Practice Key Concepts of Chapter 6 Understanding Media for Class 7 Civics Preparation
FAQs on Understanding Media: CBSE Class 7 Civics Worksheet PDF (2025-26)
1. What are the two main forms of mass media discussed in Chapter 6? Provide two examples for each that a Class 7 student might encounter.
The two main forms of mass media are print media and electronic media. They are crucial for communicating information to a large audience.
- Print Media: This includes forms of media that are printed on paper. Examples are newspapers (like The Times of India) and magazines (like Champak or National Geographic Kids).
- Electronic Media: This refers to media that requires an electronic device to be accessed. Examples are television (channels like Discovery) and the internet (websites like Vedantu or YouTube).
2. Explain how the connection between media and big business houses can affect the news. Why is this an important concept for the 2025-26 exams?
The connection between media and big business houses is a critical topic. Mass media operations, like running a TV channel, are very expensive due to technology and salaries. To cover these costs, media houses often rely on advertising or are owned by large corporations. This can affect the news in two ways:
- Content Focus: Media might focus on stories that are interesting to advertisers or the wealthy, sometimes ignoring issues that affect the poor.
- Bias in Reporting: A media house owned by a big business might not report negatively about its own company or its partners. This leads to a biased report instead of a balanced one, which is an important aspect of media ethics.
3. What is meant by a 'balanced report' in media? Why is it often difficult for journalists to provide one?
A balanced report is a news story that discusses all points of view of a particular event or issue, allowing the reader or viewer to form their own opinion. It is a cornerstone of responsible journalism. However, providing a truly balanced report is often difficult because:
- Business Pressures: Media outlets depend on advertising and powerful owners, who may not want certain viewpoints to be published.
- Government Influence: The government can sometimes prevent the media from publishing certain stories, a practice known as censorship.
- Setting Agendas: Media outlets may choose to focus on one aspect of a story to make it more sensational, thereby neglecting other important perspectives.
- Lack of Access: Sometimes, it is genuinely difficult to get all sides of a story from all parties involved.
4. How does the media 'set the agenda'? Explain this important function with an example from your NCERT Civics textbook.
Setting the agenda is one of the most significant functions of the media. It means that by choosing to focus on particular stories, the media influences what we think about and consider important. For example, the NCERT textbook highlights how the media drew widespread attention to the high levels of pesticides in cola drinks. This made it a major news story and forced the government to act. However, at the same time, the critical issue of unsafe drinking water, which affects millions, often does not receive the same level of media attention. This shows how the media sets the agenda by deciding which stories are newsworthy.
5. What is censorship? Why is the period of Emergency (1975-1977) in India a significant example of media censorship?
Censorship refers to the power that the government has to prevent media outlets from publishing or showing specific news, scenes from a movie, or lyrics of a song. In a democracy, the media should be independent. The period of the Emergency from 1975 to 1977 is a significant example because the Indian government heavily censored the press during this time. Newspapers were not allowed to print stories that were critical of the government's actions, and many journalists were jailed. This event is often cited as a major challenge to the independence of media in India's history.
6. What is the importance of 'local media' in a large country like India? Explain using the example of 'Khabar Lahariya'.
While national media covers major events, local media is crucial for giving a voice to ordinary people and highlighting issues that might otherwise be ignored. The significance of local media is perfectly illustrated by 'Khabar Lahariya'. It is a newspaper run by eight Dalit women in the Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh. Written in the local Bundeli language, it reports on issues like Dalit rights, local political corruption, and violence against women. This not only informs the local community but also empowers them to seek justice, proving that media can be a powerful tool for change at the grassroots level.
7. A key idea in the chapter is that 'media is far from independent'. What are the main reasons an independent media is crucial for a democracy?
An independent media, free from external control and influence, is vital for the health of a democracy for several key reasons:
- Informed Citizenry: It provides citizens with reliable and balanced information, which is necessary for them to make informed decisions about their leaders and government policies.
- Accountability: It acts as a watchdog over the government and powerful corporations, exposing wrongdoing and holding them accountable to the public.
- Public Forum: It provides a platform for discussion and debate on a wide range of public issues, allowing different viewpoints to be heard.
When media is not independent, the information flow is controlled, and the democracy cannot function effectively.
