The Indian media display certain defects. These should ideally be addressed and corrected in a democratic manner. But if the media prove incorrigible, harsh measures may be called for.
The time has come when some introspection by the Indian media is required. Many people, not only those in authority but even ordinary people, have started saying that the media have become irresponsible and wayward, and need to be reined in.
Only a couple of days back I read in the newspapers that the Union government has issued some regulations regarding licences for news channels, to which there was a lot of reaction. Under the Constitution of India, freedom of the media is part of the freedom of speech guaranteed by Article 19 (1) (a). However, no freedom can be absolute, and reasonable restrictions can be placed on it. One of the basic tasks of the media is to provide truthful and objective information to the people that will enable them to form rational opinions, which is a sine qua non in a democracy. But are the Indian media performing this role properly?
I may only mention certain defects in the functioning of the India media today.
Twisting facts
One of the defects is that the media often twist facts. I would like to give an example.
One day, a leading English newspaper published on its front page a photograph of Justice Gyan Sudha Misra of the Supreme Court with the caption: “Supreme Court Judge says that her daughters are liabilities.” This was a distorted and fallacious item of news, published on the front page.
Supreme Court Judges have to disclose their assets and liabilities. Against the liabilities column, Justice Misra had written: “two daughters to be married.” Strictly speaking, it was not necessary to mention this because liabilities mean legal liabilities, for example, housing loan, car loan, and so on. Justice Misra's intention was obviously to say that she would have to spend on her daughters' future marriage. She has three daughters (no son), only one of whom has been married. Justice Misra never said, nor intended to say, that her daughters were liabilities. The news was false and defamatory, with the obvious intention of creating a sensation.
Paid news
A second defect concerns the issue of paid news that has become prominent of late. In the 2009 elections, it was a scandal. How this vicious practice could be stopped needs to be discussed. Incidentally, in compliance with an order of the Chief Information Commissioner dated September 19, 2011, we have placed the 71-page report of the Committee consisting of Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and Sreenivas Reddy on our website, www.presscouncil.nic.in with the disclaimer that the Press Council had rejected this report at its meeting held on April 26, 2010.
Non-issues as real issues
A third defect is that the media often portray non-issues as real issues, while the real issues are sidelined. The real issues in India are economic, that is, the terrible economic conditions in which 80 per cent of our people are living, the poverty, unemployment, lack of housing and medical care and so on. Instead of addressing these real issues, the media often try to divert the attention of people to non-issues. Such as that the wife of a film actor has become pregnant, whether she will give birth to a single child or to twins, and so on. Are these the real issues facing the nation?
At a Lakme India Fashion Week event, there were 512 accredited journalists covering the event in which models were displaying cotton garments, while the men and women who grew that cotton were killing themselves at a distance of an hour's flight from Nagpur, in the Vidharbha region. Nobody told that story, except one or two journalists, locally.
Is this a responsible way for the Indian media to function? Should the media turn a Nelson's eye to the harsh economic realities facing over 75 per cent of our people, and concentrate on some ‘Potemkin villages' where all is glamour and show biz? Are not the Indian media behaving much like Queen Marie Antoinette, who said that if the people had no bread, they should eat cake?
No doubt, sometimes the media mention farmers' suicides, the rise in the price of essential commodities, and so on, but such coverage is at most 5 per cent to 10 per cent of the total. The bulk of the coverage goes to showing the life of film stars, pop music, fashion parades, cricket and astrology.
Tendency to brand
Here is a fourth defect. Bomb blasts have taken place near the Delhi High Court, in Mumbai, Bangalore and so on. Within a few hours of such a bomb blast, many TV channels started showing news items that said that the Indian Mujahideen or the Jaish-e-Mohammed or the Harkatul-Jihad-e-Islam had sent e-mails or text messages claiming responsibility. The names of such alleged organisations will always be Muslim ones. Now, an e-mail can be sent by any mischievous person, but by showing this on TV channels and the next day in the newspapers, the tendency is to brand all Muslims as terrorists and bomb-throwers.
The truth is that 99 per cent of the people of all communities, whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Sikh, and of whatever caste or region, are good. But the manner in which such news is shown on TV screens and published in newspapers tends to create the impression that all Muslims are terrorists, and evil — which is totally false. The person who sends such e-mails or text messages obviously wants to create hatred between Hindus and Muslims, which is the old British divide-and-rule policy continuing even today. Should the media, wittingly or unwittingly, become part of this policy of divide-and-rule?
