Media Trial & Its Effects On Society

Ravindra Singh, Ph.D. Research Scholar, Faculty of Law, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT

Media is regarded as one of the main important pillars of Indian democracy

after executive, judiciary & legislature. The Media plays the very noteworthy

role in making the perception of the society. Media houses can change the

whole perspective through which the persons perceive various events.

Normally, the phrase “Media trial” is used to define a procedure in which the

media platforms undertakes its own inquires or investigations & makes a

public opinion with respect to the accused individual before the legal trial

even begins in court. This process through media houses distorts the fairness

of trial for the accused. Media trial is described as impact of television &

newspaper reportage on the person's image through forming the broad

perception of the guilt or the innocence earlier, or after, the decision in the

court. In current periods, media has emerged as 'public court' which can be

termed as 'janta adalat' & has started intervening in court proceedings up to

extent that it media delivers its own opinion before the judicial process.

The objective of this particular research study is to make analysis on media trial through different case law & examples. This research paper provides the analysis that how the media trials impacts the society at large and how it can impact a person’s reputation and image. Through this paper an in-depth analysis has been formed that what are the negative & positive effects of media trial on the society.

Keywords: Media trial, role of media, society, freedom of speech & expression, fair trial