“Non-issues” often get prominence while “real issues” get ignored in the media but persuasion rather than coercion is the method which new Chairman of Press Council India and the former Supreme Court Justice, Markandey Katju, would favour.
“Poverty and unemployment are major issues facing the country. And not that the wife of some film actor has got pregnant. But these days, it makes big news,” Justice Katju said as he joined his new office here.
“What problem of the nation would be solved by publishing an item on whether a film actor's wife gives birth to a single child or twins? But this gets displayed prominently on the front page,” he said.
“If you consider yourself as those serving the public, then you should address the problems facing the public,” Justice Katju said. On his new role , he said he would prefer persuasion to coercion.
“I was going through papers and it has been suggested by some that there should be provisions like fines and cancellation of licences but I am not in favour of such methods,” he said. — PTI
Keywords: Markandey Katju, Press Council India, media coverage
The well being of the nation & Indian society seems to figure only in the thinking of very few today . Least of all in the Indian media . Large sections of the Indian media is culpable in this rot that has set upon this country . Yes, its true we become all that we eat. Equally, we become all that we read. If persistent, vacuous and unsophisticated gossip floods our intellects then, by natural progression, we decline into an intellectual abyss, bereft of questioning and thought-provoking ability . After a time such mental processes as thinking & questioning demand too much concentration from an audience completely dumbed-down, & whose minds have 'switch off'. This is exactly what the Indian media has done to Indian society .Where once upon a time media had been a catalyst to development and awareness , today it is fuelling the internal decay by focussing more on non-issues, twisting facts, indulging in paid-news and joining in the race for wealth accumulation by any means.
Besides all my gripes against the media, I am amazed at the inability of media people to take criticism. See the strong aggressive reactions from a senior journalist who was implicated in the Radia takes. The same journalist came through the Kargil controversy surrounding her without giving the controversy a decent burial. All the media "mood-swings" in the Ayushi murder case.....no repentance.
Somehow the media feels saying "I was wrong" is just too deflating to their ego. Sometimes we need to be woken up. I invited a journalist in one of my previous companies to promote our product. At the end of the meeting, I appreciate his frankness "Boss, your product has nothing of public interest, I wont be writing anything on it" Certain news may not be of public interest but media is duty bound to report. What is happening in the North East....who cares ? who reports ? Something similar to the rural compulsions in banks and telcos.
I want simply news .... in a newspaper or a news channel. TV Channels and Newspapers are disconnecting with the readers/viewers. But what happens is that they impose their views / their moralities on their subscribers. When there is a cricket series going on....there is simply no other news available. When there is an incident and the channels dont have sufficient footage they keep repeating the same footage over and over again. The viewer is given the impression that they are watching it live....till they see the clip again.
How can newspapers afford to waste 4/5 pages on rubbish colorful tabloid news of bollywood trasherrati ? Escort services call XXXXXXXXXX. Young girls and foreignors !! All this so that working members of families are pressured to buy products by the non earning members who have the time to read all the pages of junk and see the channels are putting.
Very true. The media very often highlights what is sensational and leaves out things are dangerous and important. It is a mystery that in India with the highest number of road accidents in the world, no press or media has CONSISTENTLY highlighted the use of helmets, seat belts, obeying of traffic rules, drunken driving and absence of safe walkways for pedestrians and emergency escapes in buses (in spite many accidents including one in Tamil Nadu about 3 months ago when a bus burnt more than 30 people perished). I sincerely hope at least the Hindu which claims to be a newspaper with a difference takes up this issue.
Well, given the recent fiascoes all our administrative persons managed to get into, I hope that this declaration itself isn't a publicity by the PCI chairman Mr Katju.
But there is a lot of substance to what he's said. Consider the Pakistani FM's recent visit to India and China. I found her severely wanting in several aspects as a FM. But the media here gave her several columns, even going so far as to write about her complexion, handbags and so on. In contrast, the Chinese media barely acknowledged her visit. I am no fan of China but they ARE our front-runners in several aspects.Again, if the media in India is cheap, crass and occasionally revolting, who made it so and continues to facilitate its growth? We, the citizens of India, of course!
Justice Markandey Katju will certainly bring a significant change in reporting issues by our media. I hope that by persuasion the media will be made to understand their Social Obligation . While reporting any issue they should bear in mind Nation's interest . Trial by media should not assassinate an individual's character since if the individual is ultimately found not guilty by the Supreme Court after a decade media cannot restore the lost reputation of the individual. While they could report burning issues they should be persuaded not add fuel to fire in issues relating to Communal, Religion, Caste, Regional and Linguistic problems.Media should aid the Govt.and Law Enforcing agencies to quell Violance and restore peace and Hormony. Most important is unbiased reporting.
Who cares for the problems facing the public?It is business ,pure and simple, that governs the media.
The priority in media is determined by what will sell and what will not sell.The so-called pillar of democracy is now comparable to the corporate selling Fast Moving Consumer Goods.Edmund Burke will turn in grave when he watches 24/7 television channel or even most widely circulated newspaper.Captions are like advertisements and panel discussions are like soap opera.Reporting of the court proceedings are pathetically sensational.Trial by media has become common phenomena. Right to privacy, a right under Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 is the biggest casualty in the name of transparency.Media has become extremely powerful.Where there is power there is danger of corruption.Doctrine of accountability a sacred principle of a just society equally applies to the fourth estate.
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