No doubt there are defects not only in the media but in other institutions also, for example, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, and so on.
There are two ways to remove these defects in the media. One is the democratic way, that is, through discussions, consultations and persuasion — which is the method I prefer. The other way is by using harsh measures against the media, for example, by imposing heavy fines on defaulters, stopping government advertisements to them, suspending their licences, and so on.
In a democracy we should first try the first method to rectify the defects through the democratic method. For this purpose, I have decided to have regular get-togethers with the media, including the electronic media, so that we can all introspect and ourselves find out ways and means to rectify the defects in the media, rather than this being done by some government authority or external agency.
I propose to have such get-togethers once every two or three months, at which we will discuss issues relating to the media and try to think of how we can improve the performance of the media so that it may win the respect and confidence of the people.
If the media prove incorrigible, harsh measures may be required. But in my opinion, that should be done only as a last resort and in extreme situations. Ordinarily, we should first try to resolve issues through discussion, consultation and self-regulation. That is the approach which should be first tried in a democracy. I, therefore, request the Union government to defer the implementation of its recent decision regarding news channel licences, so that we can ourselves discuss the issue thoroughly, and ourselves take corrective measures.
Till now the function of the Press Council was only adjudication. I intend to make the Press Council an instrument of mediation in addition, which is in my opinion the democratic approach. For this purpose, I need help, cooperation and advice from the media.
India is passing through a transitional period in its history, from a feudal agricultural society to a modern industrial society. This is a very painful and agonising period. The media must help society in going through this transitional period as quickly as possible, and by reducing the pain involved. This they can do by attacking feudal ideas, for example, casteism and communalism, and promoting modern scientific ideas.
(This is the edited text of a speech delivered by Justice (retired) Markandey Katju, the new Chairman of the Press Council of India, on October 10 at a get-together with mediapersons at his residence in New Delhi. The full text is available at www.thehindu.com)
Keywords: Indian media, paid news, Press Council of India, Supreme Court Judges, Lakme India Fashion Week
Rightly said by Justice (retired) Markandey Katju !!!
Most of the Media channels have started.. creating, manupulating news
and burrying the real news... Freedom of press not at the cost of this
nation and its people... The actual freedom of press is when you report
any news.. but these media houses restrict and report only certain facts
deliberately... How can you get freedom when you surrender ?
i would like to congratulate the chairman press club of india on his statesmen speech and concerns related to the Indian print and electronic media.it is a very high time to promote the value based journalism in this country.the blame game of of print media towards the muslims is in very utterly wrong dirction the community by and large under the grip of frustration whenever wherever any untoward incident took palce the media intentionaly published the baseless newses against this particular community to tarnish the image of the entire community by levelling baseless allegations.can i ask why the investigation agencies investigate the sensetive incedents in a single direction as we had the fact finding stories that how the saffron terror is involved in diffrent cases.
sir,I have all admiration for the present chairmen of Press Council,shri Justice Katju, for the advice given to our media.I am an old retd govt officer just returning to our country after 5 months stay in US cities and hence, perforce,go thru news of our country thru internet-web mainly of `thehindu'`thetimesofindia',etc.I very well see the difference in the quality of the presentation of our country's news in the web both by the two main news papers mentioned above. I feel that the times of India or `indiatimes' shd take more lessions from our Press Council chairman's advice. In this regard I have all admirations to The Hindu and their Businessline for following a good procedure in regard to blogs and advt.Thanks
Sir, this is an extremely valid argument. But media in India today is different from journalism. Media houses are run by corporates who are obviously only driven by profit maximisation. They will hence sell whatever the mass wants to buy. A good objective piece of journalism is not entertainment, hence not worthy of media attention as there is no mass base for objective journalism. The crux of the problem is in educating the people to realise what is right and wrong, what is good and what is bad. If they demand the right form of journalism, if they demand objective news, eventually the supply will sway in that direction as these Media houses want to cater to the masses.
All the rhetoric about the freedom and right and constitution provision should be given a halt. No one can deny that media today is not working according to the values and principles and this is damaging our country. The freedom of speech given to media by the democracy should not be used against the democracy itself. There can never be a strict demarcation line for which news media should focus on and which news it should avoid. Therefore we need a more pragmatic approach to the problem avoiding all the rhetoric's. PTI has taken some sensible steps by giving full chance to media to have a self introspection and thus avoid any deterioration to fundamental rights. Its time for media to show some reciprocity and stop digging their own grave.
