Media and law together is very important in today's world. Not because they both are connected with each other but both help us to live our life easily. As media is the source through which we can know what are government is doing for us. For example: The laws made by the government, Policies started by them, and many other things. Law help us to enjoy our freedom so that there is a decorum in the society and there will be no conflict in the society. Law is made for the benefit of the individual living in the state.

Media is a source of RTI (Right To Information Act) which made the government transparent so that we can ask government that where they are using the money, how they are using and on what bases.

Together Media and Law help the society to work properly and according to the norms and values.

The law is the organization of the natural rights of lawful defense.

It is the substitution of a common force for individual forces, and this common force is to do only what the individual forces have a natural and lawful rights to do:
1. To protect personal liberties and properties;
2. To maintain the rights of each, and to cause justice to reign over us all.

There are 3 main working bodies in our Sovereign State: 
1. Supreme Court: Apex Court of the Country and also known as Federal Court, Guardian of the Constitution and the highest court of appeal. Established on 28 January 1950. Delivered more than 24,000 reported judgments.

2. High Court: Known as last court of regular appeals. The High Courts are also termed as the Courts of Equity, and can be approached in writs not only for violation of fundamental rights under the provisions of Article 226 of the Constitution.

3. Lower Courts/Tribunals: Known as District Court of India. These courts are under administrative and judicial control of the High Court of the State to which the district concerned belongs. On criminal side the lowest court is that of the Judicial Magistrate.

Media is the plural form of medium, which (broadly speaking) describes any channel of communication. This can include anything from printed paper to digital data, and encompasses art, news, educational content and numerous other forms of information.

Media is the plural form of medium, which (broadly speaking) describes any channel of communication. This can include anything from printed paper to digital data, and encompasses art, news, educational content and numerous other forms of information. The earliest printed mass-medium was probably European popular prints from about 1400. The term "Mass Media" was coined with the creation of print media, which is notable for being the first example of mass media, as we use the term today. This form of media started in Europe in the Middle Ages.

The printing press preceded the advent of printed news in India by about 250 years.  It was in 1674 that the first printing apparatus was established in Bombay followed by Madras in 1772. India's first newspaper, Calcutta General Advertise, also known as the Hicky's Bengal Gazette was established in January 1780. 

First Hindi daily: Samachar Sudha Varshan, began in 1854.

 

Media plays an important role in today’s world as:

1. To promote the advancement of education and culture.
2. To raise and maintain high standards of decency and decorum in all programme.
3. To provide programme for the young which, by variety and content, will inculcate the principles of good citizenship.
4. To promote communal harmony, religious tolerance and international understanding.
5. To treat controversial public issues in an impartial and dispassionate manner.
6. To respect human rights and dignity.
 

There are two methods in Media:

Traditional Methods: Like radios, television, direct mails, it take more time to work, it is more costly.
Modern Methods: Like social media (Facebook, Twitter, Blogs etc), it takes less time, it is less costly. It is a “pull” strategy, meaning it is conversational between consumer and business.

Media was used to show powers during the time of super powers. US used the media to show their powers during The First Gulf War. The First Gulf War revealed the vast technological gap that had opened up between the US military capability and that of other stated. The highly publicized use of so called 'Smart Bombs' by the US led some observers to call this a 'Computer War'. Widespread television range coverage also made it as a 'Video Game War', with viewers around the world watching the destruction of Iraqi forces live on TV in the comfort of their living rooms.

Media is being considered as the Fourth Pillar of Democratic society  after  Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary.
Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression includes freedom of  media. In a democratic country media plays an important role so far as communication of information is concerned which keeps the society vibrant.

Role: The media works as a watchdog of the government extensive liberty has been  granted to the media people by the Constitution.

It is the media which has become a part of the life of the people of India, who are largely dependent on the media coverage for various needs including entertainment and information.

Restrictions: It blocked advertisement to publications that published criticism of government policies.
A host of media persons were slapped with a series of charges including tax evasion, intimidation, imprisonment, notice to shutdown the press, eviction from government housing and the like.
Another decision was taken that resulted in regulation rather reduction of supply of the newsprint to the media houses.
Telecommunications Act of 1996: Removed restrictions on a wide range of communications industries.

Conclusion
Media and law both serves to the monitor and check the excesses of the other. Whether through regulations or primary functions, the media and law do this primarily to protect each others interests, and secondarily to ensure accountability and responsibility, so as to ensure that the public is protected against abuse and exploitation.

Written By: Vivek Yadav, (BA LLB)