An Analysis Of Peter Gronn s Article Distributed...

Conventionally, leadership had been long assumed to be thought of the following of a group or many a groups under a single leader, as described in Peter Gronn s article Distributed Leadership as a unit of analysis.† However, according to Gronn, this traditional form of thinking where one person or unit rules all (â€Å"leadership is basically doing what the leader wants done†) is faulty and ultimately leads to a counterproductive performance from the group as a whole, as everything falls upon one layer of responsibility. In addition, he identifies three major chinks in the solo-style leadership model’s armor: the almost-too simplistic dualism of the â€Å"leader-follower† set-up; the exact qualifications of what constitutes a leader and said leader’s leadership (which harkens back to the classic English idiom, â€Å"Who died and made you king?†); and anti-leadership, which as its name suggests, is the dismay of the idea of any form of necessar y leadership. Rather, what the article suggests is leaning towards the opposite end of the spectrum; a multilayered infrastructure of leadership and command - a â€Å"distributed leadership.† What is distributed leadership, exactly? Distributed Leadership for learning and teaching is a leadership approach in which collaborative working is undertaken between individuals who trust and respect each other’s contribution. It occurs as a result of an open culture within and across an institution. It is an approach in which reflective practice is an integralShow MoreRelatedDistributed Leadership For Learning And Teaching1362 Words   |  6 PagesTraditionally, leadership had been thought of as a single person that leads or directs a groups or many groups as described in Peter Gronn s article Distributed Leadership as a unit of analysis.† However, according to Gronn, this conventional form of thinking, where one person or unit rules all (â€Å"leadership is basically d oing what the leader wants done†) is faulty and ultimately leads to a counterproductive performance from the group as a whole, since everything falls upon one level of responsibility

Essay about Explanation for Criminality from a...

Explanation for Criminality from a Sociological Perspective From a sociological perspective, explanation for criminality is found in two levels which are the subculture and the structural explanations. The sociological explanations emphasize aspects of societal arrangements that are external to the actor and compelling. A sociological explanation is concerned with how the structure of a society, institutional practices or its persisting cultural themes affect the conduct of its members. Individual differences are denied or ignored, and the explanation of the overall collective behavior is sought in the patterning of social arrangements that is considered to be both outside the actor and prior to him (Sampson, 1985). That is, the†¦show more content†¦It is in this change and variety that crime is defined. An application of this principle to criminology would find the roots of the crime in the fact that groups have developed different standards of appropriate behavior. In those complex cultures, each individual is subject to competing prescriptions for action. Another subcultural explanation of crime grows readily out of the fact that as we have seen, social classes experience different rates of arrest and conviction for serious offenses. When within a society categories are marked off by income, education and occupational prestige. Here differences are discovered among them in the amount an style of the crime. Further, differences are usually found between these social classes in their interests and morals. Its easy to describe these class-linked patterns as a culture. This version of the subcultural explanation of crime holds that the very fact of learning the lessons of the subculture means that one acquires interests and preferences that place him in greater or lesser risk of breaking the law. Others argue that being reared on the lower-class means learning a different culture from that which creates the criminal laws. The lower class subculture is said to have its own values as many of which run counter to the majority interest that support the laws against the serious predatory crimes. One needs to not that the indicators of class are not descriptions of class.Show MoreRelatedThe And Tenets Of Life Course Criminology1587 Words   |  7 Pagesof young people who commit antisocial behaviour, academics have attempted to not only solve delinquency, but identify the factors that contribute to it. The life-course perspective was adopted as one way to understand and explain this complex issue. Life-course criminology (often referred to as DLC) emerg ed from this perspective as a way to help explain age in relation to crime. The purpose of this proposal is to highlight the key areas of life-course criminology and outline how they reveal the valueRead MoreThe Causes Of Deviant Behavior, Psychological Approach And Sociological Approach1676 Words   |  7 Pagesbehaviour, including