Media & public agenda
Media & public agenda
DHARMA ADHIKARI
The way in which two recent news stories, one about the prohibition of cell phones and junk foods in schools and the other about smoking ban in public places appeared suddenly in headlines and then disappeared in like manner leaves one wondering about the nature of our media’s engagement with public interest issues.
There wasn’t any deliberation on these topics in the media leading up to the bans. Also, following the prohibitions, there wasn’t much reflection on the genesis or process of these new regulations. Apparently, the school or the government authorities did not see the need to enlist a meaningful participation of the media or the general public in those important public decisions. Neither did the media or the public display the eagerness to relish such participation.
And yet, on their own ways, working apart, both the authorities and the media often claim to be passionately championing public interest. But when it comes to ackn
