Social justice is essential in the maintenance of a productive society. In fact, lack thereof compromises the quality of interaction among community members, and this could result in unruliness. With this in mind, it is worth appreciating the fact that the media plays a tremendous role in promoting social justice around the globe. This situation is largely accredited to the fact that the information conveyed through different media platforms enhances people’s understanding of social justice and the problems faced in various sections of the world (Agboka 38). As such, people appreciate their role in the betterment of other people’s lives, and this creates peace and productive association. Additionally, the parties tasked with the responsibilities of maintaining social justice can be evaluated through the feedback generated by the media. This platform enhances their overall accountability as they feel obliged to fulfill their goals by eliminating the issues that compromise social justice. This paper evaluates the relationship between the media and social justice issues. It provides a rationale for the role of the former in facilitating the success of the latter. For a fact, the media enhances the neutralization of social injustices across the globe thereby promoting the development of peace.
The media creates enlightenment on the existence of social injustices around the world. According to Girald et al. (27), the media platform has an indispensable role in ensuring the public is aware of the threats posed to their survival. As such, it has a constructive impact on the development of a peaceful community. For instance, the issue of human trafficking in Bolivia had risen by over 900 percent in the last decade (PCI Media Impact 3). The development of this social injustice had resulted in the death of many immigrants due to the adverse conditions they are exposed to during the trafficking process. Nevertheless, the media played a significant role in spotlighting this issue and creating humanitarian concern on its abolition. The PCI media impact mentions that a radio drama station, La Caldera, explained the touching stories of the human trafficking victims to the public. With this action, they enhanced people’s concern over the rising troubles created through human trafficking. Consequently, one is justified to claim that the media creates enlightenment on the existence of social injustices across the globe.
The media creates an influential educational platform for people to learn how to combat social injustices. Because the advancement in technology has fostered the development of prominent forms of communication, the impact of the media in educating people is immense. For instance, gender biased violence and conflicts related to sexuality have been experienced in many sections of the globe (Zarsky 154). The development of these challenges enhances the violation of the fundamental human rights as women are discriminated against due to their sex. The plight of the girl child is highly experienced in nations such as Columbia. Nonetheless, the media has made a great contribution to the betterment of this situation. For instance, a radio program, Voices of Justice, aided in the portrayal of females as men’s equals in Columbia (PCI Media Impact 2). It addressed the issue of forced displacement among women and provided influential approaches to deal with this matter. As such, it created an excellent learning platform for the Columbian citizens thereby minimizing the adverse impacts of gender discrimination. As such, the role played by the media in educating individuals on influential measures of combating gender violence is undisputed.
The media creates a communication platform, where the oppressed people can speak about the social injustices they have endured. Since minority groups feel threatened when they reveal the encounters they are compelled to endure, the media is an indispensable tool that can be utilized in creating a voice for this individuals. According to PCI Media Impact (3), Liberia experienced civil wars, and the aftermath of the conflicts resulted in the sexual molestation of between 70% and 92% women in the nation. The trauma created by the nature of this event would most likely lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. As such, sharing one’s experiences on the media would most definitely yield positive results on the recovery of another individual. In 2012, a media campaign was started in Liberia to minimize the instances of sexual abuse and rape among women. This event was made possible through the testimonies shared by the victims and music videos created to appeal to the public. Consequently, the media platform aided in the minimization of social injustices by creating a communication platform, where the affected could share their experiences and participate in campaigns aimed at reducing this problem. Therefore, the media aids in the reduction of social injustices within the globe.
The media informs the public of the initiatives implemented by humanitarian groups in the promotion of social justice. According to Harlow (230), the United Nations development goals are outlined in print media and the television. Additionally, the radio is an essential platform where the personnel at these organization can give their remarks about the policies they have initiated to foster the promotion of social justice. The public’s awareness in the development of societal peace is immense. Specifically, there is a need to inform the public of what measures need to be taken before initiating social policies. As such, the media is an intermediary that facilitates the delivery of humanitarian initiatives to the public. Moreover, it enhances the participation of the public in ensuring the success of the proposed projects. Consequently, one is justified to claim that the role of the media is immense in the promotion of social justice. This notion is largely accredited to the fact that humanitarian groups can communicate the nature of their plans to the public through different media platforms.
In conclusion, the relationship between the press and social justice issues is undisputed. Owing to the fact that global affairs need to be addressed promptly, the media minimizes the communication period across different sections in the globe. Additionally, it creates enlightenment on the nature of social injustices people are exposed to in different parts of the world. Through this aspect, it heightens the possibilities of the public to engage in productive measures aimed at minimizing social injustices within the globe. The media provides an educational platform where the public is made aware of their role in disputing the development of social injustices. Precisely, it creates a learning platform for a large section of the globe through different forms of media communication. It also outlines the initiatives made by various humanitarian groups to combat the development of social injustices. Through this provision, it is easier for the public and the responsible parties to avert the development of social injustice through the promotion of peace. Consequently, the role of the media in upholding social justice is immeasurable.
Works cited
Agboka, Godwin Y. "Participatory localization: A social justice approach to navigating unenfranchised/disenfranchised cultural sites." Technical Communication Quarterly 22.1 (2013): 28-49.
Girald, Bruce et al. "Why Global Internet Governance Must Matter To Social Justice Activists". Media Development 4.1 (2014): 24-28. Print.
Harlow, Summer. "Social media and social movements: Facebook and an online Guatemalan justice movement that moved offline." New Media & Society 14.2 (2012): 225-243.
PCI media impact. "Telling Stories. Fighting For Justice". Media for Social Justice (2016): 1-4. Print.
Zarsky, Tal Z. "Social Justice, Social Norms and the Governance of Social Media." Pace L. Rev. 35 (2014): 154.
