RighttoInformationActandtheRoleofMedia.

RTICell,ATI,Kohima.
Informationisregardedastheoxygenofdemocracy.Itinvigorateswhereit
percolates.Ifpeopledonotknowwhatishappeningintheirsociety,iftheactionsof
thosewhorulethemarehidden,thentheycannottakeameaningfulpartintheaffairs
ofthesociety.Freedomofexpression,freedisseminationofideasandaccessto
informationarevitaltothefunctioningofademocraticgovernment.Informationis
crucialforavibrantdemocracyandgoodgovernanceasitreflectsandcaptures
Governmentactivitiesandprocesses.Accesstoinformationnotonlyfacilitatesactive
participationofthepeopleinthedemocraticgovernanceprocess,butalsopromotes
openness,transparencyandaccountabilityinadministration.RighttoInformation
(RTI),therightofeverycitizentoaccessinformationheldbyorunderthecontrolof
publicauthorities,canthusbeaneffectivetoolforusheringingoodgovernance.
Themajorcharacteristicsofgoodgovernanceareparticipation,ruleoflaw,
transparency,responsiveness,equityandinclusiveness,effectiveness,efficiency,
accountability,strategicvisionandconsensusorientation.Transparencymeansthat
decisionsaretakenopenlyandenforcedasperrulesandregulations.Itrequiresthat
informationisfreelyavailableanddirectlyaccessibletothosewhowillbeaffectedby
suchdecisionsandtheirenforcement.Italsomeansthatenoughinformationis
providedtoallthestakeholdersineasilyunderstandableformsandmediatoenable
theirmeaningfulparticipationindecisionmakingprocesses.Accountabilitymeans
thatpublicinstitutionsandfunctionariesareanswerabletothepeopleandtotheir
institutionalstakeholders.Ingeneral,anorganizationoraninstitutionshouldbe
accountabletothosewhowillbeaffectedbyitsdecisionsoractions.Accountability
cannotbeenforcedwithoutaregimeoftransparency.
AdirectrelationshipexistsbetweenrighttoInformation,informedcitizenryandgood
governance.TheRighttoInformationprovidescitizenstheopportunityofbeing
informedofwhattheGovernmentdoesforthem,whyandhowitdoesit.Good
governanceprovidesaplatformthatenablesgovernmentfunctionariestooperate
efficiently,effectivelyandtransparentlyandbeaccountabletothepublicfortheir
actions.Itaimstoputanendtoinconsistentgovernmentpracticesandhelpsin
establishingaresponsiveState.PublicparticipationinGovernment,respectforthe
ruleoflaw,freedomofexpressionandassociation,transparencyandaccountability,
legitimacyofGovernment,andthelike,whicharethecorevaluesofgood
governance,canberealisedonlyiftherighttoinformationisimplementedintheright
spirit.Righttoinformationisthehallmarkofgoodgovernance.
MediaandDevelopment
Themediacanmakearealdifferencetothelivesofpooranddisadvantagedpeople
by:
makingpeoplemoreawareoftheirrightsandentitlements;
enablingpeopletohaveaccesstogovernmentprogrammes,schemesandbenefits;

makingpeoplemoreawareofpoliticalissuesandoptionsandhelpingtostimulate
debate;educatingthepubliconsocial,economicandenvironmentalissues;
drawingattentiontoinstitutionalfailingscorruption,fraud,waste,inefficiency,
cronyism,nepotism,abuseofpowerandthelike;
fosteringexchangeofbestpractices,knowledgeresources,accesstobetter
technology,andtobetterchoices;
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RTICell,ATI,Kohima.
creatingpressureforimprovedgovernmentperformance,accountabilityandquality,
forexampleinservicedelivery;and
providingadiscursivespaceforcitizenstodialoguewithotheractorsinthe
governanceprocess.
Thethreemainareasthroughwhichthemediacanmakeasignificantimpacton
developmentandpovertyreductionare:
1)Empowerment
Mediahasadefiniteroletoplayintheempowermentofcitizens.Itgivesvoicetothe
needsandaspirationsofthepeopleandprovidesthemaccesstorelevantinformation.
Whenpeoplelackavoiceinthepublicarena,oraccesstoinformationonissuesthat
affecttheirlives,andiftheirconcernsarenotreasonablyreflectedinthepublic
domain,theircapacitytoparticipateindemocraticprocessesisundermined.
Media,inallitsvariedforms,hasopenedupthepotentialfornewformsof
participation.Theaccesstoinformationandaccessibilityofinformationhasincreased
withgrowthofprintandelectronicmediaandtheInternet.Thus,thevulnerableand
marginalizedsectionsofthesocietysuchasthepoor,women,weakersectionsand
sociallydisadvantagedarealsousingthemediatomaketheirvoicesheard.
2)SocialAwareness&Action
Thepotentialofmassmediatobeeffectivelyemployedtoenhancesocialawareness
is
unquestionable.Themediacanbeeffectiveinnotonlypreservingfreedombutalso
extendingit.Thenewsmediaplaysadecisiveroleinestablishingadiscursivespace
forpublicdeliberationsoversocialissues.Theformativeinfluenceofthemediaon
publicattitudes,thoughtsandperceptionsisfundamentaltotheprocessofcitizen
engagementinpublicdialogue.
Givingavoicetothepooralsoentailsgivingthepoorpeopleadequateopportunities
totakeinitiativesforovercomingtheirproblems.Themedia,throughitsrolein
shapingpublicawarenessandaction,canbeacriticalfactorinfacilitatingsustainable
developmentandpovertyreduction.