Media of late has abruptly changed the very culture of India.Ceratainly none behave responsibly,any media.Politics and politician prevails everywhere.In this regard all efforts are ineffective in democratic country with lack of education level.People are unale to make media not do what they do not like.Our culture has become vote oriented.The corruption is the root cause generated by politicians.People at large do not know whome to choose as politicians because of lack of education and poverty.
Very good article. Certainly me and mostly all of Indians except the media guys who are responsible for the press/media to be in this position today would agree with the article of Justice Markandey Katju except for the corrrective actions to be taken with a democratic approach for Media to be more socially responsible. According to me after 6 decades we have reached to this state and in case if we continue and try a democratic approach for the correction then i would say in a matter of 10 yrs it could be weird than how it is now. I think the general people would prefer a harsher way than a lenient educative approach which will not happen and all of our past experience says it all.
In current definition/trend I do not think/see the media house is
doing any thing wrong because this is so-called competitive era
where every one is in rat race, where majority is defining and
dictating own term and condition irrespective whether it is
rational/ethical or not. where capitalism playing autocratic role,
we just experienced a discourse on poverty parameter, commission
defining number to bring down poverty number,of course on dash board
of government it will reflect that country has less poor person but
in fact there is more poverty,is it ethical approach? Sir, I respect
your concern, obviously you raised very serious point. I agree with
you and same sort of article had been published by THE Hindu on July
16 2011 written by Vice President Mr. Hamid Ansari.We lost the
actual sense of freedom and we defined it wrongly. There is nothing
like a freedom which has no boundary. A massive reform is required
with adequate understanding,with correct sense,with depth analysis.
Hindu has published finest speech of Judtice Katju,who has assumed responsibility of the chairman of the Press council of India Katju's views that India is passing through critical phase of transition from feudal agriculture system to modern industrial development scenario!we have to be very cautious in our approach, specially media and freedom of press.Media,specially the electronic channels have become past masters in twisting facts and misusing freedom of expression.Paid news menace by some newspapers has created another problem.We have freedom of expression and press-but it does not mean that we have got the licences to write\speak whatever we want.There must be limit.Media have failed projecting core issues of over 80 percent poor in country and deviating in Mudrochisation manner-It will definitely harm nation.
I am an NRI and I tuned out off TOI and HT along time ago after their sensational reporting of news (that had to do mostly with bollywood and cricket anyways). Its a shame we have the most amount of 24/7 cable news channels but none to the same caliber as BBC, CNN, CBC, Deutchewelle, and Al Jazeera.
Praiseworthy views indeed. When it comes to irresponsible behaviour, in my view electronic media and the vernacular press emerge as more irresponsible and insensitive. By depicting apparently fake godmen, telling utterly foolish and superstitious stories, horoscope reading and all kind of unscientific behaviour, the media in general and the electronic media in particular is doing a great disservice to the country and ts people. The Indian constitution expects us to promote the scientific approach, logical thinking process and shun superstition. But most of the time the electronic media does just the opposite of the spirit of the Indian constitution. Sometime back, some self styled godman prdicted the time of his imagined death somewhere in Madhya Pradesh. Almost all of the electronic media desecnded at the godman's place and for hours gave blow by bvlow account of the death count down. The man did not die but the episode delivered a deadly blow to media credibility.
I agree on all counts except one- When criticizing the media regarding downsizing real issues vis-a-vis inconsequential ones, I believe that the media cannot be blamed to report that which sells. No one can possibly deny that a sizable number of Indians are indeed interested in a Bollywood actress with child or a Fashion show over and above the real issues, those that are plaguing our nation. For those interested only in a certain genre of issues should have the option of choosing; i.e. if someone wants to procure information on 'real issues' they may do so and the others who aren't interested should also be able to access the other stuff. Thus I am of the opinion that all forms of news are available to people and that all forms should be available. The media cannot be blamed for those who voluntarily abstain to be informed of the real issues.
