Siddhant Sharma
Imagine yourself as a first-time viewer of a Bharatiya TV news debate. As the clock strikes 9 PM, the TV screen blares with sensational graphics, sasta special effects, upbeat background music, an excessively loud anchor, and a multitude of panellists, including politicians, self-proclaimed experts, sadhus, maulanas, and more, each shouting over the other, often resorting to abusive language. All of this continues for about an hour or more, leaving you to think, "What on earth did I just watch?"
For many of us, this is regular stuff. But does this mad display bring out anything meaningful? In most cases, it seems far from it. This is what primetime news has become, labelled as "Debate Journalism". Yet, to me, it appears to lack both the essence of a constructive debate and the ethics of journalism.
In addition to the noisy debates, you would find stories about aliens, bhoot-paret (ghosts), kaala jaadu (black magic), and more on Bharatiya TV news. Yes, there are some issues with newspapers and digital news platforms too, but they still seem light-years ahead of these TV channels in following the principles of journalism. Many reporters within these channels practice authentic journalism, but it appears that their bosses don’t learn anything from them.
I'm not here to bash these TV channels or lecture on ethical journalism. After all, who am I to do that? A journalist? No. I merely analyse news and provide my perspective on a story. However, what I am is YOU. We are the consumers, and it is for us that these channels run such a circus. It is only we who can put an end to this sensationalism, or else, be happy with the jokers. In the words of disputably Great Arnab Goswami, I would only say, "Inhone mazak bana kar rakha hai khabron ka, news channelon ka. In channelon ka bahishkaar kijiye, bahishkaar hi inka ilaaj hai doston. Aaiye aur inka pakka ilaaj kariye" [They have made a mockery of the news channels. Boycott these channels, boycott is the solution, friends. Come and make the permanent solution for them].
Hritam Saha
In these tumultuous times of journalism, we have always endeavored to remain neutral, notwithstanding our surrounding circumstances sometimes may have unconsciously or consciously cajoled us to be otherwise.
Birthdays are celebrated of those entities who are famous/infamous. We, however, concede that our reach and viewership have been and continue to be, in our view, unnecessarily low.
One needs a banner to establish or reach out to a larger audience and undoubtedly, many do have the banner, but the heart of journalism has been subjected to misuse by them or the same has been used by them with an agenda.
The agencies may be said to have forgotten that they are the agencies of the people of this country but not of their political masters. It may be said that documentaries/news averse to the respect of our country have been published/aired by media houses, however, we ask the question does such publication/airing justify the use of State power for cowing down such publication/airing?
The above paragraphs may not be taken as a mere expression of critical views of our Godi Media, instead, we expect that we as a country and more than a country as conscious citizens of this country, will not shy away from appreciating the deeds and ultimately if concluded so, condemn the same even though such condemnor may get termed as anti-national.
It is true and has also stood the test of time that when and where the executive fails and even the courts suffer by maintaining undignified silence, the journalists rise in strength and power. The Emergency can be said to be the best witness of the same. Speaking for myself, I can say that today journalists may be doing their jobs but are failing in their conscience and duty. The call to report the facts, requires not merely courage but integrity. A dishonest but courageous journalist is more dangerous than a less courageous journalist. Hence we will not call for courageous journalism but journalism of integrity.
Ohhh! I forgot to say Happy Birthday The Drain.
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