Assertion (A): Content of Indian media is determined by the needs of the audiences.
Reason (R): Media research helps to determine the information needs of the people.
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(C) (A) is true but (R) is false
(D) (A) is false but (R) is true
Correct Ans: (D)
Explanation:
The assertion (A) claims that audience needs determine the content of Indian media. However, this statement oversimplifies the reality. Various factors, such as commercial goals, political motives, and advertiser priorities, significantly shape Indian media content. Although audiences influence programming, their needs do not always take precedence.
The reason (R) states that media research identifies the information needs of people. This statement accurately reflects the purpose of audience surveys, ratings analyses, and other research methods. Media organizations use these insights to design programming and editorial strategies. However, these strategies often prioritize commercial interests over purely addressing audience needs.
Although (R) highlights the role of research in understanding public preferences, it does not fully justify (A). Media houses often prioritize other forces over audience needs despite conducting research. Therefore, the correct answer remains (D).