biological approach, psychological approach and sociological approach. This essay will be using two criminological perspectives which are the biological and sociological explanations to analyse the causes of crime in depth, and evaluate the two perspectives and the related criminological evidence. Sociology encompasses a very wide range of theoretical perspectives, especially crime and deviance, in which sociological criminologists particularly focus on emphasising crime as a socialRead MoreThe Influence of Durkheim on Modern Criminological Investigation1441 Words   |  6 Pagesbelieved that crime was an important necessity in every society as it played important functional roles in the maintenance of social cohesion, the continuity of social progress and the establishment and reinforcement of societal norms. He stated that criminality was a normal phenomenon, its influence prevalent even on the most saintly of societies. Durkheim’s theories regarding the normality and inevitability of crime, along with his influential concepts of anomie, the division of labour and mechanicalRead MoreEffectiveness of the Individual Explanation in Comparison to Social Explanation of Crime937 Words   |  4 Pagesexamining the effectiveness of the individual explanation in comparison t o social explanation of crimes, I will draw upon the theory of positivism and strain. There are controversies in which evaluation is the most effective. Unquestionably, both standpoints do have it limitations and strength, I will draw upon case examples and researches of both views in order to critically assess both effectiveness in explaining the occurrence of crimes. Individual explanation of crime is an approach ought to conveyRead MoreAn Extended And Restorative Version Of Chambliss 1978 Work968 Words   |  4 Pagesunderstanding Marx’s view of the relationship between economy (the base) and social/cultural sphere (the superstructure). Economic determinism denies the possibility that anything emerging from the superstructure has the capacity to change people’s ideas or their behaviour. Chambliss quotes â€Å"criminality reflects and stems from contradictions that inhere in the economic and political structure of society (p. 9) by this Chambliss is referring to the economic conditions that shape and determine society. HeRead MoreCore Issues in Crime and Punishment3260 Words   |  14 PagesBoyles autobiography A Sense of Freedom (1977) gives a very interesting and honest insight into his life of crime and incarceration. The autobiography, written from inside prison, is according to Boyle an attempt to warn young people that the re is not anything glamorous about crime and violence. It gives a full narration of his life from a very young age, with a detailed insight into his childhood, experiences of petty crime, approved schools and borstal, right through to his adult experiences ofRead MoreFrom a Sociological Perspective Essay4053 Words   |  17 PagesFrom a sociological perspective, explanation for criminality is found in two levels which are the subculture and the structural explanations. The sociological explanations emphasize aspects of societal arrangements that are external to the actor and compelling. A sociological explanation is concerned with how the structure of a society, institutional practices or its persisting cultural themes affect the conduct of its members. Individual differences are denied or ignored, and the explanation ofRead MoreCritically Discuss Three Sociological Approaches to Explaining Crime1188 Words   |  5 PagesCritically discuss three sociological approaches to explaini ng crime? One of the most predominant areas of study in sociology is in the explanation of crime and deviance in society. Criminal acts are those which violate established formal laws, whereas deviance refers to the breaking of social norms. Crime and deviance are a social construct as they are decided by the people in a society and can vary greatly depending on the society in question, as well as the time period being studied. In theRead MoreAlbert Bandura s Social Learning Theory1737 Words   |  7 Pageslike any other behaviour (Bandura, 1978). Therefore, there are many concepts shared between the theory and the differential association theory. Bandura did a study with children as the subjects, focusing on their aggressive responses for ‘bobo’ doll from adult models. The reinforcement was in form of sweets and punishment was through being told off. The study found that the children exhibited aggressive behaviour towards the doll when there were no consequences. The children who saw the doll beingRead MoreFederal Bureau of Investigation and White Collar Crimes1927 Words   |  8 Pagesdebates, is a very real form of crime. It was being practiced and committed before its formal definition by noted sociologist E. Sutherland, but certainly after its mention in his address to the American Sociological Society, the issue of white-collar crime attracted a significant increase of attention from l aw enforcement, average citizens, media/press, as well as individuals in the position to commit white-collar crimes. It became an issue of intrigue in American society around mid-20th century. The

