Emergency in Pakistan and the curbs on free press brought back memories of Emergency that we in India suffered about 3 decades ago. I was a child then but I can still recollect some incidents. We only had Doordarshan for news back then. It was the propaganda outlet of the ruling party. There was little to look forward to as far as news and current affairs coverage was concerned. Sanjay Gandhi’s 5 point programme and Indira Gandhi’s 20 point programme were the main issues. The comedy scenes were- D.K Barua the Congress President announcing” India is Indira and Indira is India”. Bhajan Lal the Chief Minister from the land of Ayaram and Gayaram(Haryana) shifting loyalities from Janata Party to Congress along with the whole cabinet was a sight a remember.
In the 24-hour news channels era, this is unimaginable. Now you can get the latest update on the suicide bombings at lunch, about Kareena’s new love interest during the afternoon tea and by the evening which politician is the latest to be accused of a criminal activity. Disaster sells. Feel-good, ‘positive’ news stories about grandmothers being helped across streets look fake and planted, and bombings, kidnappings and similar tales dripping with blood and brutality keep viewers glued to their seats.This might sound a slightly cynical way of looking at things, but that’s the way it is.
Satellite channels have mushroomed and the state’s monopoly over the flow of information is broken forever. Today we have a host of channels that devote all or part of their schedule to news and current affairs coverage broadcasting in Hindi, English and regional languages. In stark contrast to the good old, sanitised Doordarshan the electronic media is awash with images of blood and gore. Unfortunately, this time we don’t have to go to our correspondent in Baghdad or Kabul, for the ‘war’ has come nearer to our homes. Today our man in Bombay, Delhi and Kolkata gives us the bloody rundown of the latest incient at Nandigram, or the suicide bombing at Ajmer or Akshardham. Thanks to the 24-hour news channel format pioneered by the people at CNN International and BBC World, you can get the latest update anytime of the day.
All this is great news- unadulterated information. What bothers me is- are there any voices of sanity reminding the broadcasters that there should be a limit when it comes to showing gory content? Censorship is a nasty word and no one wants to be told what to show and what not to show but certain broadcasting standards should be sacrosanct.The truth must be told. But viewers sensitivity should be kept in mind? What is responsible journalism and what is pure sensationalism a journalist should know? Hindi channels are being more sensational than the English language TV channels. ‘Headlines Today’ and ‘Aaj Tak’ are from the ‘India Today’ group but the difference in content is apparent. The only Hindi Channel that I feel is as good as its English counterpart is NDTV India which is the Hindi version of NDTV 24×7. Political affiliation and bias also creeps into the channels’ editorial policy. No one is free from bias. Even the western networks are biased in one way or the other. Perhaps it’s the way you wear your bias that sets you apart.
This age of glasnost in the media is welcome. I hope the saner elements among the Hindi channels will work out a code of ethics amongst themselves and adhere to the principles of responsible journalism. Others will continue to engage in sensationalism and comment on the latest suicide attacks as if they were discussing a Bollywood awards function. Considering that Fox News has survived for all these years along with BBC, I guess sensationalism is here to stay.
from Vishesh :)
from Reema :)
5 Comments
November 10, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Thats the tiny little problem with free market, isn’t it? What’s in demand is what gets made, and more often than not the masses end up having what they want, not what they need. I personally am waiting with bated breath since years for an Indian version of c-span. Till then I am off the TV.
You are saving so much of your precious time Anshul by being off the TV.
November 11, 2007 at 3:37 am
hmmm grt post Prerna…
This is the need of the hour..to curb sensationalism and to be more accountable vigilant media.The content level is also degrading..
from past two days…Which movie is better is the prime focus of news channels..Giving free publicity and unnecessary attention to the both bollywood movies..
Lets hope for a better media..
Thanks Nitin. I am not sure if it is free publicity for the films. May be the channels are paid for it………
November 11, 2007 at 6:59 am
Anshul,
“Thats the tiny little problem with free market, isn’t it? What’s in demand is what gets made, and more often than not the masses end up having what they want, not what they need. ”
Well, who decides what ‘they’ need and what ‘they’ want? If there are enough numbers of discerning viewers (and there surely are) the market would supply content for them, too. Look around….Moreover, in more advanced societies, the media character is mixed, with trashy ones vying with polished ones for the viewership/readership.
Prerna,
Bad news also looks artificial: women have been goadedby lensmen to strip naked to register their protest against something or the other, so that it becomes a good story.
You are right rambodoc. Bad news can be artificial too.
November 11, 2007 at 7:43 am
‘Headlines Today’ and ‘Aaj Tak’ were very bad last week.. It was too much.. but I guess they got max audience(Lost market covered!).. hmmm there were too many ads too.
Aaj Tak has never impressed me. Their viewership is one of the highest among the Indian channels which proves that there is a big market for sensationalism.
November 11, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Satellite channels in Pakistan might be Musharrafs baby but they earned their freedom, even today in the state of emergency channels like GEO, AJJ, DAWN NEWS & ARY are fighting for the basic rights that the countrys law provides them.
Now the question arises that what kind of censorship policy should adopted when it comes to country’s interest?I believe that the public is gettign mature day by day. they knwo which channel is providig em the truth and which one is over sensetionalzing the reality.
Sensationalism sells Ammar. Reality can never be that interesting. It is good that satellite channels are playing thier role in the present crisis. The online Pakistani newspapers are also writing fearlessly. It must be giving some hope to the general public.