3)GoodGovernance
Goodgovernanceisrecognizedascentraltopovertyeradication,andafreemediaisa
necessaryconditionforgoodgovernance.Asaninformationconduitbetween
corporations,government,andthepopulace,themediaactsasawatchdogagainst
governmentmalfeasance,whileatthesametimefosteringgreatertransparencyand
accountability.
Themediamonitorspublicservicedeliveryandreportsonkeyissuestothepublicat
large,andinthisprocessexertspressureonpublicserviceproviders.Byhighlighting
institutionalfailingstoguardagainstandinstitutionalsuccessesforreplication,the
mediacreatestherightframeworkofincentivesforgoodgovernance.
Afreepressisintegraltogoodgovernance.Itletspeoplevoicediverseopinionson
governanceandreform,exposecorruptionandmalpracticesandhelpbuildpublic
consensustobringaboutchange.Itmonitorsbasicpublicservicedeliveryand
promoteshumandevelopment.
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RTICell,ATI,Kohima.
Lastbutnottheleast,iteducatesthepublicandbuildspublicawarenessonkeysocio
economicissues.
TheWorldAssociationofNewspapers(WAN),theglobalorganisationoftheworlds
presshaslongarguedthatafreeandunfetteredpressisapositiveforcefor
acceleratedandequitablesocioeconomicdevelopment.Itheldthatthepredominance
offreeandindependentpressaccompanieseconomicgrowthandhuman
development.Incountrieswithfreepress,humandevelopmentindicatorssuchas
schoolenrollment,teacherpupilratio,pupilperformance,infantmortality,maternal
mortality,nutritionalstatusofwomenandchildrenetc.tendtofarebetterthan
countrieswithrestrictionsonpressandfreedomofinformation.Theworkofthe
NobelLaureate,AmartyaSenhasevenestablishedalinkbetweenactivemediaand
theavoidanceofdisasterslikefamines.Theroleofmediaasawatchdogofthe
governmentandthecorporatesector,atransmitterofnewideasandinformation,a
voiceofthepoor,asafeguardagainsttheabuseofpowerandneglectofthesocially
vulnerable,andabuilderofpublicconsensustobringaboutchangeispervasive.
Asexperiencehasshown,theindependenceofthemediacanbefragileandeasily
compromised.Itisclearthattosupportdevelopmentthemedianeedstheright
environmentintermsoffreedoms,capacities,andchecksandbalances.TheRightto
Informationregimedoesgivethemediathatcriticalsupport.
RighttoInformationandRoleofMedia
Article19oftheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsadoptedbytheUnited
Nationsstates:Everyonehastherighttofreedomofopinionandexpression;this

rightincludesfreedomtoholdopinionswithoutinterferenceandtoseek,receiveand
impartinformationandideasthroughanymediaandregardlessoffrontiers.
TheshortsectiononmediainthePlanofAction(C.9)statesthatThemedia.....have
anessentialroleinthedevelopmentoftheInformationSocietyandarerecognisedas
animportantcontributortofreedomofexpressionandpluralityofinformation.
Infact,massmediaisthemostimportantvehicleforinformation,knowledgeand
communicationinademocraticpolity:
a)Theyarepervasiveandplayasignificantroleinshapingsocieties;theyprovidethe
publicsphereofinformationanddebatethatenablessocialandculturaldiscourse,
participationandaccountability.
b)Theyarethemostaccessible,costeffectiveandwidespreadsourceofinformation
andplatformforexpression.
Informationispower.Themediacanplayacrucialroleinbuildinganinclusive
InformationSocietybasedonknowledgepoweranditsdistribution.Formediato
fulfillitspotential,actionsarerequiredinthreekeyareas:
1.Toprotectandextendmediafreedomandindependence,andrightsofaccessto
information;
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RTICell,ATI,Kohima.
2.Toactivelydevelopthepotentialofmediatoprovideinformation,aforumfor
debateontopicsofpublicinterest,culturalexpressionandopportunityto
communicate,especiallytothepoorandmarginalised;
3.TostrengthenthecapacityofmediatopromoteandhelpbuildanInformation
Societyraisingawareness,channellingcivilsocietyconcerns,debatingpoliciesand
holdinggovernment,privatesectorandcivilsocietyaccountable.
TraditionalsystemsofinformationaccessinIndiahavemadejournalistsdependent
onsourcestheymustcultivate.Whetherbureaucratsorpoliticians,muchdependson
theprivilegeandpatronageoftheindividualsource.Suchrelationshipsofpatronage
notonlymakejournalistsdependonveryfeudalrelationships,itoftenmakesthem
usetheinformationregardlessofitsveracity.
AnRTIregimecanenablecredible,evidencebasedandfactualreportingonkey
issuesofpublicinterest.Itcanenablethemediatoexposemaladministration,
corruptionandinefficiencyandtopropagatestoriesandinstancesrelatingto
accountability,transparency,effectiveadministrationandgoodgovernance.Byusing
theRTIAct,themediacanplayanimportantroleinhighlightingissuesrelatedto
publicservicedeliveryandtheefficacyandaccountabilityofpublicofficials.

