Media and election awareness

Author:

Sir: It is beyond doubt that the media plays a very critical role in the life of all human societies. The media provides the conduit necessary for all kinds of communication, which helps societies exist and function. Contemporary thinking is such that, to live in harmony, societies need communication that is beneficial to its constituents. Thus, at election time, when constituents must elect their representatives, it becomes doubly imperative that the media affords them all the information necessary for them to make informed choices about whom to elect and whom not to elect into positions of authority.

This time, in the elections of 2013, the Pakistani media had a really important role to play. The media had encouraged the people to use the power of the vote and to avail the opportunity for saving Pakistan. They educated and created awareness among the people to vote wisely. The election campaigns, talk shows, discussions and day-to-day updates provided by the media guided and helped people to make their final decision for Pakistan’s future. No doubt, Pakistanis have really voted prudently. This has been proved with over 60 percent turnout for these elections, which was surely unexpected. The overall credit goes to our own media.

MARYAM RAZA

Karachi