Class 7 Civics Chapter 6 Question Answers - Understanding Media

Q1. Write a short note on media activities.
Ans: In a democracy, the media plays a very important role in providing news and discussing events. Government’s programmes, policies, new laws, implementation status etc., and various issues are discussed daily on TV and Radio. Various other activities such as sports, social protest, and parliamentary discussion are also included in the daily shows of TV. Thus, media is also a means to provide information.

Q2. What are two main reasons where the media does not look independent?
Answer: The reasons are:

• The first is the control that the government has on the media. During the Emergency, between 1975-1977, the government censored the media.
• The second is due to the relationship of media and big businessmen who provide them large amount in the form of advertisements.

Q3. Which are issues focussed by media?
Answer: Media focusses on the stories which are liked by the masses. Thus, such stories are presented to make this as an interesting form. Various TV serials are example of such type of presentation. Media focusses on business-related activities. Thus, many times social matters are given look importance.

Q4. Why is it important for the media to be independent?
Ans: An independent media is very important because on the basis of the information received from the various sources of media, people make an opinion. Hence, it is essential that this information should be reliable and bias-free. Otherwise, a wrong image will be made in the mind of people and this may be very harmful for the people as well as for the country.

Q5. What is mean by independent media? Is the media independent?
Ans: An independent media means that no one should control and influence its coverage of news. No one should tell the media what can be included and what should not be included in a news story.
The reality is that media is far from independent. This is mainly because of two reasons. The first is the control that the government has on the media. During the Emergency between 1975-1977, the government censored the media.
Despite the absence of censorship by the government, most newspapers and TV nowadays still fail to provide a balanced story. This is due to the relationship of media and big businessmen who provide them large amount in the form of advertisements.

Q6. How do you think TV influences us?
Answer: TV has different types of programmes such as news, sports, cartoons, animal planet, regional channels and its programmes, entertainment programmes viz., movies, songs, bhajans, religion related programmes, Kaun Banega Crorepati, reality TV shows like Big Boss etc. About half time is given to the advertisement in between, before and after the programme.
We can choose TV channels as per our choice. Hot discussions on political and social issues are presented which also shape our attitude and help in expanding our knowledge. Thus, TV shapes our views of the world, our beliefs, attitudes and values.