Everybody should realize the power of press
Our grandfathers were often illiterate, but now days most people learn to read and write. The poor laborer may lose this power soon after leaving his elementary school, but many continue to read at least the newspapers written in their own language. In Britain, great newspapers like the “Daily Mail” and the “Express” have a very wide circulation and are read by many hundreds of thousands.
The simple minded working man has a natural respect of anything he finds printed in a book or a newspaper. To him it is something with a stamp of authority, something that must be right.
This tendency is made full use of people who want to influence public opinion. The big circulation papers in Britain have usually a definite political basis. The Mail and the Express are frankly for the conservative party and it is very difficult to find a newspaper which takes a natural view in politics. The papers are limited companies which are conducted to make propaganda for political or big business interests. The leaders or important articles written by the editors on topics of national interest in many cases, they are written in a tone of moderation and with an air of weighing up the pros and cons, but as a rule the editor has his employers to please.
In newspaper the government of the day is usually held up as brilliant and efficient or as dishonest and incompetent. Seldom do we get a reasoned and tolerant estimate, since an editor will either praise or censure, according to the political colors of his paper. Their views on great national issues such as peace and war, trade policy taxation and so on, are all the same. They are there to express the views of their party, whether it be in power or in opposition. As the working classes, like their news and their information’s to be “hot”, so articles are usually expressed in strong language.
The press, provided it is well-informed and reasonable, can play a useful part in educating public opinion and giving a true picture of events and movements. But too often the writers are content to appeal to racial and class hatred to political or national jealousy and honest press can be a great asset to a country but the little, violent sectional papers are a threat to peace.
By Rehana khan(111/10)
