13 + Interview Questions in UNDERSTANDING MEDIA IN GENERAL AWARENESS Page 1 InterviewSolution

1.	Why does media sometimes focus on a particular aspect of a story?
Answer» It is because media believes that this will make the story interesting.

2.	As a class project, decide to focus on a particular news topic and cut out stories from different newspapers on this. Also watch the coverage of this topic on TV news. Compare two newspapers and write down the similarity and differences in their reports. It might help to ask the following questions– a.What information is this article providing? b.What information is it leaving out? c.From whose point of view is the article being written? d.Whose point of view is being left out and why?
Answer» Take two different newspapers. For example, "The Times of India" and "Hindustan Times". Go through both the papers of the same day. Choose any particular news heading in both the papers. Also watch the different TV Channels for this particular newsheading, and answer the questions given with the help of newspaper cuttings and news watched on different TV channels.

3.	What do you mean by an independent media? Why is it important for the media to be independent?
Answer» An independent media means that no one should control and influence its coverage of news. No one should tell the media what can be included and what should not be included in a news story. It means that media should not be under any one’s pressure. It will be totally independent. An independent media is very important because it is on the basis of the information that the media provides that we take action as citizens. Hence, it essential that this information is reliable. It should be biased at all

4.	Can you give this diagram a title? What do you understand about the link between media and big business from this diagram?
Answer» A title to the above diagram may be given like this—Media and Big Business Houses. Big Business Houses attract people to promote their products through media. It is the best and the cheapest means to reach people at large.

5.	Can you give this diagram a title? What do you understand about the link between media and big business from this diagram?
Answer» "Corporate Controlled Media" can be a suitable title for the diagram. The diagram provides us with two interesting aspects: In order to promote their products, business houses place advertisements in various media like newspapers, TV, radio etc. These advertisements influence the readers or viewers to buy products. Thus, money invested by the big business houses in advertisements comes back to them by sale of their products. It also indicates products' advertisements increase the cost of the products. Big corporates own TV channels, magazines and other media industries. They advertise their products through various media and influence people to buy their products. Since the business giants own the media houses, there are high chances of unfair reporting about their products. This may lead to customers making wrong buying decisions.

5.

Can you give this diagram a title? What do you understand about the link between media and big business from this diagram?

Answer»

"Corporate Controlled Media" can be a suitable title for the diagram.

The diagram provides us with two interesting aspects:

In order to promote their products, business houses place advertisements in various media like newspapers, TV, radio etc. These advertisements influence the readers or viewers to buy products. Thus, money invested by the big business houses in advertisements comes back to them by sale of their products. It also indicates products' advertisements increase the cost of the products.
Big corporates own TV channels, magazines and other media industries. They advertise their products through various media and influence people to buy their products. Since the business giants own the media houses, there are high chances of unfair reporting about their products. This may lead to customers making wrong buying decisions.

6.	In what ways does media play an important role in a democracy?
Answer» Media plays an important role in a democracy. It provides news and discusses events taking place in the country and the world. It is on the basis of this information that we learn how the government works. * Media also criticises the unpopular policies and programmes that the government takes. * Media forms public opinion. * Media acknowledges us with several current issues. * Media provides awareness among masses.

7.	What does the word ‘media’ mean?
Answer» Radio, television, newspapers, Internet and several other forms of communication are collectively known as media

8.	How has television brought the world closer to us?
Answer» Television images travel huge distances through satellites and cables. This allows us to view news and entertainment channels from other parts of the world. We see cartoons on our television set which are mostly from Japan and the United States. We can be sitting in Delhi and can see images of Barak Obama’s oath ceremony in the United States. Thus, television has enabled us to think of ourselves as members of a larger global world.

9.	Mention one way in which the mass media earns money
Answer» The mass media earns money by advertising different things like cars, clothes, tea, etc.

10.	Why are some advertisements shown repeatedly on the television screen?
Answer» Same advertisements are shown repeatedly on the television screen just to make people’s mind to go out and buy what is advertised.

11.	What do you mean by a balanced report?
Answer» A balanced report is one that discusses all points of view of a particular story and then leaves it to the readers to make up their minds.

12.	Name various forms of communication.
Answer» Radio, television, newspapers, Internet.

13.	What are the various ways through which people express their dissatisfaction to any of the government’s decision which does not go in their favour?
Answer» They do so by writing letters to the concerned minister, organising a public protest, starting a signature campaigns and asking the government to rethink its programme, etc.