I am an ardent fan of 'The Hindu' newspaper. This newspaper beautifully brings out such public stupidity. I had once read an article on media abuse in the Sunday supplement. I would like to pen down my reflection upon the same.
When I woke up today morning and grabbed today's 'Magazine', (The Hindu's supplement newspaper on Sunday), with a steaming hot cup of filter coffee on my right hand and the newspaper on the other hand, I could learn that today happens to be the 50th anniversary of television in India. The whole television industry, both in terms of the electronic device called television and in terms of the television channels has grown far and wide, I should they both have been revolutionized.
We can say that it is a sign of development of our capabilities in Information Technology and Broadcasting. Thanks to the various dedicated satellites roaming around the earth for this purpose. In age old days, some 'LIVE' event had some excitement attached to it because of the fact that it was broadcasted as live. But, today, it is quite obvious that anything and everything is live. From cricket matches to terror attacks to accidents and what not, everything is 'LIVE'.
As a child, like most of the children, I hated this half an hour dedicated to news. The english and hindi news that appeared from 9:00p.m onwards. News were real irritants when you are watching your favourite movie or world cup matches or olympic games. On Sundays, there used to be the news for the dumb and deaf. I sometimes used to hear this news as I was curious about the signs or the wierd actions shown by the news interpreter. I even wanted to learn those 'wierd actions'.
Bandhs and hartals are the most common thing in Kerala. No other state would have been successful in witnessing these many number of them. As a student, an unexpected hartal or bandh was the best thing that could happen in life. Any news regarding an forthcoming harthal needed to be verified so that we can be sure of the forthcoming holiday as well!!. I remember my Dad and Mom saying, "Hey Ananth, listen to the news carefully. Just check whether they are saying anything about hartal or not". I used to listen keenly (that being the only instance when I took the news and the news reader seriously) and used to update my parents periodically. In case it was not convyed in the DD news, my dad used to tell Doctor mama ( our age old neighbour) or some other known 'uncle' to check the same in Asianet news as Asianet news was considered as 'faster' than DD news channels.
The faces of news readers were quite well-known and their styles familiar as they have been appearing on the small screen since many years. Now, I realize that they were some of the finest newsreaders ever produced in the world of journalism. The English teacher used to say, "Students, you must develop the habit of listening to the daily news for at least half an hour. Only then, you can improve your English". Yes, the student thinks and with the postive hope of improving his English, he listens to the most uninteresting thing in the world-The News. But, now I realize that yesteryears' news were not that uninteresting. Had I known this fact quite earlier in my life, I would have listened to DD news daily. Seriously, I swear that I would have done it.
This was history. Now, come to the year 2009. Switch on the television, out of 999, oh!sorry, 599, hmm...wait a minute, I think its 799 (sorry, I'm still confused!!!. I'll just check with the cable operator and let you know the number of channles available on my television) channels available, more than 50% are news channels, 30% are reality show channels, 15% are music channels, 4.5% are sports channels, 0.49% are spiritual channels, and rest 0.01% some other arbit channels. Most of the time, when we switch on the television, we have absolutely no idea what program to watch. Very few times it happens that we are tuning the television for our favourite program. Sometimes, too much choice and make your tastes numb.
We were talking about 'Breaking News'. No doubt, the number of news channels would be the maximum among all other channels. Every 'brand' of channel has its 'news' version as well. More than that, just have a look at the quality of news being read out or telecast. From latest affairs and 'bed stories' of bollywood stars to the length of Sania Mirza's skirt which had become a religious issue for the Muslim community to the commissioner's dog which went missing are all part of today's breaking news. Thanks to the multitude of news channels. At least, you can sit back and be rest assured that no news would be missed out. You just have to tune into the 'right channel'.
After the 26/11 Mumbai attack, the Supreme Court had moved an ordinance regarding the discipline of news channels. The news channels handled the situation in the worst possible manner. Day in and day out, the correspondents were there at the site detailing each and every minute movement of the terrorists and of the NSG commandos. They were even trying to get the inside information, which are supposed to be 'confidential'. It is said that there were terrorists group closely following the information being given by the news channels. Their job was made easy as the channels were spurting out each and every detail, following which they were planning their operation off the field.
There must be clear guidelines to the media from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regarding discipline to be observed while handling issues of national and international importance. As long as that is not in place, the media will behave on its will.
Recently, there was an incident of boat accident in Kerela. Again, the media did the same thing. The entire operation was shown 'LIVE' in news channels; right from rescuing the people trapped inside to removing the dead bodies form the boat, everything was telecasted with minute detail. It is said that a couple of old ladies passed away due to depression and heart attack after hearing the viewing the disheartening incidents. So, just imagine the intensity with which the news is conveyed. It can even take lives off your body.
Its high time that the media, both in print and on the mini-screen learnt some discipline.
2 comments:
it's isn't just with the media...they just try to increase their TRP...so what does that show,we are a nation growing in number of dimwits....
Yeah....the general public should learn to distinguish between sense and non-sense.
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