Refer to similar thought inked by vice president of our country Mr. Hamid Ansari published by 'The Hindu'on 16 july 2011. "-The necessity for media to function effectively as the watchdog of public interest was recognised in the freedom struggle. The founding fathers of the Republic realised the need to balance the freedom of expression of the press with a sense of responsibility while such freedom is exercised. Adherence to accepted norms of journalistic ethics and maintenance of high standards of professional conduct was deemed to be a natural corollary.
Gandhi ji, a journalist himself, cautioned that “an uncontrolled pen serves but to destroy.” Jawaharlal Nehru warned: “If there is no responsibility and no obligation attached to it, freedom gradually withers away. This is true of a nation's freedom and it applies as much to the Press as to any other group, organisation or individual.” Now similar concern raised and pointed out by Mr.MARKANDEY KATJU.
Eventhough I am personally dead against imposing any curbs on the media, it is also a bitter fact that the Press Council does not have any power, except to pass some strictures. While Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has emerged as a powerful independent regulator of the stock market over the years, the press council has failed to take up any such role. One of the reasons could be the absence of a professional journalist at the top, rather than a retired judge. Also, responsible media houses have adopted their own code of ethics which to a large extent works resonably well.
Money is playing behind all article or the way of reporting. No doubt the countless Indian news channels are nothing but just different faces of different political parties, saffron organization and corporate sectors. Indian media don't have any business with the actual fact. More surprising fact is that sometimes reporting are not consistent among all news channel or paper. Few prominent news paper even don't hesitate to post any offensive comments among different religions, it seems that media is promoting a virtual riots in comment section. Media should follow an ethical limit, and a minimum civilized way of reporting. Media can play a constructive or destructive role in making a nation as seen in Arab spring.
The real travesty is that the media feeds the public what the public wants to read, watch and hear, with an emphasis on the middle classes. The middle classes in India care little for the poor and suffering, instead focussing on "entertainment" "news" whether it be cinema, cricket, glamour, etc. A very worrying factor in terms of the government decision to curb the media is that this decision is almost certainly driven by the media's exposure of government malpractices and weaknesses rather than the reasons for which Justice Katju arraigns the media. I completely agree that the media must enforce strict self-regulation but the government cannot be allowed to strike a blow at a pillar of our democracy by reigning in the media unfairly.
I completely agree with speaker. He covered almost all aspects
regarding media,i feel. Today media had lot of responsibility in
focussing real burning issues and awakening public over them. Their
style of broadcasting programs must be changed accordingly.
Very good opinion sir... I would like to thank Mr. Katju especially for giving attention on the 80% of the Indian.It's really disappointing for the readers like me ,who belongs to those 80% and aspiring to be the part of the rising INDIA.When i go through the newspaper early morning,i wish to get more information about the situation of people in village, current economic condition of the country,about inflation,poverty line..... etc.But, what i see is the dashing news of the bollywood actor and actress on the whole 2-3 pages.Is, there any newspaper who gives priority to the real country's problem in as much detail as the news of an actor wedding??? Of course there are some ,but the attention provided is not as much as it is expected. The person responsible for this is not only the newspaper owner or TV channel owner,but actually we are...The media gives the news as the readers demand.. and we are more demanding about the daily routine of mallika , not about poor.
Every point that Justice Katju makes about the Indian media is spot on. Just about every journalistic principle is violated by the Indian media to the extent that the old cliche "don't let the facts get in the way of a good story" is brought to life vividly indeed. Exacerbating the misreporting of current affairs are the ubiquitous blogs by so called "activists", "journalists", "former editors" etc - who never disclose their interests which give them access to the media and then claim all manner of personal experience when expressing their opinions. The need for an independent media regulator with teeth is the need of the hour. The Indian Press Council just doesn't cut it.
Justice Katju deserve praise for his frank remarks to the media. Many newspapers in the country with the object of increasing the circulation give importance to spicy news and this causes real problems to the readers. Hindu has maintained the highest standards in journalism, and the chairman of the press council has adopted the most democratic style to correct the wrong doers. The fourth estate has all the rights to bring out the truth, but has no right to mislead the public.
Justice (Retd.) Markandey Katju has rightly pointed out that the print and news media have responsibilities to provide objective news and views while they exercise their rights to inform and educate - and that there are far too many cases in which they do not adequately look to their responsibilities. Justice Katju has given several instances. As the new Chairman of the Press Council of India, I do hope Justice Katju will be successful in curbing the tendency that many members of the media show to evading their responsibilities. He has indicated several useful steps he proposes to take in this direction - in my view, something more does need to be done. It would be unfortunate indeed if the government were to step in with harsh measures that would tend to curb press freedoms - almost certainly such measures would be misused by politicians, bureaucrats and businesses to promote their vested interests.