The Cask of Amontillad free essay sample

The Cask of Amontillado When doing anything in life there are so many alternative ways of looking at something with all of them being influenced by what you see in the world around you. A teacher may see things that contrast from a politician; a doctor as opposed to a writer. Even the differences from a man to a woman or what part of the country you grew up in can dilute one way of thinking from the next. That is why considering things in ways that you may not usually is important for understanding and critiquing certain situations and outcomes. With this train of thought, we will take a look at Edgar Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado through five unique perspectives from different individuals. With each of these offering a better perception on what we know, and what we think we know. Biographical/Genetic Criticism: In an effort to better understand the story, one can look at it from a Genetic or Biographical point-of-view. Much of Edgar Allan Poe’s own personal life experiences greatly influence this story as well as many of his other works. Poe’s choice of literary style was called gothic fiction. It deals with the subjects of secrets, madness, darkness and death. This gothic style of writing is greatly influenced by disappointment and depression that followed Poe his entire life. This was caused by a number of unfortunate events in his life, including the untimely death of his birth mother and foster mother, a lifetime of poverty, and his foster father, John Allan, who disowned Poe over an argument about family matters. This argument with John Allen shows a possible reason for Montresor’s plot to murder Fortunato in The Cask of Amontillado. Montresor kills him due to his highly esteemed value of family honor. In the story, Fortunato learns that Montresor’s family moto is â€Å"Nemo me impune lacessit†, which means â€Å"No one insults me with impunity†. Fortunato insulted Montresor greatly, as the reader learns from the first line in the story, and Montresor feels that he must uphold his family honor. In that same way, Poe and his foster father John Allan fought over Allan’s other children and insulted Allan. Allan disowned him as a result, showing his value of honor to family. Understanding this value of family honor can help the reader to better understand Montresor’s motivation. Ethical Criticism: To look at it from an ethical standpoint, one must consider some of Poe’s other works. As already stated, Poe’s style of writing dealt with madness and death. The Raven is a story about a man depressed over the loss of his love, and the man goes mad over a raven that continually says to him ‘Nevermore. ’ The Tell-Tale Heart relates the story of a man who carefully and meticulously murders an elderly man who lives with him because he cannot stand the look of his false eye. Many of Edgar Allan Poe’s works involve death, madness, and murder. Knowing this can enable a reader to better grasp the tone in his story. Our main character in The Cask of Amontillado, Montresor can be construed as a generally insane person or super evil mastermind. It is my understanding that he does not have justification for the deeds and the murder he is going to commit. How can he do this and not have a guilty conscience? How he can he feel nothing? Because he is a man with no remorse, no feelings, no guilt, he either ignores or lacks that little voice that tells someone that â€Å"what you’re doing is wrong†. He feels he has suffered at the taunting of Fortunato and his revenge is legitimate. We know that Fortunato has wronged Montresor as a man of societal rank, with a slew of insults and this has been ongoing for quite some time. In Fortunatos eyes he thinks he and Montresor are old friends and that he is in fact only joking with his friend while Montresors blood secretly boils with each comment or teasing that comes out of Fortunato. Montresor ultimately gets away with this heinous crime. It is completely justified in Montresors eyes, this perfect crime. No witnesses, no body, no motive, no worries, no questions, therefore no crime has or was committed and this is just how Montresor views it. After all he buried the man alive, left him alive when he bricked up the wall in the crypt, in his insane mind he didnt actually kill Fortunato at all. Readers Response Criticism: From a reader’s point of view, the most interesting aspect to this story, is the fact that Montresor carries out this unspeakable revenge without batting an eye, without guilt. He feels justified by what he has done because he feels he has endured a thousand injuries at the hands of Fortunato. Having endured these injuries is his justification for what he plans to do to Fortunato. I also considered that Poe dresses each character in a certain way reflects each characters undeniable position in this story. The character that commits the murder Montresor is dressed in cloak (roquelare) and a mask of black silk like an outlaw or perhaps for the implication