Media’s Dual Role: Catalyst and Peacemaker in Times of Social Unrest

“Knowledge is power.” These words continue to hold the same importance from whenever they were first uttered. With the advancements in technology, the process of attaining information or knowledge has been reduced from an extensive process to the clicking of a few keys or the tapping of a screen. As our society advances and the process of propagation of information becomes easier than ever and the Information Industry or Media has truly benefited from the same. With the ease to spread facts also comes the ease to spread a message or an opinion and this power at times can be used to spread social unrest or create disharmony. Many a times, the Media is responsible for presenting biased views which creates fear and unrest among the people thus leading to strife in our society, but at times information presented by the Media is responsible for bringing the people together to root for the right cause. The following paper aims to analyse the role of media as a propagator or instigator of unrest as well as the one who brings peace in this time of strife and to understand to what extent does this unchecked power of media behind the veneer of “propogation of voice of the masses” range.