By all means we need some authority which control the media.Now a days the print media(local),hardly consume 25% news paper space for News.Other 75% are for Advertisement.The papers for printing are given at subside rates to publishers.Furthur the price of news papers also vary from town to town and as per language.Lots of things are to be control.Howeever the media is doing real good job
The points made out by Justice Kadju are 200% true in respect of a vast majority of media outlets especially the vocal and visual channels. They try to ignore and suppress tough and genuine issues severely affecting the people at large, avoid to put out bold criticism of grave mistakes happening with governance, and exploitation, or sustain follow up, but have a tendency to sensationalize and blow up out of proportion ticklish and juicy 'news' with vulgar graphic presentations, all with the single purpose of gaining popularity with innocent people and making money. Very few in the media realize their responsibilities to society.
my commments about the opinion of justice katju is if the media is source of awareness in our society it is very much important to play the role which is justified,i have seen and read news about monkeyman inboth media .it so irresponsible attitude of its face.
Expression of Press council of India Chairman is agreeable. The media need to give importance to the news which are for social development of the future. Since I am editing and publishing for the last 13 years, I give importance to that way only. Journalism is having the responsibility of future building, not only for recording of all the events that take place everywhere, everyday. I am regular reader of The Hindu.
Indian media has become very irresponsible, lacking credibility and is been used by ruling parties to target opponents. They are also sometimes not reporting the real issues and political conspiracies occuring in our country.An example would be the Bomb Blasts as mentioned in this article.Another example is the targetting of Yeddyurappa ,the former CM of K'taka as instigating violence against Churches a few years ago & targetting him for these incidents and also the same holds true for the mining scams which occured in Karnataka and AP and blaming The former CM for this. It is very clear that Congress central leadership in cahoots with JD(S) was trying hard to remove the CM and using the Governor as a tool. If media is responsible, it should expose the conspiracy behind why Congress/JD(S)was hell bent on removing BJP CM and their evil misdeeds.
I wish Justice Katju success in his efforts. The four primary issues he identified have become too common these days. In fact, if you read the "news" of some of the leading English language newspapers of India, it's not uncommon to find all the four issues manifesting in the same article!
However, in my opinion, these issues have more to do with their corporate ownership (i.e. news media functioning as PR arms of large corporations, their political benefactors and bollywood connections ) rather than poor journalistic standards on the part of the editors/journalists. (The latter may be responsible for a small fraction of the malaise.) Now, trying to address the symptoms without addressing the root cause may not yield much success, IMO. Incidentally, about a year ago, the central government called for ideas on how to solve the "paid news" issue. I, among others, submitted ideas. Apparently, all the public feedback went into a blackhole never to see light again.
How can a sitting judge of the Supreme Court write such nonsense and expect to be dispassionate in a case involving Freedom of the Press? Will not his prejudice come to the fore? Will he recluse himself from any case involoving the Freedom of the Speech? What is happening? We recently had a retired civil servant wanting the country to become a one party dictatorship and now we have this judge wanting complete silence by the media on all matters except what he himseld says! Next what will we have ? Only Katju The Hindu PS Appu and the Ambani bros along with the First Family will rule the country?Perhaps Arundahti Roy will pontificate on all matters sundry and Vandana Shiva will feed the billions?
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" - Voltaire, Is there any institution in the world that depends on individual expression in words that is perfect? There was an obiter by a bench about Eklavya in Mahabharata - the "learned" judges said that it was an example of Dalit suppression! The law says that an offence must be met with equal and opposite force. Eklavya stitched the mouth because the dog barked. Was the punishment commensurate with the offence? Drona decided that his "pupil" did not have the discretion to use the skill when and where it is rquired. Were the judges ignorant? They played to the gallery? Freedom of Speech is sacred. But for the courts upholding Elsberg's right, the Pentagon papers would have never been read. The citizens are not robots and they will winnow to get the grain, however small it be! The Media protects the citizen from abuse of power by the government, thanks to Free Speech. Let the citizens be the judges!
