The wall battalions: Facebook in 16th General Election

The wall battalions: Facebook in 16th General Election



We have almost surrendered our culture to technology. Politicians have migrated to this space by overstepping their pitfalls. Consequently, we have made our culture to fit technology instead making technology fit our culture. These severe issues of technology use in electoral process need deeper scrutiny and thorough analysis. See my fringe thoughts on Facebook in 16th general election in Merinews by Biju P R

Mass Media and Election: Political Mobilisation

In 1960, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon squared off in the first televised presidential debates in American history. The Kennedy-Nixon debates not only had a major impact on the election’s outcome, but also ushered in a new era in which creating a public image and taking advantage of media exposure became essential ingredients of a successful political campaign. They also heralded the central role television has continued to play in the democratic process. CBS broadcast facility- winner JF Kennedy. Nixon tensed, and reading books, Kennedy received tips from aides and happier looking.

Elections are hallmark of representative democracy. (Despite comments such democracy once in five years-Manishankar Iyyer) Elections are the centerpiece of democracy. Through voting, people can voice their opinions, express their hopes and aspirations, discipline their leaders, and ultimately control their nation's destiny. To democratic theory, elections are the public's source of power. Elections show the citizens real judgment of the ruling class. However, to use their power of evaluation of the merit of incumbent and aspiring leadership in elections, they should get right information about, rulers, government actions, policies, election manifestos, political parties, the issues of the day, etc.

At the same time, elections are completive processes. It could be even unleashing conflict and tensions. If not constructively managed, elections could potentially destabilize the fabric of democracy, states and societies.

In particular, during elections, right information about right candidates are must. If citizens lose right information, elections become meaningless. Those running for offices must clearly state their positions on various issues. Here comes the trajectory of media role in elections. The mass media have a duty to report thoroughly and accurately what the contestants stand for.

Let us examine the role of media in elections

Roles of the media

The media may play several roles in the electoral process including the following:

• Watchdog
• Voter education
• Peace building

Watchdog role

• The media plays the watchdog role when they expose errors of commission or omission by those in power in their pursuit to cling to power at all cost. (for example, Vinu in Asianet News 9o’clock prime time news organised a talk on women candidates in the forth coming general election to the India Parliament and INC list of women candidates).
• The media can alert citizens to electoral malpractices so that these may be rectified. (while a debate on prime time news on Manoram TV,  leader of AAP reminded of the hundred crores of rupees spent for electoral advertisement of INC candidates for the forth coming general election-40 lakh as per ECI)
• The media can expose schemes to disadvantage those outside the corridors of power.
• The media can expose manipulation of citizens through the distribution of bribes and other illegal niceties during campaign periods.

 Voter education

• The media can educate citizens through stories that adequately explain the national situation (political, social and economic) so that the citizenry will not only benefit from improved service delivery but will also take part in the development processes of the nation. Manoram chnnel has a programme called
• The media can explain in simple terms specific legal and administrative issues which can be seen to be fundamental for any election undertaken to be free and fair
• The media can adequately encourage eligible persons to register as voters and to actually cast their ballot when elections are due
• The media can provide a platform for all candidates and their parties to present their manifestos to the public
• The media can expose parties and candidates that instigate or have the propensity to cause violence so that the citizenry may be made alert to any such possibility
• The media can expose practices of vote-buying or illegal party financing to the electorate
• The media can also expose the proliferation of defamation and hate speech in campaigns aimed at influencing nationals negatively
• The media can expose voter intimidation by party workers, corruption in decision-making processes, and the systematic exclusion of certain sectors of society
• The media may strive to expose instances where political parties threaten the functioning of democratic systems rather than support them and thus disenfranchise eligible voters
• The media can strive to explain to the electorate, in clear and simple language, national, regional and universal pieces of legislation and other regulations governing the proper conduct of democratic elections
• The media need to explain to the citizenry the importance of their participative involvement in all aspects of governance systems such as voting
• Journalists should try to focus on the issues, by talking to ordinary people, particularly those lacking a strong voice in society e.g. the elderly and the young, women, the poor, and ethnic and religious minorities
• The media must strive to put citizens’ views to candidates and report their responses back to the citizens so that they know and understand their potential governors
• The media, in its agenda-setting role, can provide diverse view points and unbiased information, offer forum for debate involving citizens and the civil society, mediate in national development projects and contribute to sustainable flow of information.

Peace building and conflict resolution

The media can be a tool for fanning violence and conflict if not properly managed.

Revenge porn: A way online platforms are being misused for

Revenge porn: A way online platforms are being misused for



School children upload toilet pictures on to YouTube. College students
have been sharing 'selfie' of intimate relations on to Facebook. Couples
go for role-play in Google chat, meet up on Google hangout and gets
embittered. Men deceive women in bedroom and get obscene updates to
social networking sites. Out of frustration in marital discord, man
upload obscene pictures of ex-wife up on to photo sharing platforms.
Housewives come together with strangers in chat applications and get
deceived and later commit suicide. See, my fringe thoughts on culture of
revenge porn spiraling in Internet in Merinews by Biju P R