The Role of Mass Media in Increasing the Political Awareness: A Study in Khulna Division (2005-2012)

Abstract

Mass media is known as the fourth branch of state because of the power the media wield and the oversight function they exercise. A free, accountable and vibrant mass media disseminates information, inform the public and policy makers alike, creates space for diverse views regarding socio-economic and political processes, and increases people‟s scope for democratic participation. Through the media we can know what is happening in the nation and around the world. A free and vigorous media is an important part of the process of democratization in Bangladesh also media is an agency of representation, by enabling various social groups to express alternative viewpoints. In the time between 2005 to 2012 many important political events occurred in Bangladesh which was highlighted by the mass media and through which people were able to know about the political situation of the country but because of the control of the government many times people could not get the real information. The main objective of this study is to assess the role of mass media in increasing the political awareness of the people of Khulna Division and the specific objectives of the study are to: determine the behavior of certain institutions the media organizations, determine the association between the mass media and politics of the country, determine the association between the mass media and general people of the country, determine how mess media influence political behavior of general people, determine the control of government over the mass media, to know about the freedom of mass media in expressing the real political condition of the country. There are three research questions of this study: How mass media influence political vii behavior of general people? Is the freedom of mass media exists in expressing the real political condition of the country? Is government of Bangladesh controlling the mass media? This is an explanatory type of research work that has been conducted in quantitative approach; data was collected through questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was semi-structured interviewed with three groups of subjects: the general people, the media professional (electronic and print) and the politicians. All the data gathered from interview was analyzed through computer program „Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS)‟. The findings show that mass media plays a powerful and influential role in creating political awareness among mass people of the study area but control of government and political influence sometimes create obstacle to do their duties properly. Depending on the result of the thesis it can be said that the most of the respondent (98.3%) of the study area mostly depend on mass media in getting political news or information. Among print media they think The Daily Prothom Alo, Bangladesh Protidin and among electronic media Independent, Somoy and Maasranga TV channel did their duty properly during the period of 2005-2012 and help them to be politically concern. 85% mass people of the study area think that mass media played effective role in increasing the political awareness between 2005-2012. The election of 2008 was the most important political event in the period of 2005-2012, general people think that due to control of government mass media didn‟t do their duty properly also media professional think that due to this reason they viii couldn‟t publish or broadcast the real election news though they were able to collect it. So, it is evident that in Bangladesh the government is controlling the mass media. Also media professional think that the relation between mass media and Bangladesh government is controlled by the government and they think the control of the government of Bangladesh is in medium level. So, it can be said that, the mass media is partly controlled by the government of Bangladesh which several time create obstacle in the path of mass media in increasing the political awareness. Also politician said that, there is political control over the mass media. With the entire obstacle in that circumstance media carried out immense responsibilities in increasing the political awareness of the people in the study area. But the media‟s role would be better if it was free from various control and influence. If the freedom of mass media is increased and government takes necessary step to protect the right of mass media the situation will be better. Also mass media has the responsibility to enhance its accountability and building media capacity to do their duties in increasing the political awareness.