Much before I finished reading it, I kept wondering to myself if this piece really belongs here. The blurb that you put to surmise the whole theme is not even remotely a democratic thought. I, for one, get a message which implies that -- media would be first dictated terms in this series of 'democratic' discussions failing which auto-entails a harsher censoring -- Censorship is aimed to define the bounds but it defeats the very democratic goal if decrees to follow a 'guideline'.
Sad that little said about paid news and media. First and foremost thing should be done to disclose equity holdings in various media groups in public such that public can see who is partial to whom and authenticity of Media channels and print media can be understood well.
Its about making money or turning black to white. And most these days are backed politically just for personal greed. In this face of society where the values are eroding at an escalating pace, the need to tame frivolous media is a must.
Unlike individuals in the legal profession, whose name must be preceded by the word "learned", Mr. Justice Katju has proved that he is learned. He has learned what he has written by objectively observing surrounding people and milleau that surrounds him. In 30% of reports on India outside Bengal a certain English language Kolkata news paper depends on inside information from reliable sources . Thank God it does not start its report with the sentence: "a little bird has whispered in my ears, that..". Its daily supplement of tabloid size includes recipes with exotic ingredients like cheeses, wines, herbs, unheard of pasta, and vegetables like asparagus and zucchini squash. Sycophancy fills the city report section of the Kolkata edition of another national English language news paper. Its daily special supplement is full of photographs of partying local celebrities and women with sheerest underclothes. Another news paper worries of the virus of Malaria. But no real news!
well like any field where there is money there will be criminals. Media generates so much income and they have to compete, they are trying their best to get the most. Greed follows. And where there is money, people with doubtful character enters, this is happening mainly in electronic media. So do we not allow them to make money? No one pays if some farmers death is reported but fashion show, there are crores of rupees. Earlier in print media the people who control knew about journalism, now the people who control they know only about money. So the democratic way would be good for journalist but they dont dictate what goes in news. editors? well. So i guess it will be strict government regulations, that may be the only way.
A thorough analysis made indeed. The work of media is to let the world know what's going around them instead of hyping the controversial issues and supporting the celebrities to publicize their lifestyle. But if analysed a bit more in detail, amongst all the market players in media, a large section of news-makers are more worried about their TRP then building a repute of their own. That's what makes individuals to pick the best amongst the rest suiting their ideologies.
Freedom is nothing but the recognition of social necessity. But in case of media, this freedom has been getting misused since long. Being completely commercialized, the media is on rampant deterioration in terms of ethics and values. Its a heart breaking phenomenon. Proper check and controlling measures are very much required to stop the degeneration of media.
The very message of this article is fine but few points are not.
To tell exactly what I didnt like in this article is... two points.
1) Few news papers quoting some former judge stating 'Daughters are
liabilities': I find no mistake with media in this case. The judge
herself has quoted it as liability. Shall we take it granted that her
statement refers to dowry? If not why didnt she quote regular expenses
for rest of her life as liabilities too(which is again future
expenses)?
2) Mails after bomb blasts: After such intensive incidents , ppl watch
carefully. Media has to report the truths.Of course media shouldn't
give false news but If the mail really comes it has to be reported no
matter which organization the mail comes from. Its Govt to check the
mail's authenticity. If the terror organization names look muslim
names, ask their founders. Fact is fact if its bitter or sweet.
'The Hindu' carries its reputation for frank opinions. So read before
publishing such articles
Instead of trying to convince media ‘to behave’ or show stick of punishment, let us use its weak point, i.e. TRP rating. Press council should develop its rating system and make compulsory to show running on TV channels and on front page for Newspaper. People will know where each channel stands as far as quality is concerned. In addition Press council can issue list of expectations every year along with Rating list.
The points made out by Justice Katju are 200% true in respect of a
vast majority of media outlets especially the vocal and visual
channels. They try to ignore and suppress tough and genuine issues
severely affecting the people at large, avoid to put out bold
criticism of grave mistakes happening with governance, and
exploitation, or sustain follow up, but have a tendency to sensationalize and blow up out of proportion ticklish and juicy
'news' with vulgar graphic presentations, all with the single
purpose of gaining popularity with innocent people and making money.
Very few in the media realize their responsibilities to society.
