Author Description

Daniel Lerner in his famous work, 'The Passing of a Traditional Society' which is an analytical study of Egyptian society has given three crucial factors that positively bring about modernisation of a traditional society, namely, literacy, urbanisation and growth of mass media. In traditional societies media plays a critical role in bringing about change towards modernisation. This process of modernisation essentially incorporates bringing greater equality, equity by breaking traditional shackles of traditional hierarchical oppressive structures that curb human rights of majority of members of society. These traditional structures and sub-structures have been perpetuating and reinforcing power elite of traditional societies. With increase in literacy levels and means of communications including new media and internet based communications, media has been quite successful in curbing traditional agencies of perpetuating status-quo of the societal power elite (which had been hitherto violating human rights with impunity). Specifically in a relatively new democracy with greater institutionalised maturity and having an orientation for modernisation, media as fourth estate plays a significant role in ensuring protection of human rights. Humans have the inner urge to know what is happening around in the neighbourhood, or on the streets, or even other parts of the country as well as on international stage. Media or the press is understood in many different ways.