Despite the fact that the media has progressed phenomenally in the last few years, there is work still to be done

If on the one hand modern-day media has made the world accessible to everyone, on the other hand politicised journalism has promoted those people who are hell bent on dividing the world on religious grounds.

While the global media is playing a major role in providing knowledge and information on day-to-day developments occurring in every walk of life to the audiences, the worldwide electronic communication system has made peoples’ life easy. But the misuse of technology is also creating ethical problems, particularly in the field of journalism.

Modern-day media is serving the people internationally by exposing international conspiracies, scandals, secrets and brutalities with graphic details through satellite TV channels and websites. For example, when the US administration was trying to justify its invasion of Iraq in the name of providing freedom and democracy to the people of that country, the media brought to light the worst kind of human torture of Iraqis at the Abu Ghraib prison by the US Army and CIA personnel.

Before that, the international media was also used by the world's power brokers to campaign against Iraq. For example, prior to the attack on Iraq, graphic images were shown to the Security Council, detailing Iraq's weapons of mass destructions (WMD) to justify the war and win international support. Later on, all of it turned out to be incorrect.

They say today the world has become a global village -- technologically. A person living in one corner of the world can deliver a message to a person living in a different part of the globe in no time. Despite the fact that the world's most powerful US-led forces have not been able to find Osama Bin Laden, his messages are sent to his supporters and detractors around the globe in no time.

The global multimedia projection system has brought about a new concept. Worldwide media broadcasters now use high-tech communication gadgets and information superhighways provide a platform to modern-day leaders, politicians, activists and preachers to propagate their philosophies and ideologies. Exposure to different faiths, cultures and other sociological elements by virtue of satellite television channels has virtually demolished territorial boundaries.

A famous Nobel Prize winner for literature (1970), Alexander Solzhenitsyn in this regard says: “To do evil, a human being must first of all believe that what he's doing is good ... Ideology -- that is what gives devil-doing its long-sought justification and gives the evildoer the necessary steadfastness and determination. That is the social theory which helps to make his acts seem good instead of bad in his own and others' eyes, so that he won't hear reproaches and curses but will receive praise and honours.”

Today, nothing is hidden as far as Iraq goes. No WMDs, no peace, no security, and no law and order situation exist there. Even then, US president’s claim of 'achieving the goal of peace and democracy in Iraq' is highlighted n the western media.

The media has the ability to shape public opinion. Unfortunately, while the media’s audiences are enjoying timely stories, they also are receiving manipulated material by those who want to run the world in pursuit of their own aims and objectives. Is it Osama Bin Laden or George W. Bush? Their diametrically opposed statements create divisions among the people of different backgrounds and the statements issued by both of them are always highlighted in the media.

The media also plays an important role in creating awareness among the masses on different issues. In the last 50 years, the West has enjoyed control over most of the world through their media. The problem is that the East, especially its Third World nations, who are backward as far as technology is concerned, blindly follows the West. Now these nations are spending their resources to compete with the West in the field of communication. Even Russia, which never valued the English language, now has an English satellite TV channel.

In the last five years, many Third World countries have launched their satellite television channels. Al Jazeera (English) is an example and is considered a threat to western media channels. Many from other Islamic states are desperate to launch their satellite television stations as well.

The commercialised media of today can entertain the masses and simultaneously gain remarkable profits on the products it makes. Can the media create harmony among the different nations in the world? The major responsibility, in this regard, lies with the western media. Their journalists must be fair in filing their reports. In the last five years, especially after the 9/11 attacks the image of Islam has been tarnished by some people in the West. They wrongly interpret Islamic rules. This trend needs to be changed to create examples for our future generations. It’s time that the media started promoting free and fair journalism, delivering messages of tolerance, acceptance, harmony and peace to all and sundry, and without any kind of discrimination.