MEDIA IS generally known as the mirror of society. It is the forum where people are allowed to express their views, feelings and anger against anything that concerns world citizens. These days, blogs have become a popular medium for the people to express their views in public and are very well playing the role of an alternate media.

 

Blogging has become a way of life for all and sundry. People use it to express their views, tender their advice to the government or administration, accept or reject a government decision, forecast the future of a government or an economic policy, interpret the results of an election, participate in opinion polls, and reach out to world viewers.

 

It has also become a means to earn revenue, with various advertisement houses ready to pay for displaying their ads on the Internet, which has become a medium of entertainment and information for common man. On the other hand, there are various Internet sites that pay bloggers for publishing their blogs. So, bloggers can earn extra income through their freedom of expression.

 

Gone are the days when people would stick to their radio or television sets to apprise themselves of the latest happenings around the globe. Information & technology has opened the gateway to information gathering and dissemination. It has made it possible for people to become journalists themselves. The concept of citizen journalism is an outcome of the same. People can report from remote areas, which otherwise remain away from the eyes of the public or the general media. News that would have otherwise remained aloof reaches the world public through citizen journalists.

 

Through blogging, it has become easier to approach your favourite Hollywood or Bollywood stars, sports stars, favourite chefs, politicians and other renowned personalities. The platform of blogging brings together people of different caste, creed, religion, class or gender.

 

It is the forum where the freedom of expression reaches the height of pinnacle and people express themselves to the hilt. Blogging has become a platform to unite two warring factions. For example, people from India and Pakistan expressing their opinions on something that concerns both nations. It can help them feel the nerve of each other, help understand each other or, at times, add to the simmering tension when people start abusing each other on blogs.

 

However, peoples’ honeymoon with blogging will continue as long as it is away from censorship. While there are good aspects of blogging, people, of late, have been using it as a means to slander or abuse high profile personalities. The most recent such incident was reported in Indonesia, where a blogger was banned and fined for slander. Such blasphemous activities help in curtailing the freedom of expression. Therefore, people should refrain from indulging in such acts so that the freedom of expression is free from any restrictions, rather helps in educating and informing masses.

 

However, bloggers must practice self-imposed restrictions so that the freedom of expression breathes easily.