Responsible Media and Media Literacy for Promoting Democracy in Nepal

Since its early days, mass media has significantly contributed to promoting societal norms and eventually democratic values. As media is considered the fourth pillar of any functioning democracy, one cannot imagine a democracy without media which is there to inform people and hold those in power accountable. Likewise, media can only flourish in a democratic society where it is provided a favorable environment for thriving and functioning. In authoritarian regimes or undemocratic societies, media perish and shrink. But just allowing the number of media to open cannot ensure the democratic strength. For democracy to be strong enough citizen should have strong media literacy so that they can make informed and proper choice of media and its content. Media literacy among audiences is one of the most important condition for media responsibility. If media properly functions following the fundamental principles and ethical standards, then only democracy can foster. And if people lack media literacy and media does not follow its responsibility, accountability and all ethical norms and values, the overall democratic process is always improper and questioned. When the need and importance of media is always questioned and massively criticized media loses credibility and public trust. Democracy itself becomes weaker when media in the society is unreliable. The chain of weakness is created on the way. Weak media construct weaker societies, weak public audience lacking media literacy let media be weaker. Media may become unethical, unprofessional, irresponsible and unaccountable if its audience hugely lack media literacy. Irresponsible media cannot hold the authorities in power accountable and the society further lacks good governance. Thus authority loose trust of the people. Then the state mechanism and system get interrupted. So, democracy needs media literate people and media is expected to strictly follow professionalism while functioning. Responsible media is also expected to contribute to strengthen the democracy within the country and all over the world.