Television: The television is one of the recent wonders of science. People can watch television not only in cities but also in villages for this medium has begun to spread even to the remote parts of the countries. The day is not far off when the television will be as common as the radio or the cinema. The use of television as an effective communication medium cannot be ignored. Television gives us information faster than the newspapers. It can bring us reports of events even as they are happening.

Television can also be used as a teaching medium. The educational programmes telecast via satellite and the adult educational programmes are examples. We also see health and family welfare programmes and science features on television.

Some people call TV the “idiot box”. It is owing to the low standard of entertainment that television offers us. Also, it may tend to make children TV addicts at the expense of other activities. In countries where mass media are not completely free, as in India, television can also become a tool for the ruling party.

The TV is such a powerful medium of propaganda that only very intelligent or cautious watchers can resist being influenced by it. In short, we may say that television is a very powerful means of communication whose benefits for the citizen depend chiefly on the way it is used.