Representing Voices
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: September 11 2015 -
The national editions of the major Indian newspapers do not make the lifespan of a news event in the Northeastern region of India come to a conclusive end.
There is a tendency to let the news event or issue disappear, perhaps unable to take stances or in the excuse of non-interference by claiming to be unbiased.
Under such circumstances, it is time to reflect on how much Spheres of Influence do valley based media have and ponder over the misplaced interpretations of James C. Scott’s questions like “why civilizations can’t climb hills.”
‘Spheres of Influence’ generally refers to the power of media to capture a public space that supposedly represents or reflects a “majoritarian view.”
The exercise of this power is retained by the media claiming to represent the spirit of the people thereby establishing a hold on its audience who have become synonymous with consumers in the market.
The patterns of Spheres of Influence have been more or less based on stances taken in concurrence with the State’s policies or the assumed primary interests of the people.
The media, in trying to exercise its singular Sphere of Influence, often declares that it is the voice of the people or that it represents the interests of the people.
In States like Manipur with numerous communities of different ethnic origins, simple and innocuous word like ‘people’ seems to imply the body that carries dominant voice of the majority in a broader sense or just the voice of the ruling elites.
The possession of Spheres of Influence is possible when readers/audience acquire the habit of consumers used to just one uniquely packaged product.
It is the local peculiarity familiarised by years of operation in the region.
The hold on the readers and audience as mere markets, at times acts as a tough wall against the onslaught of bigger sharks coming in to the State to capture the attention of gullible individuals while core issues remain far from being resolved.
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