Download MRP Executive Summary - Teresa Joseph

Minor Research Project
MASS MEDIA AND SOCIAL CHANGE:
CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE OF THE GANDHIAN APPROACH
Principal Investigator: Dr. Teresa Joseph, Department of Political Science
Executive Summary
The indispensable role of the mass media in social change, particularly in today’s
globalised world, is well acknowledged. It is primarily through the media that information is
disseminated, images are projected and opinions are shaped. This has obvious implications
for all aspects of social life, particularly in the context of policy making. However, as far as
the mainstream mass media is concerned, news does not happen, but is constructed, with
various considerations exerting pressure on the selection and presentation of themes in the
media. Through various methods the media defend the economic, social, and political agenda
of privileged groups that dominate the society and state. Money and power can filter out
news, marginalise dissent, and permit the government and dominant private interests to
publicise their messages. This is particularly evident in situations of social conflict. The
language in which conflict is articulated is one of division and exclusion, reinforcing
distinctions between ‘self’ and ‘other’. History has shown that the role of the mainstream
media – with its selective reporting, demonization of enemies, dehumanisation and
decontextualisation of conflict, etc. – has been far from satisfactory, ignoring the larger socioeconomic and political dimensions of the issues concerned. The implications of this for
positive social change in any society cannot be undermined. Herein lies the relevance of the
study of Gandhian journalism.
Gandhi’s engagement with the mass media was the reflection of his understanding of
the fact that without mass awakening no substantial change could come over Indian society
and that the success of nonviolent strategies for conflict resolution and social change was
dependent on enlightened public opinion. He made extensive use of newspapers to mobilise
the people and facilitate social change. As a writer, editor and publisher he was able to spread
his message of social development, whether it be through the Vegetarian in London, or his
own papers - Indian Opinion in South Africa or Young India, Navajivan and Harijan in India.
Thus a content analysis of Gandhi’s writings in the mass media as well as his engagement
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with the media as editor and publisher is of relevance to ascertain the contemporary relevance
of the Gandhian approach.
An in-depth analysis of Gandhian journalism reveals that it was the product of his
approach to life. Gandhi placed truth at the centre of his messages rather than form and
looked upon mass media as positive partners in the struggle for truth. Gandhi’s writings were
a contextualised response to contemporary social, economic and political issues, without
compromising his faith in non-violence. He evolved the concept of non-violent
communication, or communication where both parties to a conflict are in a win-win situation,
where dialogue is of prime importance and no attempt is made to evaluate or berate the other.
Although his writings sought to make people aware of their rights, they did not contain any
tone of confrontation or challenge. The objective was never to condemn but to help eradicate
shortcomings and injustices. He shunned polemics/sensationalism, verifying facts before
publishing a report, thus using journalism as a medium of communication for building
bridges between himself and the opponent. He would not allow unfair criticism to be
published in his journals, viewing this as constituting violence. Through his journals he
expounded his approach to various social and political issues, while advocating nonviolent
methods to resolve them. Gandhi’s nonviolent communication theory also advocated
openness in expression of opinion. Swaraj according to Gandhi could only come through free
speech, association and a free press. Consequently, he was a firm advocate of freedom of the
press without ignoring its responsibilities. Gandhian journalism reflected the highest
standards of journalism with openness towards the opponent and ability to express ideas in
polite but firm language. As an editor, Gandhi considered editorial independence, adherence
to truth and self-restraint as the main considerations for journalism. He experimented with an
anti-commodity, copyright-free, slow-motion newspaper. As a publisher, Gandhi’s
economics was not to earn the most out of each page of his newspapers but to give the
maximum possible to his readers.
It was his firm conviction that the pressure of
advertisement support would tie the hands of editors and publishers, and make them
subservient to big business. Gandhi’s views on advertising were in consonance with his views
on limiting wants.
The contemporary relevance of the Gandhian approach to mass communication and
social change can be specifically understood in the context of the emergence of various
alternative forms of journalism. Concepts of Peace Journalism, that seeks to promote the use
of media for conflict resolution and peace; and Development Journalism, that rejects
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mainstream approaches to journalism, while favouring the Third World, development and
marginalised groups, are alternatives to conventional news coverage and can be seen as
rooted in the Gandhian tradition. The Gandhian concept of ‘viewspapers’ also holds lessons
for social movements as well as political parties. Through his journals, Gandhi not only
propagated his views, but in the process, laid down a standard for journalists to emulate. The
restraint, the quest for truth, the duty to educate – were the hallmarks of his style. A lot has
changed in the world of media since the time of Gandhi. Unfortunately, many of these
changes have only reinforced the ills that he had warned against. Today, when there is
widespread concern over the growing influence of market forces on media, and journalism no
longer being a social service, Gandhi's views on the values of journalism and the duties of a
journalist, bring to bear on the profession of journalism, the force of ethics and morality.
Perhaps, now in this globalised age, more than ever before, there is a need to rediscover the
precepts of Gandhian journalism, without which there is the danger of contributing to the
sustenance of an exclusivist, competitive, and divided world, when the need of the hour is to
harness the power of the media for peace-building and social change.
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