The Media in India – judges itself by ideals and only others by their acts!!!

The unbridled ventilating and sickening catch phrases on television news channels and print media, is really a matter of concern. I had referred to this earlier too in this forum. Decades ago we had Ms. Amita Malik reviewing television in print media. These days print media carry commentaries only on the soaps. I suspect there are vested interests in many television news channels. Of course a few have a say both on air and in print affording cross promotion!

As one of the pillars of democracy, most sections of our media are irresponsible and throw probity to winds to catch eye balls/readership and improve bottom lines all around. Is rampant competition also playing spoilsport?

Till today I am unaware who this ‘our sources’ or in many instances what is/are the interests of ‘our sources’ in leaking ‘info’ to the media. Simply, are the ‘our sources’ being paid to leak news. If so, is it par for the course?

Reporters should only report events. Tickers should only display events. Interpretations should be left to the public and analysts. News editors should not consider themselves any better in interpreting events, than the person next door. Else the public will be swayed by wrong interpretations. And when it is the turn of spokespersons and ‘experts’ to interpret and comment they are invariably drawn into discussing personalities and the subject is given the skip. What a tragedy in a vibrant democracy!!!

The motto “Service before Self” for the success of a democracy is observed by the pillars of Indian democracy , including the media, only in its violation by placing self before service.

Come on Indian media show some maturity and class, and not crass, in reporting.

Values vs Methods

The demeanor of Army Chief Gen VK Singh, in his forced interaction with the media is passable. There was no unwanted hype or bravado.  It was all plain speak. I would think the Tiwaris and Prasads from the political firmament have a thing or two to learn from this.

The General talked about institutions, procedures, appointments and responsibilities. He did not attack personalities as is the wont with omnipresent spokespersons of political parties – all shit and no bull. It was obvious, the way the General spoke that he was meaning business – no quarters given and no quarters taken. He is bound to follow his words with action. There is some recovery job to be done by the defence forces.

As citizens of India we have to think beyond ‘Adrash’ – in all manners. The underlying malaise of ‘what is in it for me’ type of corruption in the legislature, executive, judiciary (?) and the media (?) is pulling down our Nation. A collective failure of these pillars of democracy will pave the way for a revolution of the French type. Some of us may wonder whether such a revolution can take place in the twenty-first century and that too in a country as large as India. I feel yes; there can be a large scale revolution after the core values handed down traditionally; the methods could be different from traditional revolutions.

All great events which repeat in the course of time, reflect the vibrancy of the age and bears the imprint of those who perpetrate change.  Over ages, perceptions and approach to events change.  The core values and permanent truths never change. The problem today is of reconciliation of democracy and the Indian polity in a world growing smaller by the day. No more can we insulate India from rest of the world; especially as the largest and yet divergent democracy ever.

In these times in India, there seem to be two obsessions - Pak terror and scams. Pak terror is a dead horse; instead of flogging it let us get another one - handle it in our own forceful ways – (executing convicted terrorist Afzal Guru is one of them). The other is we live from one scam to another giving credence to the contention, that there are quite a few in the cupboard and each one is taken out to eclipse the previous one – like ‘Adarsh’ scam eclipses CWG scam (in scope of complicity rather than size). Corruption is now so deep rooted that we do not know the depth of complicity.

It is time we reconstruct our known value systems and adapt our methods to hold that up. 

We once again expect our defence forces to lead the way.

We the people of India, at our individual levels also, have to act to bring about this change.