of death himself while the other, Fortunato is dressed in a jester’s outfit which really shows his innocence and ignorance in this story. One is that of evil, dark, serious, and sinister while the other is falling for the most evident of tricks, he is lacking in knowledge, a jester, and a fool. Little did Fortunato know that the joke was on him. Poe really captures each character and their true placement within this story. The fact that Montresor used Fortunatos lust for fine wine, his ultimate weakness, as a tool to lure him to his doom was that of pure diabolical genius. Even throwing in the competition that is Luchesi to seal the deal and Fortunatos fate by getting Fortunato to follow him deep into his familys crypt to meet his unfortunate demise is that of a sick man but also that of a true genius and mastermind. Montresor is a highly intelligent but evil, soulless man that gets away with the perfect untraceable crime. Psychoanalytical Criticism. Montresor takes us on a tale where he reveals that, 50 years ago, he had trapped his counterpart, Fortunato, in cave for all eternity. From his perspective he tells us that he bore the best he could of a thousand of Fortunatos injuries. When we get this, we can see a man who feels that he has lived in the shadow of another for too long. Those injuries were not physical, but in his eyes they were substantial enough for his death. Keeping in mind that Montresor is writing this a half century in the future, we can deduct that they cannot have been too much older than their mid-20s. Therefore, they likely have known one another since their childhood, so Montresor must have been feeling this for quite some time. Through this, the impression of a self-riotous man who feels he should have what Fortunato has is easy enough to infer. To compare to popular culture, the feeling of Scar from The Lion King is ever present; that feeling being a mildly innocent man, secretly carrying ulterior motives, until finally committing his awful atrocity. Fortunato is a character that is driven by his desire of wine and it ultimately puts him in a literal life or death circumstance. From the likely bias perspective of Montresor, Fortunato is seen as a fool in many ways. However, one can presume that he is well-liked since Montresor seems not to be, even though he wishes he were. Throughout the story, Montresors compliments and careful wordplay are evident. He calls him my dear Fortunato and repeatedly calls him a friend. So it appears that he may have no knowledge that Montresor has any ill will towards him until the end. To conclude, the struggle between Montressor and Fortunato may have all been psychologically in Montresors mind the entire time. The envy of a man may have resulted in the demise of another, and simply the mannerisms of one Fortunato caused his fate. The true injury was not sustained to, or from, anyone. Only the damaged interworking of a young mans mind was the true wound. Marxist Criticism: From the beginning the reader knows that the characters are of upper class and of Noble blood. But was Fortunato born into nobility as Montresor was? Let’s look at this from a Marxist approach. Not much is said of Fortunato’s past beside that he is wealthy and has earned the respect of many powerful people. Fortunato may have been part of the middle class where he was fortunate enough to slither his way into nobility. Fortunato prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. Here is where Fortunato adopted to suit the time and opportunity to practice imposture upon the British and Austrian millionaires (Poe 1298). Could this be partially why Montresor defies Fortunato as he does? Could that be the biggest insult to Montresor, a middle class man making his way into the elite upper class? A place where no man of Fortunato’s stature belongs. Montresor fears that Fortunato has become more rich and power than he. Montresor’s says â€Å"You are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed† (Poe 1300). The appearance of Fortunato costume at the Carnival signifies wealth. He is found wearing a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells (Poe 1298). There is another class distinction between the two. This time Fortunato sees himself above Montresor and reminds him when they are down walking in the catacombs. When Fortunato threw the bottle of wine upwards with gesticulation, and Fortunato asked Motresor if he knew what that signified, Montresor did not know. Fortunato then said he is not part of the brotherhood, a mason. A mason is a very powerful, persuasive organization and one can only be sworn into. Fortunato also forgot what Motresor family arms looked like. Signifying that it wasn’t important enough to remember. Here lies a power struggle between two powerful individuals. Montresor is infuriated by Fortunato’s lack of respect of Montresor nobility. Montresor uses deceit and eloquence into steering Fortunato to his death. He acts as if he has Fortunato’s best interest while plotting to kill him. In the end, before Montresor places the last brick, he recognizes Fortunato as a noble man.

