that in the era of democracy countries media is called the fourth pillar of the democracy, reported Taghrib News Agency (TNA).

He mentioned that information plays a vital role in the constructions and operations of any society and media plays an essential role in covering this information from one person to another or from one place to another.

“The dissemination of Information and its impact on people also relying on the medium we choose. These social media have made it easy to exchange information. Generally, we have considered television, radio and newspapers as the primary medium of information”, he added.

Zeidi noted about mobile Internet that accesses to everything and everywhere and said: “fake news and false rumors from social media have weakened the society and social unity of the country. Not only unity of the Muslim Ummah, but for every religion and every sector.”

Referring to the speed of spreading fake news, he added: “first reason is that the prices of smartphones have come down continuously in recent years which the smartphones are in the hands of every class of person who todays. Second is the massive reduction internet data rates in countries like India.”

“The problem of fake news is increasing continuously in our country, India, due to which differences are arising between different communities, cults, religions. Today this formula is not limited to social media but is also seen in electronic media and a little in print also. questions are being raised on the credibility of the media”, head of Daliders Media Research Institute said.

“The media is called the fourth pillar of democracy for protecting its principle today. The main reason is the lack of media education and the lodging of commercial profit. People take different meanings of media education. But media education does not mean just giving training to newspapers, Radio and television”, Ashraf Ali Zeidi continued.

He also mentioned Media Literacy which is “the practices that allow people to access critically evaluate and create or manipulate media” and noted: “Media literacy is not limited to anyone medium. Instead, it develops your understanding of each medium and its differences.”

He clarified that media literacy is very important because the nature of media has changed dramatically due to markets and commercial competitions. Zeidi added: “a large number of people in India are active on social media and the way they spend about two to three hours of their life daily. But most people need to learn the purpose of it.”

“Today we need to be more concerned about social media, because today everyone is a journalist. Everyone has his pen. In contrast to, most print and electronic media have also spread their feet on social media”, head of Daliders Media Research Institute continued.

“In such a situation, we need media literacy mode, because in its absence individual invisible poisons are spreading in general society and public life, making people mentally hollow and sick deeply attached to a particular side. The feeling of heart rate towards someone is growing inside people due to which the possibility of understanding rights and wrong is ending”, Zeidi said.

He stated that media literacy should be added to the symbolism of our education system and continued: “a campaign should be started at the domain level to make the general public aware of the part of life among the media. Along with this emphasis should be laid on increasing media literacy at the school level.”

“There is a huge responsibility to build the feature and society on their shoulders, which is possible only with healthy mental prosperity and extended media literacy will help build a Society of aware citizens and by aware citizens a healthy society Will be built”, Ashraf Ali Zeidi concluded.