Microsoft Word Revised Syllabus Ver doc

Ethics of Broadcasting
Radio and television were introduced into India to be the carriers of entertainment and 
education for the general public. Though introduced with 'public service' as the prime 
objective, both the electronic media have been widely used for government propaganda as 
well as for commercial interests. Non-broadcast media like video and cable are in the private 
sector and therefore know no control and no regulation. Attempts at regulating cable and 
satellite TV have not been very effective because of the large numbers of operators and sub-
operators involved and also because of the corruptibility of the regulating authorities.
Where broadcast news is concerned, the ethics of broadcasting is very similar to those 
for the print media. These relate to questions of accuracy and fairness, of respect for privacy 
of the religious beliefs and practices of different communities, of the need for caution in 
reporting violence and commercial disturbances, and in criticizing judicial acts, of the right to 
reply, of respect for the confidentiality of sources, and of the need to eschew obscenity and 
vulgarity.
The professional journalist's view is that, irrespective of the consequences, news 
should be transmitted immediately after the event no matter what the event or who the 
persons involved. However, there is our alternative view the tragic news which affects an 
entire nation and which might lead to violence, may be withheld or delayed for a while till 
tempers cool down and the law and order situation is under control. This alternative view 
suggests that professional 'ethics' cannot take precedence as these professional journalistic 
ethics have been involved in western literal democracies, and often have little relevance to 
the social and cultural heeds of developing countries.
Film
Film or cinema is highly mechanical medium. It uses so many mechanical devices 
like cameras, microphones, dubbing machine, editing or cutting machines, several lenses for 
cameras, projectors mixers, sound tracks, trolleys to mount the cameras, celluloid, laboratory 
equipment etc. film is a product of interactions between machines and artistic and technical 
people.
Film is a medium of mass communication. Millions of cine-goers watch the movie in 
a country. The same movie may be seen by a very large number of people in several 
countries. Although in a Cinema hall only a few hundred or at the most a few thousand 
people, can watch a film at one time, it can be shown in many cities, towns and villages at the 
same time. Any number of copies can be made of the film for screening. The cable operators 
can transmit the film on to the TV sets of a large number of their customers at the same time. 
So film can reach out to a very large number of people.
Film, today has become an art medium. It is in the decade or too that cinema has 
come to be considered art forms. In the beginning it was considered a medium only of cheap 
entertainment, even of escaping from harsh realities of life into the world of fantasy and 
dream for two to three hours. In our times, intellectuals and serious thinkers have associated 
themselves with cinema. In fact today cinema is considered the seventh art like the earlier arts 
of painting sculpture, architecture, drama, poetry and music.
Film is an effective medium for development. Development, is the broad sense, 
means the growth of individual and the growth of the society in all aspects. These include 

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political, economic, social and cultural aspects. Film can contribute to modernizing the 
traditional society by helping to change the attitudes of people. For example, a change in 
attitudes relating to work, sex, religion, customers, communities, beliefs etc. can be brought 
about films.
Film can promote national and emotional integration. They can bring about a creative 
understanding between different regions and their people. They can be medium for educating 
the people against superstitions and for promoting scientific modern ideas.
The capacity of the film to do good or ill for the society is generally well recognized. 
You must have surely heard parents complaining that their children pick up ideas from films 
about clothes, about hairstyle, about manner of greeting or about their general behaviours 
towards others, including teachers, parents etc. It means that they tend to initiate what is 
portrayed or depicted in films. Obviously, films should set good standards for imitation.
The film can be effective in ‘hitting the conscience’ of the audience especially with 
the help of the camera. The camera is mobile, is moved from one angle to another. At one 
time, it is placed at the objective angle at a distance from the object, say, a place. And, then 
the camera is placed to give the actor's point of view. Generally, it is the director's point of 
view. He hides himself behind the actor but speaks and sees through him. By clever change 
of camera angles, the audience is made to believe in the illusion that the film is speaking out 
their thoughts, their very own. Film viewing becomes, thus very convincing and effective. In 
spite of the fact that film making is very expensive, it is a cheap medium of entertainment. 
Particularly in poor countries like India, it remains a popular medium for the vast masses.

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