Role of Media free essay sample

Abstract: The role of media in a democratic system has been widely debated. India has the largest democracy in the world and media has a powerful presence in the country. In recent times Indian media has been subject to a lot of criticism for the manner in which they have disregarded their obligation to social responsibility. Dangerous business practices in the field of media have affected the fabric of Indian democracy. Big industrial conglomerates in the business of media have threatened the existence of pluralistic viewpoints. Post liberalisation, transnational media organisations have spread their wings in the Indian market with their own global interests. This has happened at the cost of an Indian media which was initially thought to be an agent of ushering in social change through developmental programs directed at the non privileged and marginalised sections of the society. Though media has at times successfully played the role of a watchdog of the government functionaries and has also aided in participatory communication, a lot still needs to be done. We will write a custom essay sample on Role of Media or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Keywords: media, social responsibility, democracy, Indian media, Indian democracy, public sphere Introduction Democracy in general terms is understood to be a form of government which is subject to popular sovereignty. It is essentially a rule by the people which is in contrast to monarchies or aristocracies. One of the crowing glories of the democratic system is the freedom of expression and the space that is provided to views from different sections of the society. A democratic system can run to its utmost potential when there is wide participation on the part the general mass which is not possible without people getting informed about various issues. Reliable 1 information resources are an important constituent of any democratic society (Habermas, 2006). This is where media steps in. Mass media in its different forms have influenced human life in the present century. They have primarily provided information and entertainment to people across countries. Print media, being the leader over a considerable period of time has now got competition from Television, which is reshaping many of the social responses. Radio apart from providing news and views has also developed a flair for entertainment, thereby getting a lot of acceptance. There is also the new media with internet being its flag bearer. Internet has indeed made it possible to disseminate information and ideas in real time across the globe. However, among all these developments there is a cause of concern. Is media really fulfilling its social responsibility? Is a booming global mass media posing threats to the democratic way of thinking? In it posing challenges to a country like India where media has a greater role to play rather than merely providing information and entertainment? Media and Social Responsibility: The Normative Argument The normative view of the press argues that the conduct of the media has to take into account public interests. The main public interest criterions that the media need to consider include freedom of publication, plurality in media ownership, diversity in information, culture and opinion, support for the democratic political system, support for public order and security of the state, universal reach, quality of information and culture disseminated to the public, respect for human rights and avoiding harm to individuals and the society (McQuil, 2005). The social responsibilities expected from media in the public sphere were deeply grounded with the acceptance of media as the fourth estate, a term coined by Edmund Burke in England. With the formation of the 1947 Commission on the Freedom of the Press the social responsibility of media became a strong debating point. It was formed in the wake of rampant commercialization and sensationalism in the American press and its dangerous trend towards monopolistic practices. The report of the Hutchins Commission, as it was called, was path breaking on its take on social responsibility and the expected journalistic standards on the part of the press. The theory of social responsibility which came out of this commission was backed by certain principles which included media ownership is a public trust and media has certain obligations to 2 society; news media should be fair, objective, relevant and truthful; there should be freedom of the press but there is also a need for self regulation; it should adhere to the professional code of conduct and ethics and government may have a role to play if under certain circumstances public interest is hampered (McQuil, 2005). Democracy, Media and the Public Sphere Informing the citizens about the developments in the society and helping them to make informed choices, media make democracy to function in its true spirit. It also keeps the elected representatives accountable to those who elected them by highlighting whether they have fulfilled their wishes for which they were elected and whether they have stuck to their oaths of office. Media to operate in an ideal democratic framework needs to be free from governmental and private control. It needs to have complete editorial independence to pursue public interests. There is also the necessity to create platforms for diverse mediums and credible voices for democracy to thrive (Parceiro, 1999). It has already been discussed that media has been regarded as the fourth estate in democracy. Democracy provides the space for alternative ideas to debate and arrive at conclusions for the betterment of society. The