Social Media Performing Better Than Mainstream Media Today: Upendra Rai

Senior journalist and Editor In Chief of Bharat Express, Upendra Rai says that in today’s era, social media is doing a better job than mainstream media.

Mr Rai was addressing a talk show on the topic ‘Media: Slipping Today and Departing Tomorrow’ on the second day of Lit Chowk Festival in Indore on Saturday. Mr Rai said that in the present era, social media has emerged as the voice of both common and special categories of people. There is a lot of restlessness in the society, every person wants to say something. It is the power of social media that it makes the common man a star overnight and also brings revolution in big countries. On one news, the poor get justice, nevertheless, on the contrary, there is a section which is busy in proving the right things false by misusing some power. Israeli companies have so much data that they make anyone from zero to hero.

Mr. Rai said that once entire America started getting influenced by the supernatural powers of Spider-Man. Spider-Man used his powers in the interest of the society, but an editor, through his reporter and photographer, assured the American society that Spider-Man is a threat to the society, that editor served negative news despite knowing the truth. Something similar to this is also happening in our Indian society. Some people are working in our industry by resorting to manipulation, deceit and lies. Today the trend towards negative and shocking news has increased. Bloodshed news is becoming the center of attraction. Readers and viewers are getting pulled behind the negativity.

Mr. Rai said that in today’s era, many editors have started saying with pride that the space left after the advertisement in the newspaper is the space left for the news. Newspaper or media is the mirror of the society but today we are not able to do justice to our profession.

Senior journalist Mr Rai further said that many psychologists have proved that in today’s era watching and reading news causes a lot of stress. Once upon a time it happened with Mahavir and Buddha too, following that they left home, family and society just to acquire knowledge. They accepted that this society is not fit to live in. Only after staying away from the society full of frustration and darkness, they gained knowledge. When Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, he went into silence, then the deities urged him to break his silence, on this Buddha said, for whom should I speak? My speech or silence doesn’t make any difference to the people in front of me. For the ones my speech or silence makes a difference, they don’t need my sermons. The deities urged that you speak for the people who are in the middle. They do need a push. The situation of journalism today is also similar. If today is not better, then we cannot live expecting tomorrow to be better.

Senior journalist Dr. Prakash Hindustani presided over this talk show organized at Gandhi Hall. The session was moderated by Praveen Kumar Khariwal, President of State Press Club, Madhya Pradesh. The eminent guests were welcomed by Hemant Sharma, Dhara Pandey, Nikhil Dave, and Vivek Dammani. In the end, Ravindra Vyas expressed his gratitude. A large number of intellectuals and media dignitaries were present in the program.