UndertheRTIAct,thejournalists&reporters,likecitizens,can:
DemandfromtheGovernmentinformationpertainingtoanyofitsdepartments
DemandphotocopiesofGovernmentcontracts,payment,estimates,measurements
ofengineeringworksetc.
DemandfromtheGovernmentcertifiedsamplesofmaterialusedintheconstruction
ofroads,drains,buildingsetc.
Demandtoinspectanypublicdevelopmentworkthatmaybestillunder
constructionorcompleted
DemandtoinspectGovernmentdocumentsconstructiondrawings,recordsbooks,
registers,qualitycontrolreportsetc.
Demandstatusofrequestsorcomplaints,detailsoftimedelays,actiontakenon
InformationCommissionsdecisionsetc.
Themediacanplayaconstructiveroleinthegovernanceprocessby:
CatalyzingEffectiveImplementationoftheAct:Asthefourthpillarof
democracy,themedianotonlyhasanimportantstakeinwhattheRTIActpurports
toprovideandachieve,butalsoincatalyzingandentrenchingtheimplementationand
enforcementofthissignificantpieceoflegislation.
ProvidingInformationtotheCitizensandBuildingAwarenessontheAct:
Despitetheprovisionsthathavebeenmadetoaccessinformation,citizensresortto
medialikenewspapers,radio,televisionetc.fordaytodayinformationaboutpublic
authoritiesandtheiractivities.Themediaprovidesalinkbetweenthecitizensand
theirgovernment.Themediasrighttoinformationorrighttotellisnotaspecial
privilegebutrather,anaspectofthepublicsrighttoknow.Themediashouldfulfill
thisobligation.
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RTICell,ATI,Kohima.
GivingVoicetotheCitizens:Aspartofthecivilsociety,themediahasan
obligationtoarticulatetheneedsandaspirationsofthepeople.UsingtheAct,the
mediacanhighlightkeyissuesfacedbythecitizens,particularlythosefacedbythe
poorandvoiceless.
ActingasaWatchdogonbehalfoftheCitizens:Thebestservicethatthemedia
canprovidetothepublic,whetherinamatureoremergingdemocracy,isthatofa
communitywatchdog.Journalistsshouldseeandperformtheirrolekeepinginmind
publicinterest.UsingRTI,themediacanexposecorruptionandinefficiency.
However,inperformingawatchdogroleanddiggingoutthetruth,journalistsshould
becarefulininterpretingfactsandevidence.
Itisimportantthatthemediaplaystheroleofanhonestbrokerofinformationforits
readerswithoutdeliberatebiasorfavouritism.Themediamustconsiderits
independencetobeitsmostvaluablecommercial,editorialandmoralasset.
Maintainingitsindependencethroughprofessionalbehaviourandacodeofconduct
thatissubscribedtobyalljournalists,themediacanbeapowerfuluseroftheRTI

ActandanagentfortheempowermentofpeoplethroughanInformationSociety.The
objectiveoftheActtousherinapracticalregimeofrighttoinformationcannotbe
attainedwithoutaproactiveroleplayedbythemedia.
SuggestedAreasforActionbytheMedia
ThefollowingsectionprovidescuesforthemediatousetheRTIActindischarging
thefollowingroles:
InmonitoringimplementationoftheAct
Inreportingontheeffectiveness&efficiencyofpublicservicedelivery
Inhighlightingcorruptionandfraudrelatedissues
Inhighlightingcitizengrievances
Inhighlightingsignificantcasesoreffortsmadebyorganisations/individualson
RTI.
However,itneedstobenotedthatthesuggestedareasareselectiveandareprovided
onlytoguidethemediatoeffectivelyusetheRTIActprovisions.