Trial by media
“Dog bites a man is not news” and its endless variants have been heard by us a for a long time in endless variations but what we are seeing now is effort by media to create news. And it is disturbing.
Trial by media is easily the most horrific outcome of the freedom of press. With ethics of reporting and code of conduct thrown out of the window it is a race to grab the story whatever the consequence. Is this responsible journalism? Okay sorry about that let me re-phrase, “Is it journalism?”
The recent headline grabbing case of murder in NCR region shows media out like a pack of piranha attacking a prey swimming in a sea of misfortune. So much so that even some of the news anchors got sick of the whole affair. When media hampers investigative work in name of journalism it is time for right thinking people to voice their concern.
Recall incidents from past few years like the murder of Pramod Mahajan or Rakhi Mikka show or Shilpa Gere swoon, or his son’s case of OD or Nandigram violence or baby “X” falling in a tube well or Harbhajan’s aussie outburts or Sanjay Dutt’s running legal wrangles (oh I think that last one is a class on of its own).
What is common is the media frenzy and viewers bein innundated with live show of non-progress every hour on hour round the clock. Many non-events are being built up in to event just so that viewership ratings are maintained. And what is even more worrisome is the increasing cresendo of such coverage.
While there is a sense of news to be propagated but this has to be with balanced reporting. It is not really about good news or bad news but it being news worthy at all.
I do hope that the media, especially the television, comes of age rather quickly. I can dare dream can’t I?
Technorati Tags: television, media, news