publicly agreed norms are weighed over that of actions on the part of economic organizations and political institutions (Barnett, 2004). This is close in essence to the concept of public sphere where rational public debate and discourse is given importance. Individuals can freely discuss issues of common concern (Tsekeris, 2008). Media plays one of the crucial roles behind the formation of public sphere (Panikkar, 2004). However, Barnett is of the opinion that in modern times the true sense of public sphere is getting eroded with the media of public debate getting transformed to mediums for expressing particular interests rather than general interests which are universally accepted. This signifies that public sphere which is essential for a vibrant democracy can actually be channelized to serve vested interests rather than public good. Media and Indian Democracy The political system in India is close in spirit to the model of liberal democracy. In the constitution of India the power of the legislature, executive and judiciary have been thoroughly demarcated. The party system in operation is a competitive one with flexibility of roles of 3 government and opposition. There is also freedom of the press, of criticism and of assembly (Pelinka 2003). Indian democracy has always attracted attention worldwide and has made scholars to ponder over the secret of its success amidst considerable odds. In India diversity is almost everywhere and it is not a developed nation. The problems of poverty and inequality in distribution of income have been constant irritants. Nevertheless, till today democracy has survived in the country. The role of media in India, the largest democracy of the world is different from merely disseminating information and entertainment. Educating the masses for their social upliftment needs to be in its ambit as well. In a country where there is large scale poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment media has a responsibility towards developmental journalism. It has a role to play behind formation of public opinion which can force the political parties to address the core issues haunting the countrys progress. However, public opinion can be manipulated by vested interests to serve their own goals (Corneo, 2005). Media can conceal facts and project doctored ideas to influence the electorate and thereby the voting outcome. Values like objectivity and truthfulness in presentation of news and ideas can be totally done away with. In India public service broadcasting was given much importance after independence. It was used as a weapon of social change. AIR (All India Radio) and Doordarshan, the public service broadcasters in the country had the responsibility of providing educational programs apart from information and entertainment. However, it needs to be taken note of that the public service broadcasting system in the country was closely identified with the state. A monopolistic media structure under state control has the threat of becoming the mouthpiece of the ruling elite. The scenario was bound to change with the opening up of Indian economy in a bid to integrate with the global system. It signalled the emergence of a competitive market in the field of media with public service broadcasters getting challenges from private entities. This, however, had the seeds of a new problem of ownership. Ownership pattern of media across the globe and in India is a cause for concern. There are big corporate houses who own newspapers and television networks. A higher concentration of ownership increases the risk of captured media (Corneo, 2005). Media independence in such a scenario gives way to safeguarding the interest of the owners who may not serve social responsibilities. The space for plurality of ideas is eroded sending ominous signals for democracy. Bogart (1995) opines that in many democratic countries media ownership has 4 reached dangerous levels of concentration. He has cited the examples of News Corporations (owned by Rupert Murdoch) 37 % share in United Kingdoms national newspaper circulation and Silvio Berlusconis ownership of top three commercial television channels, three pay TV channels and various newspapers and magazine in Italy which act as his political mouthpieces. Transnational powerful media organizations are in operation in India post liberalisation. These are big multinational corporations who own a chunk of the mass media market ranging from newspapers, television, radio, book publishing to music industry. Five of world’s largest media conglomerates include General Electric, Walt Disney, News Corporation, Time Warner, Viacom and CBS. In India there are big players like the Times Group and ABP who rule the roost in the media arena. In a bid to open up the Indian market 26% foreign direct investment has been allowed in news publication and 74% has been allowed in non news segments by the Government. 100% foreign direct investment is available in the film industry. 