5. Mass Media and History

1. (A) Complete the sentences by choosing the correct option

(1) The first English newspaper in India was started by ……….…… (March ’19)

(a) James Augustus Hickey
(b) John Marshall
(c) Allen Hume

Ans.  (a) James Augustus Hickey

(2) Television is an ……………. medium.

(a) visual
(b) audio
(c) audio-visual

Ans. (c) audio-visual

(B) Identify the wrong pair in the following, correct it and rewrite. (July ’19; March ’20; Nov. ’20)

(1) ‘Prabhakar’ – Acharya P.K. Atre
(2) ‘Darpan’ – Balshastri Jambhekar
(3) ‘Deenbandhu’ – Krishnarao Bhalekar
(4) ‘Kesari’ – Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Ans.  Wrong Pair :   Prabhakar – Acharya P. K. Atre
          Correct Statement :  Prabhakar newspaper was started by Bhau Mahajan.

2. Write brief notes :

(1) The role of newspaper in the Indian struggle for independence.

Ans. (i) The first Marathi newspaper ‘Darpan’ published news regarding the accounts of expenditure from the administrative divisions of East India Company and achievements of Raja Ram Mohan Roy in England. Such information led to nationalistic awarness necessary for struggle of independence.
(ii) The newspaper – Dyanoday published the news of installation of telegraph and starting of railways. This proved important in planning national movement for independence. It also printed the news of Indian War of Independence 1857.
(iii) Other newspapers like ‘Kesari’ and ‘Maratha’ spoke about social and political issues of the pre independence period. Kesari began to publish articles about the nationwide situations, books in native languages and politics in England. Thus, the newspaper accelerated1 the struggle for independence.

(2) Why do we need mass media? (March ’19)

Ans. (i) We need mass media to facilitate free flow of information to all strata of the society. Editorials, various columns and supplements are essential parts of newspapers. Readers are also ensured of a platform to voice their opinions.
(ii) Newspapers can help in making the democracy stronger. Television is an audio-visual medium. It was possible for this medium to cross the inherent limitations of newspapers and the radio and show the actual visuals of an event to people. So far, there is no other alternative to television for watching an event as it actually happened. 

(3) Mass Media and professional opportunities.

Ans. (i) Many professional opportunities are available in mass media such as newspaper journalist, reporters and columnists, editors, historians and political analysts, mythologists, content writers and even actors for historical documentaries.
(ii) Newer avenues like a talk show host or anchor of television shows based on history as well as cartoonists are also opening up as potential careers these days.
(iii) For history- based TV shows experts of history are required to maintain accuracy for presentation of environment, outfits, weaponry lifestyles, lingual expression etc.
(vii) Some part of history programmes are actually enacted by actors for viewers to envision characters of heroic men, women sports men, army chiefs etc. Serials about ancient monuments, forts, history of empires and history of culinary arts are gaining popularity these days.

3. Explain the following sentences with its reason.

(1) Any information received through mass media needs to be reviewed critically. (Sept. ’21) 

Ans.  (i) Any information received through mass media needs to be reviewed critically. The news or information in the media may not always represent exact truth. We need to scan it very carefully.
(ii) There is a very famous event of unauthentic information appearing in print in Germany. ‘Stern’, a German weekly magazine had purchased a number of so called handwritten diaries of Adolf Hitler. It sold them to various publication companies. The diaries were verified for their authenticity and subsequently the news appeared in the print. However, later those diaries were proved to be forged.
(iii) It becomes apparent from this example that we need to be very careful about the information published by the media.

(2) Knowledge of history is essential for newspaper articles. (July. ’19) 

Ans.(i) Newspapers while providing fresh news to its readers need to unfold the background of an event.
(ii) While reporting news in detail, reporters try to compare it with parallel events, which happened in the past.
(iii) In order to be able to publish issue to commemorate the occasion, one needs to review history.

(3) Television is the most popular medium. (March ’19)

Ans. (i) Television is an audio visual medium
(ii) It is possible for this medium to cross the inherent limitations of newspaper, radio and show the actual visuals of an event to people.
(iii) There is no other alternative than television is available, for watching an event as it actually happened. So television is an most popular medium.

4. Answer the following questions in 25-30 words.

(1) Explain the objectives of newspapers.

Ans. (i) Newspaper are an important medium of creating social awareness.
(ii) Newspapers keep the reader upto date with local, national and international stories along with reviews of history and the past events.
(iii) Newspapers provide entertainment as well. They feature comics, puzzles and humour stories designed to amuse the reader. 

(2) How is history helpful in the planning of Akashavani programmes.

Ans.(i) The speeches delivered each year by all prime ministers of India on 15th August are preserved in the form of recordings by Akashvani.
(ii) Akashvani invites historians as experts for discussions on various occasions such as the anniversaries of birth and death of national leaders, anniversary of historical events etc.
(iii) So history is essential in planning radio programmes.

5. Read the following extract and answer the questions.

Radio : ‘Indian Broadcasting Company’ (IBC), a private radio company was the first one to broadcast daily programmes. Later the same company was taken over by the British Government and named as, ‘Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS). On 8th June 1936 it was renamed, as ‘All India Radio (AIR)’. After Independence, AIR became an integral part of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India). Initially, it broadcasted Governmental programmes and schemes. It was named as ‘Akashvani’ on the suggestion of the famous poet Pandit Narendra Sharma. Akashvani broadcasts various entertainment, awareness creating and literary programmes. It also broadcasts special programmes for farmers, workers, the youth and women. The ‘Vividh Bharati’ programmes are broadcasted in 24 regional
languages as well as 146 dialects of Indian languages. Lately, various new channels like ‘Radio Mirchi’ are providing radio services.

(1) Akashavani (AIR) is an integral part of which ministry?
(2) What was the new name of IBC?
(3) In how many regional languages and local dialects are ‘Vividh Bharati’ programmes broadcasted ?
(4) How AIR was named ‘Akashavani’ ?

(a) Akashvani (AIR) is an integral part of which ministry ?
Ans. Akashvani is an integral part of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India).

(b) What was the new name of IBC?
Ans. The new name of IBC is AIR (All India Radio).

(c) In how many regional languages and local dialects are Vividh Bharati prorammes broadcasted?
Ans. The Vividh Bharati programmes are broadcasted in 24 regional languages as well as 146 dialects of Indian languages.

(d) How AIR was named `Akashavani’?
Ans. ‘AIR’ was named Akashvani on the suggestion of the famous poet Pandit Narendra Sharma.

6. Complete the following concept chart.

Ans.