Today the newsmakers both on TV and print media have created despondency and cynicism about our country..They believe that 'bad' news makes good news. One is made to believe that there is nothing- not even a iota of good or anything right in the country. It is true that they assume it is their duty and freedom of expression that they must dish out what the listeners and readers want to see.,bout hear and read. Perhaps they are making a serious error of judgment.
The main news is something sensational like some scandal or "scoop" about some big politician and what a whistleblower says or on some sting operation. Quite often these news require further investigation or to balance, the other side of the story. The main aim is to be "first with the news" especially on the TV news channels with sometime incomplete information or half truths. The inner pages on local news are usually devoted to local failures of the local bodies or stories of rape and murders and suicides! If it is proved that the story was a wrong or only half true, the damage has been done and no editors seldo0m accept their mistake but will reply " We stand by our story".
The editorials are seldom balanced studied reports on any issue that is in the main news. One sided reports on many key issues is dished out as news. For example, corruption is no doubt a big problem. Big fishes are targeted as that creates better news than how one should tackle the day to day corrupt practices that face the common man. There is no attempt at trying to suggest how systemic changes and clear guideline can help the common man to get his permissions without a bribe. Sometimes, even honest people who have no time will resort to pay a bribe to get their job done. Law breaking on the roads is perfected as an art and bribing to escape punishment and to save time is seen as a a easy way out.
At the heart of the problem of corruption and law breaking for the average man as well as the big politician is self interest and selfishness. The need to break the rules of the road to get ahead of others is a simple example.of how one breaks the law as he doesnt get caught! Does this sound too simplistic? Yes. But it is true. Otherwise why should a politician or bureaucrat feel using his power and position to make money or gain for himself as being more important than be a responsible servant of the people whom he is supposed to serve. This seems to be the general attitude but there are certainly exceptions to this rule. But who writes or hears about these honest instances. It doesnt come to be defined as news to be written about.
We need a complete change in the dissemination of news. We first need truthful and correct news and a balanced views both for and against. Just creating or publishing hysterical, sensational news or pictures does not help one to know what was the right thing to be done. Mr Kejriwal has unfortnately converted his movement no longer as a fight against corruption but only against corrupt people of selected persons to get maximum coverage of the media. In most cases he is the complainant, judge and jury all put together. He definitely has shown a bias in making charges only against select people.. Instead,as a politician with a difference, he should demonstrate how he can be independent and strategise on measures to be taken to stop corruption.. This will involve some detailed studies on our present procedures and a complete systemic change where the law and guidelines are clear to enable one to get a just treatment of one's application. Corruption is not just with the high and mighty but even small officers. clerks peons or policemen take bribes on a daily basis.This is far more prevalent and serious where a small person has to pay a cut of 10% to get his pension. It is so deeply entrenched in our systems that with discretionary powers or by taking a bribe sanctions can be obtained against the rules and laws. But this doesnt make news. There could be small minority %age of officers who are honest and do not take bribes but we never hear about them.
The biggest source of black money is within India. To avoid high local taxes, people prefer not to take a bill for payments made. Or donations are made in cash to spurious or even established religious centres without any receipt. And curiously big noise made by such institutions gets maximum attention from the media. I dare any newspaper to expose such activities.
To solve such ills is not easy or quickly remedial but unless any political party makes a beginning, nothing can be achieved, We do have parties who claim to be honest and talk of the interests of the "poor" but such regional parties do not have any clear or studied strategy but are trying cheap tactics which will get exposed if the very same poor do not see and improvement in their lot. But the purpose of this blog is to highlight the role of the media to serve the cause of justice in their dissemination of news correctly and truthfully.
The main news is something sensational like some scandal or "scoop" about some big politician and what a whistleblower says or on some sting operation. Quite often these news require further investigation or to balance, the other side of the story. The main aim is to be "first with the news" especially on the TV news channels with sometime incomplete information or half truths. The inner pages on local news are usually devoted to local failures of the local bodies or stories of rape and murders and suicides! If it is proved that the story was a wrong or only half true, the damage has been done and no editors seldo0m accept their mistake but will reply " We stand by our story".
The editorials are seldom balanced studied reports on any issue that is in the main news. One sided reports on many key issues is dished out as news. For example, corruption is no doubt a big problem. Big fishes are targeted as that creates better news than how one should tackle the day to day corrupt practices that face the common man. There is no attempt at trying to suggest how systemic changes and clear guideline can help the common man to get his permissions without a bribe. Sometimes, even honest people who have no time will resort to pay a bribe to get their job done. Law breaking on the roads is perfected as an art and bribing to escape punishment and to save time is seen as a a easy way out.
At the heart of the problem of corruption and law breaking for the average man as well as the big politician is self interest and selfishness. The need to break the rules of the road to get ahead of others is a simple example.of how one breaks the law as he doesnt get caught! Does this sound too simplistic? Yes. But it is true. Otherwise why should a politician or bureaucrat feel using his power and position to make money or gain for himself as being more important than be a responsible servant of the people whom he is supposed to serve. This seems to be the general attitude but there are certainly exceptions to this rule. But who writes or hears about these honest instances. It doesnt come to be defined as news to be written about.
We need a complete change in the dissemination of news. We first need truthful and correct news and a balanced views both for and against. Just creating or publishing hysterical, sensational news or pictures does not help one to know what was the right thing to be done. Mr Kejriwal has unfortnately converted his movement no longer as a fight against corruption but only against corrupt people of selected persons to get maximum coverage of the media. In most cases he is the complainant, judge and jury all put together. He definitely has shown a bias in making charges only against select people.. Instead,as a politician with a difference, he should demonstrate how he can be independent and strategise on measures to be taken to stop corruption.. This will involve some detailed studies on our present procedures and a complete systemic change where the law and guidelines are clear to enable one to get a just treatment of one's application. Corruption is not just with the high and mighty but even small officers. clerks peons or policemen take bribes on a daily basis.This is far more prevalent and serious where a small person has to pay a cut of 10% to get his pension. It is so deeply entrenched in our systems that with discretionary powers or by taking a bribe sanctions can be obtained against the rules and laws. But this doesnt make news. There could be small minority %age of officers who are honest and do not take bribes but we never hear about them.
The biggest source of black money is within India. To avoid high local taxes, people prefer not to take a bill for payments made. Or donations are made in cash to spurious or even established religious centres without any receipt. And curiously big noise made by such institutions gets maximum attention from the media. I dare any newspaper to expose such activities.
To solve such ills is not easy or quickly remedial but unless any political party makes a beginning, nothing can be achieved, We do have parties who claim to be honest and talk of the interests of the "poor" but such regional parties do not have any clear or studied strategy but are trying cheap tactics which will get exposed if the very same poor do not see and improvement in their lot. But the purpose of this blog is to highlight the role of the media to serve the cause of justice in their dissemination of news correctly and truthfully.
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