100% FDI is also allowed in television software production subject to certain government norms. Cable networks and FM Radio networks have FDI limits of 49% and 20% respectively (FICCI and PwC, 2006). Research undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers has shown the FDI investment trend across mass media in India. Virgin Media Asia has a holding in HT medias foray into FM radio. Financial Times (Pearson Group) has an arrangement with Business Standard; AmericorpVentures, Mauritius has a stake in Nimbus Communications which deal in television and films and Reuters UK has equity sharing with Times Global Broadcasting, the Indian entity. Therefore, across mass media options have opened up for availability of transnational homogeneous content. The growth of media conglomerates and their powerful presence has raised fears of manipulation of ideas by a powerful few detrimental to the democratic fabric. The corporate giants have also engaged in severe competition among themselves dishing out news and content which is primarily dominated by sensationalization, sleaze and glitz to capture wider markets. The disturbing trend that has emerged in the present media scenario is the use of media in the battle between rival political groups (Coronel, 2003). In fact, this new phenomenon is in operation in India with newspapers and news channels taking sides while presenting facts. The same event can be presented in two contrasting manners in two newspapers or two television channels. Coronel argues that promotion of hate speech in place of constructive debate and creating an atmosphere of suspicion rather than social trust has the danger of making people cynic about the democratic setup leading to its breakdown. 5 While discussing the dangers associated with the developments in media it needs to be said that media in India has also undertaken roles which have strengthened democracy. The media as a watchdog of the democratic system has unearthed its various shortcomings. Investigative reporting in print and television media has helped in exposing large scale corruptions which have robbed the nation. The Commonwealth Games Scam, the Adarsh Housing Society Scam, Cash for Vote Scam and the Bofors Scam are the highpoints of the Indian media. Across newspapers and television channels voices have been raised when the bureaucracy, judiciary or other public functionary have crossed the laxman rekha. There have also been initiatives to promote community media for the citizens to air their concerns. This is a significant leap towards alternative media usage which is distant from the dominant structure. Here the importance lies more in participatory communication right from the grassroots rather than communication which flows top down. Various television channels have also given the space for ordinary citizens to air their views in the form of citizen journalists thereby promoting democratic participation. Newspapers have educated the masses by informing them of the developments in the field of science and technology. They have also expressed strong views against prejudices which harm the society. Much developmental news has also been aired through the medium of radio. Its comparative low cost and wide acceptance among poorer sections have made it a potent tool for expressing ideas beneficial to the public. Internet, a relatively newer entrant in the field of mass media, has proved to be more democratic than newspaper and television (Coronel, 2003). Internet has provided the opportunity for citizens who are conversant with the medium to express their views about a number of issues. In many cases groups have been formed by likeminded people who discuss and debate over a number of decisions on the part of the government and seek new ideas for way ahead. The power of the internet can be easily judged from the developments in Egypt in recent times. Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter were used to garner support against the regime of President Hosni Mubarak (Kuwait Times, 2010). Internet has been used by various public service organizations and N. G. Os to inform people about their objectives and also to make them aware of various initiatives on the part of the government as well as non government organisations for social upliftment. In internet the barrier to communication is minimal which helps in the formation of a participative environment. There is also greater empowerment of the users through higher level of interactivity and flexibility in choice of media outlets. The potential of 6 the medium lies in its ability to be more personalized by offering user-created content (Flew, 2009). Nevertheless, there is the threat of advertising revenues influencing media outputs. Those who control considerable wealth have the opportunity to sway public opinion in their favour with the help of mass media. In the 2G scam the Radia Tapes controversy brought in focus the journalist, politician and industrial conglomerate nexus (Jebaraj, 2010). Developments like these are a threat to democracy and undermine the media fraternity. Advertisements in newspapers, television, radio and at times the internet have become a part of the present election campaigns. Candidates with better funds have the edge over others in being voted to office because they can buy newspaper space and considerable air time (Coronel, 2003). Conclusion In Indian democracy media has a responsibility which is deeply associated with the socio economic conditions. The present scenario is not quite encouraging and certain areas need to be addressed. Media organisations, whether in print, audio visual, radio or web have to be more accountable to the general public. It should be monitored that professional integrity and ethical standards are not sacrificed for sensational practices. The freedom of press in the country is a blessing for the people. However, this blessing can go terribly wrong when manipulations set in. The self regulatory mechanism across media organisations need to be strong enough to stop anomalies whenever they occur. Agencies like Press Council of India need to be vigilant to stem the rot. Big media conglomerates are a serious threat. To counter this problem pluralistic media organisations which are financially viable need to be encouraged. Community participation is a goal that the media should strive for in a country like India. References