Media bashing; favourite pastime of critics

By Sandeep Datta

Media seems to be the favourite talking point nowadays with hate mails being the latest outlet to express displeasure. One wonders if the critics can be taken for their word, considering their penchant for jingoism and bhaigiri.

TO DISCUSS what’s going wrong with the media and country has turned a favourite topic with a lot of individuals these days. It delights many people to be blatantly critical on just about anything, without much thought.

Perhaps, after Bollywood blockbuster ‘Rang De Basanti’ things have revolutionised at least in the metropolitan cities. But not everything said appears in a good taste.

Recently, a letter with a heading "Shame on Media" was widely circulated through emails and posted on public platforms. The letter pointed fingers on media’s intelligence to show irrelevant contents instead of the ’real’ issues.

Since it explicitly generalized media’s role, I felt tempted to separate some wheat from the chaff. Without encouraging the inflammatory language or jingoism usually seen on a few television channels, I take a strong objection to an uninformed criticism of the entire media.

Many newly-hatched chickens called "awaken youngsters" need to have some insight before they write just anything on public platforms.

Everyday, there is a new expectation from the media. It appears justified at times and many of us take it as a compliment to our role than a bane. And, we take pride at being the deliverer for the society. But none of us is infallible is also a fact.

Article 19 of the Indian constitution states that "all citizens shall have the right ..to freedom of speech and expression." Media derives its power from the same right available to everyone.

But not many people know what it takes to deliver results in the business of news and views. Surely, it requires a lot more of energy and intelligence than generally witnessed at some tea stall or inside a beer bar during heated debates.

Why does media report or telecast any issue despite its least value from journalistic sense? The answer is: to survive for reporting truth and also suffice the ’public demand’. The latter is largely influenced by "WHAT SELLS". One may not find some absolutely irrelevant content appearing in daily newspapers at large, except in tabloids that survive only on yellow journalism.

Ask anyone about Gandhi, it is likely he or she may utter two to five sentences about the Father of the Nation. Ask about Nehru, may be one sentence.

But ask the same person about Bhagat Singh, Chadrashekha, Rajguru, Kudi Ram Bose (the youngest person to be hanged in 1911 for his involvement in the Bhagalpur bomb case). It’s most likely not many may claim to know even a sentence about them.

A small survey around anyone’s native place can show how many so-called educated people can spell the full name of President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam.

Ask anyone how many people are willing to visit Siachin, Thar Desert, remote villages, naxalite-affected areas or even war zones with a paper and pen? And, that too when they have no full proof life insurance for covering news in such zones for news? But we do it.

Ever thought about how much risk of life media men take to organise hidden camera exclusives for the public and to awaken the sleeping government? Do you think we don’t get threatening calls to our kids or families?

Ask anyone if they’ve ever heard of Vikram Singh Bisht of Asian News International (ANI) who died taking pictures of terrorists during 2001 Parliament Attack Case. Ever heard of any tribute for him?

Ever thought about the cost media men have to pay to "expose" a big fish? I hope you have read about the recently exposed senior advocate threatening to sue NDTV with rupees 50 crores for defamation? Tehelka journalist Tarun Tejpal’s struggle to survive after his first expose against NDA government is a common knowledge. Many people say even the last spoon or piece of office furniture was questioned for its bill.

How many people think about what happens when a big crime is exposed or any idiotic revelry or religious processions on roads are questioned? Have you ever thought why do very educated or informed people join the media despite minimal financial rewards than even any marketing guy?

But we still question the top shots irrespective of their status or power to explain their actions before public. And, we do it at our peril.

When people are sleeping or celebrating festivals or National Holidays or go into hiding after few bomb blasts, it is the media men who are on their 24x7 job along with fire brigade personnel or security men.

Media lends support to the helpless, needy and the battered souls. We are that PUBLIC VOICE which a common man flutters to speak before any cop.

Risking one’s life carrying a notebook and pen is certainly a craziness that every journo has to live with every time he or she is on the job.

A developing country like ours should take pride in the fact that it has an upcoming breed of journalists, which wants to empower the common man on the road. Citizen journalism is its latest example.

Otherwise, who cares if a sister, mother or a daughter is raped or killed in public, who cares if the brutal incidents like Nithari child killings are suppressed or who cares when reservation issues or cases like Jessica Lall or Priyadarshini Mattoo murder cases are influenced by powerful people?

It is also true that some media organisations have much room to improve for their reporting and news content.

But again it is the MEDIA power that crushes the most powerful and makes them kneel down, irrespective of any individual’s might to retaliate with force?

But the main question of the letter remained: "Why do media give so much importance to news stories like Sanjay Dutt’s hearings in TADA court in place of reporting the death of a military officer?

The reply: Because most of the public likes switching over to Bollywood item girls Mallika Sherawat or Rakhi Sawant shows just when news about a rehabilitation camp or Army’s rescue operation is telecasted.

Otherwise, ask anyone how many people around you watch the Republic Day parade? How many of you listen to the Presidential address before Independence Day despite its significance?

Surely, most of us prefer fooling around like monkeys or buying popcorns for the latest girl friend or clicking pictures keeping India Gate at the ’background, even if it happens to be the Martyrs’ Day!