Media & Elections: The holy Cow

Swaswati Borpuzari · Feb 3, 2025

Okay, let's craft an article exploring the complex relationship between media and elections, tackling the idea of it being a "holy cow" – something often revered and considered untouchable, but perhaps deserving of scrutiny.

Article Title: Media & Elections: The Unholy Cow? Questioning the Sacred Space of Influence

The relationship between the media and elections is often treated with a reverence bordering on the religious. We imbue it with a sense of sacred duty, a vital pillar of democracy. The media, we believe, is the watchdog, the impartial informer, holding candidates accountable and facilitating an informed electorate. It's a widely accepted narrative, one that positions the media as a crucial force for good. However, like all things considered sacred, perhaps it’s time we peeled back the layers and questioned if this "holy cow" is truly as pure and beneficent as we often assume.

For decades, the role of media in shaping public opinion and influencing electoral outcomes has been undeniable. From the era of newspapers and radio to the current digital landscape, the media has been our primary window into the political world. We rely on it to relay information about candidates' platforms, campaign events, and policy debates. It's through this lens that we form our understanding of the political landscape and decide who to cast our vote for.

And yet, this very influence is where the sanctity of the media-election dynamic begins to crack. The idea of a completely objective and unbiased media is, frankly, a myth. Media outlets, while often striving for neutrality, are inherently driven by a multitude of factors beyond just the public good. These include ownership structures, political leanings, commercial interests, and the need to generate ratings and clicks.

Let’s examine the ways this "holy cow" can sometimes graze in dangerous territory:

Agenda Setting: The media holds the power to decide what issues are prioritized and how they are framed. This can lead to certain topics being amplified while others are sidelined, effectively shaping the narrative around an election.
Horse-Race Coverage: Often, media coverage focuses less on substantive policy debates and more on the "who's winning" aspect, creating a spectacle around the election rather than an informed discourse.
Polarization and Echo Chambers: In the age of social media, the media can contribute to polarization, with algorithms feeding users content that reinforces pre-existing biases. This can create echo chambers where dissenting opinions are rarely encountered.
Sensationalism and Clickbait: The drive for engagement can lead to sensationalized reporting and clickbait headlines that distort reality and prioritize emotional reactions over reasoned analysis.
Ownership and Bias: Media ownership by corporations or individuals with political agendas can inevitably influence coverage, leading to a skewed perspective.
The Rise of Disinformation: The proliferation of fake news and misinformation, often amplified by social media, has made it increasingly difficult for voters to distinguish between fact and fiction.

The consequences of these distortions can be profound. A misinformed electorate struggles to make informed decisions. Candidates may focus on superficial issues rather than tackling complex problems. And the erosion of trust in media institutions can have a corrosive effect on the very fabric of democracy.

So, is the media’s role in elections still sacred? Should it remain untouched by critical examination? The answer, clearly, is no. We need to move beyond the blind acceptance of the media as an infallible force for good and engage in a more nuanced and critical discourse.

Here are some key steps:

Media Literacy: We need to empower citizens with the skills to critically evaluate media content, identify biases, and recognize misinformation.
Transparency and Accountability: Media outlets need to be more transparent about their ownership, funding, and editorial processes.
Support for Independent Journalism: We must support independent media sources that are less susceptible to commercial and political pressures.
Demanding Substantive Coverage: We, as the audience, must demand media coverage that focuses on in-depth analysis of policy issues rather than superficial narratives.
Engaging in Civil Discourse: We need to actively engage in respectful conversations with those who hold different viewpoints rather than retreating into echo chambers.

The relationship between media and elections is not a holy cow; it is a complex and dynamic interaction that requires constant scrutiny and adaptation. By recognizing the weaknesses and biases inherent in this system, we can work to create a more informed and engaged electorate, one that can navigate the complexities of the modern information landscape and ultimately strengthen the foundation of our democratic institutions. It’s time to move past the reverence and embrace the critical lens – because the health of our democracy depends on it.

Dhruv Bindhani · Jun 25, 2025

amit2011 said:
Media & Elections: The holy Cow

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 16th Apr.2019

All those Commercial News Media-Workers, who have felt agitated at the continued usage of word Commercial should relax. This is because the news media continues to justify itself time and again. A cursory look at its ‘coverage’ of news and telecast of ‘views’ would easily establish this point. Take the case of ‘action’ by electoral bodies on some of the Netas, which was upheld by the Apex court. The ‘news media’s’ love for these celebrities is such that it cannot relax but still circulate around the same celebrities or their alibies (read sons, daughters or over-jealous activists). Basically they want event creators and instigators who would keep floating hot-air balloons around sundry non-muddas. The same celebrities in these elections aren’t even able to canvass basis their championship of these non-muddas and the commercial news media for their bidding isn’t even able to hold ‘one single worthwhile newscast around defaulters’. So the readers of these articles can evaluate credibility of their ‘newswallah’, for themselves.

It is not that the arena has been without any action. But whatever little movement has been witnessed on the bank defaulters’ side, has been in spite of the commercial news media. The lack of action on the fraudsters collecting ‘deposits’ from public or agri-buyers postponing payments hasn’t seen any action or any support from the newswallahs, though. In fact, rather than show of some leadership, this is one area where there has been back-steps, if-finess, in-decisions, digressions including several ploys and tactics by the defaulters themselves. Silence of the commercial news media on the issue which involves huge public money- its diversion, mis-use and fraud, is a point to be noted. It is in spite of all that that these muddas have become decisive in the electoral gambit. In fact the ownership of the media houses themselves may need to be dwelled upon. It may be better that considering the ‘role & impact of media’, the Election Commission should direct all news & views related media housed to release their beneficial ownership structure to public. Sudden cropping up on views but non-news channels is a case in point. This should be taken up by smaller parties as it would reveal electorally motivated actions by business supporters of the larger parties to all. The readers of these articles know that India is in grip of the “Second Flush” and steadily moving towards the “Third Flush”. Let the ‘Game’ evolve……

This political article is a masterclass in architectural writing, where every element serves to construct a compelling argument. The writer's writing style is both authoritative and exceptionally precise, cutting through the common obfuscation of political discourse to reveal the core issues. There's an intellectual rigor evident in the prose, yet it remains remarkably accessible, guiding the reader through complex ideas without condescension. The structure of the piece is its backbone, meticulously designed to build a logical and unassailable case. Each paragraph and section is placed with strategic intent, creating a seamless flow that naturally leads to a profound understanding of the political landscape being discussed. Crucially, the unwavering clarity of the analysis is the article's greatest strength; every nuance of policy and every facet of political strategy are laid bare with such lucidity that the implications are undeniable and instantly graspable, making it an invaluable resource for informed citizens.

Media & Elections: The holy Cow