Media, women, and sensationalism: Are we doing justice ?

Priyanka Saurabh *

"News of deception sells, but stories of trust are suppressed — have we forgotten balance?"

The image of women in the media and the sensational reporting associated with it have raised serious questions today. In some incidents, the media exaggerates the crimes committed by women, which has a negative impact on the image of the entire female class. Issues like cheating and betrayal in society are related to both sexes, but when a woman is accused of something, the media makes her a 'villain,' while sympathy is often garnered for male crimes. At such times, the media should report with balance, depth, and responsibility and not spread prejudice for TRP. Also, readers and viewers also need to consume news with discretion.

In this fast-paced world of information and communication, the influence of the media has become as widespread as it is deep. Today, reporting an incident is not limited to merely giving information, but it also gives rise to a narrative, an image, and sometimes a prejudice.

When it comes to incidents related to women, especially when they are controversial—like cheating, false accusations, or blackmailing—the media's attitude becomes much more sensational and biased. It is a matter of concern that since when have we started putting an entire class in the dock instead of reporting incidents?

Women and Ambiguity: Constructing the Narrative

In the last few years, we have seen many such incidents where women were accused of trapping men in false cases. In some cases, these allegations were proved to be true. But the question is, is it justified to develop a thinking like "not every woman is trustworthy" on the basis of these few cases? Is it right that the media presents these incidents in such a way that the entire society starts doubting the intentions of women?

In fact, this thinking is part of a long-standing mindset that either worships a woman as a goddess or rejects her as a villain—there is no room in between.

The language of the media and the game of headlines

Whenever you see newspaper headlines or listen to news channel headlines, one thing is clear—incidents related to women are presented in a more provocative, emotional, and attractive manner. For example—"The lover turned out to be the murderer of the co-wife!" "The female teacher had physical relations with the student!" "The wife got her husband killed in collusion with her lover!"

Such news strengthens a particular thought in the society that women are deceitful, clever, and opportunistic. Whereas the reality is that crimes committed by men are not shown with such sensationalism. There, reasons like "mental stress," "family pressure," or "social rejection" are found.

'Victim' or 'Villain': The dual image of a woman

The media often portrays women either as complete victims or complete perpetrators. But the reality is much more complex. Not every woman who cheats is inherently 'bad,' and not every woman who is a victim is inherently 'pure.' Human behavior is shaped by many social, mental, and emotional factors. When the media ignores these aspects and shows only a sensational face, it distorts the truth.

Introduction to some famous examples

In recent years, many such cases have come to light, which have made this subject more complex. Such as cases of blackmailing by making false allegations of sexual harassment, a woman's attempt to trap her husband and get a divorce and property, and exploitation of public sentiments using 'feminism' on social media.

These incidents were widely publicized in the media, but the legal process related to them, the findings of the investigation, or an in-depth investigation of the woman's side were rarely shown.

Are men completely innocent?

It would be wrong to believe that men are always the victims. Hundreds of thousands of women are still victims of domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment, and mental abuse. Every year, statistics related to women's safety present a horrifying picture. In such a situation, if women are found guilty in some cases, then putting all the women in the dock is not only unjust but also dangerous for social balance.

The role of the media: responsibility versus business

Media has been called the fourth pillar of democracy, but when this pillar forgets morality in the race for TRP, the foundation of society starts shaking. The job of journalism is to give information, not to create opinions. But today media often creates "mood," forms "opinions," and pronounces "verdicts." This trend claims to go beyond the justice system as well, which we call 'media trial.'

Social media: fuel to the fire

While mainstream media has its limitations, social media has made everyone a judge. WhatsApp forwards, Twitter trends, and Instagram reels—everywhere, questions are being raised on the character and intentions of women.

Phrases like “every woman is a gold digger” and “women love only for benefits” have become common on social media. This environment is harmful not only for women but also for young men who bring suspicion into relationships instead of trust.

The foundation of justice: institutional thinking, not individual thinking

The biggest weakness of our society is that we draw conclusions for an entire class from one incident. If a woman cheated, it does not mean that every woman is untrustworthy. Similarly, if a man turns out to be a rapist, then every man cannot be looked at with suspicion. We will have to develop the habit of looking at the incident and the person in their socio-cultural context.

An urge toward balance

Today, when the media is determining the thinking of the society, the responsibility of journalists, editors, and newsrooms is much greater. They have to decide whether they are 'showing the truth' or 'selling the truth.'

At the same time, we—the viewers, readers, and citizens—also have to take the responsibility that we do not blindly believe every news story. Society will remain balanced only when we consider both men and women as human beings—with virtues, faults, emotions, and limitations. If the media does not understand this balance, then it will become not a carrier of information but a disseminator of prejudice.