Not just ‘Breaking News’, destroying it completely!

Finally, after a long time I am here again. This time I intend to be right on the point from line 1 (oops 2 I mean :P)

In between there have been lots of news items and loads of News channels to cover them, which makes me wonder if there is anything that is not coming on news channels these days... I therefore call upon the entire media industry (print, broadcast, radio, and other electronic media) to give me at least one valid reason why we need 24 hr news channel?

For the kind of ”news” and the content these news channel shows have, I have come to a conclusion that journalism in India these days is only about TRP and sales (in case of print media). Therefore, news channels are the last thing I can trust on anything. News reporters are dimwitted people who prompt many more to follow their footsteps. Everyone is so eager to give that first ‘breaking news’ that nobody bothers to verify it.

Sample some of the following and let me know if you agree with me or not:

1. Take the latest events – the trust vote – every news channels was showing stats of MPs in favor of govt., oppose to govt., not-decided. These stats are not different on different news channels. Some questions come to mind while watching all this

– How do they know these numbers?

– How are they updating the numbers? Sure, there were some announcements by parties regarding whom are they supporting, but still that doesn’t add up to what is shown on the TV!

– How do they know what is current rates to make an MP switch side or abstain from voting?

– Even if we accept that they have this information, why did not they report this matter to the Speaker or the President? Is this not ignoring the wrong despite knowing it?

The changing side of MPs for money is not merely a case of bribery, it is a lot more serious matter. These people and their families should be banned for life from entering politics and contesting in elections. If bribery charges are proved against political parties, media should also face corruption charges.

2. Arushi murder case – All news channels telecast comments from anyone without verification of facts. Why is it then only Noida Police is blamed for maligning the reputation of the little child?

3. I personally believe that at least India TV should be banned for its sheer stupidity, blatant violation of rules and regulations, and for maligning the reputation of people. Earlier it had all the harmless crap like marriage ceremony of owls, donkeys, birds etc. But, off late what it is doing is way too much to ignore – Sample some excerpts from their coverage on Arushi murder case –

1. Pointing to a GSM tower India TV journalists says -‘Yeh woh tower hai jo jaanta hai ki raat ko XYZ baje kisne kisko call kiya. Is tower ko sab pata hai’ huh!!!
2. Some random news claimed that Arushi’s mobile is found in broken state. The studio reporters bring stones of 4kg, 6kg, 10 kg etc. to demonstrate how much effort it takes to break a cell phone!!
3. When earlier reports in the case claimed some special ‘relationship’ between Arushi and Hemraj, India TV came out with and MMS of a girl stripping in front of a man and claimed that this video is of Arushi and Hemraj. It turned out that this was a fake video. Not only did this outrageous news-reporting have tarnish the image of a child who is dead, they made conditions worse for the girl who was recorded in that MMS.

4. Amir Khan’s dog-blog, AB Sr.’s random ramblings, nakhre of actresses – Isn’t such stuff supposed to be part of Entertainment News (E! News) on Zoom? What is it doing on Aaj Tak and Zee News! Even if some actor said something, why are you news guys acting as loud speakers for them?

5. Telecast and re-telecast of Copy-edit-Paste editions of standup comedians from all entertainment channels. Shekhar Suman hosting Poll Khol was decent, but what is Gajodhar sankat mein doing on a so called ‘national channel’?

6. Finally, news on Khali – completely useless. “The greatest warrior”, “the ultimate man”, “the greatest sportsman ever born in India” - are some of the lines quoted from these 24 hour news channels and their special coverage of Khali. Now which of these lines are true? & how on earth is it my concern what he eats?

Media becoming a circus cannot be accepted, especially when media claims to be speaker on behalf of public.

I don’t intend to merely point out a problem- I have a solution for it. I personally think that “24 hr news channel” is a totally useless concept. There is not so much news 24 X 7 to feed it. But I do believe that there are some talented and capable reporters in the media. And it will be more sensible to have 2-3 hours of news on the TV, which is collated, researched and verified by sensible reporters.

There is no point of having a joker blaring out of the idiot box – “Chain se sona hai to jaago”, post khatam hua, ab bhaago!