Election

It is my belief that the media can perform the role of a strong catalyst to form the opinion against many ills and has the ability to move things; my small endeavour is based on this notion.

Before the election we all can foresee the movements of the candidates, transactions that might change hands and policies to be adopted to win over the voters and empower their positions. No doubt a bigger portion of the media would form alliance with their mentors as indirect media partner.

We as readers learned over the time how the media toe the line of their political, social and cultural agenda many a time more for the coterie's interest than the national interest.

Since this election is another crucial one towards our democratisation, any foul play or fallout will impair our hope and adversely affect our future.

What media can do or I wish from them: -

Focus on our optimism.

Help defuse tension and fear.

Help reduce the bipartisan divisions and focus on uniting them under common agenda and goals, no matter who they choose to vote.

Accept the reality and adopt a strategy that can be implemented without a big push or shake up for change.

Objectively analyse and outline the strategy of the contending parties.

Educate people on true sense of democratic practices and help set a common objective for them.

This objective should reflect the general aspiration, like ability of the candidate, clearly outlined policies, fare play. Educate people to maintain vigilance against wrongdoing.

Clear the ambiguity in the campaign declarations.

Emphasise institutional capacity building and discourage or even boycott the excessive exploitation of the political parties in the name of rights etc in the media.

Partnering with the electronic media, interviews, debates can be arranged to present the cases from the perspectives of future policy makers and the beneficiaries, in clear and objective manners.

Forge a strong alliance among all editors at least for the sake of election.

Forge unity with professional or pressure groups to create a conducive election environment.

The main objective is to help the voters to decide what could be good for them and good for the nation.