The immediate reaction of the Media to Justice Katju's views was that he is an expert in
Law but he should first learn about media to talk about Media's responsibility and justified
the News about Fashion etc. I believe and hope that Justice Katju is not a person who will
allow PCI to become dysfunctional because of these sort of reactions. The Government
should take steps to bring the Electronic Media under PCI . I wish that Justice Katju
continues such interactions with the media to point out their violations and caution tthem
from inviting punitive action . Despite his persuasion if the violation persists he should not
hesitate to cancel their Licence.
Very correct assessment by Justice Katju. Getting proper news has
become almost impossible on TV channels in particular. One has to keep
browsing news channels just to get "news", get frustrated and finally
quit.
Sense of responsibility can only help the TV media improve quality of
news and covering real issues. Now what is happening, the overall
viewership of all news channels put together is shrinking, though I
have no statistics for this and media barons will know it better and
news channels are fighting a bigger share of that shrinking
viewership. They are forgetting that broadening of overall viewership
will a better option, though it will require hard work and they should
be prepared for it.
Till the time TV media improves its quality, print media need not feel
threatened and can continue quality coverage, without getting into rat
race of catchy headline and spicy news or non issue type news.
The News channels IBN, TimesNow and NDTV should call themselves ADS CHANNELS as ANYTIME you randomly try to find some news you find only ads and subsequently switch off the TV. Sports hogs 50% of news time. There are so many sports channels only for SPORTS so why the need to cover sports. We women, plus elderly and kids and most village people care a damn about sports. These are alternated with coverage of criminal politicians who smile as they are dragged to court...ugly people we don't want to see as they have betrayed us. Recently the news has been haranging Anna and his team and harassing Dr Kiran Bedi n some miniscule amount she saved for her group by travelling a lower class than the higher class allowed to her. This lovely soul with ten national awards who is given her life for the upliftment of the under-privileged is scanned by a superficial anchor nobody! BEWARE foreign powers with their own agenda are trying to DERAIL the very ones who will protect our country!Kick them out.
Excellent views; Mr. Katju has aptly analysed the present scenerio; At this juncture, I would like to recall the recent raids conducted by CBI on the office/residences of certain financial institutions' officials in connection with corruption; it included LIC Housing Chief Executive Officer; almost all the Channels, more particularly Business Channels were telling that 'it was a big housing loan scam' involving thousands of crores; the raid was purely a case of bribery; the news channels were vying with each other in telling that 'they were the first' to inform about the CBI raids; unfortunately, these channels forgot the consequences, i.e. the havoc their news items played in the stock market and the consequential loss of thousands of crores of rupees by the investors; their false and twisted reporting also tarnished the image of India; it is high time that the electronic media must be brought into Press Council net and that they are made accountable for the false news
Our English News Channels are excessively focused on domestic political news making their reporting unbalanced. Further these channels almost solely rely on commentators The star anchors only role is to moderate these discussions. Calling these news is a sham. Also English news channels are elitists taking up cudgels for upper middle class victims (Jessica Lal et al) of injustice. What about the women raped in hinterland? Do they light candles for them? What about floods in Orissa- how much coverage was given to these news ?
I agree with the fact that tv news channels are not presenting a critical view of the issues coming up.In the midst of competence they often forget the journalistic ethics to be followed.But government to control media content is not democratic.The same media can be used to clarify the accusations made on government if it has justifiable reasons.It is unfair to make regulations on news channels.I dont think india can be an industrialised country alone in the future.Agricultre cannot be denied and it needs to be encouraged immensly for india to have a stabilised economy.Instead of a transition a perfect balance between the agicultural sector and indutial sector is needed.Modern technologies can be used in agriculture to meet the needs of the day
A Daniel come to judgment! Yea, a Daniel! O wise judge, how I do honour thee!”
Party favoured channels always try to suppress the facts and findings. Media should ensure the legitimacy of news and be diverent on the real issues. Self Introspection by media gives the answers to most of the issues given by author. Be confined to good and useful journalism rather than to yellow Journalism.
Now media houses, both print and electronic, seem to have been more or less polarized.A section of the media is pro establishment and the other anti establishment.They tailor news items to suit their purpose.So the same news is presented in different manners in different newspapers or TV channels.News are some times skipped if it inconveniences their line of thinking.What's most disgusting and worrying too is views often dominate news. One needs to view a number of TV channels or newspapers to get the real aspect of some incident.Unfortunately honest journalism has been thing of the past.
No doubt an efficacious speech by Mr. Markandey Katju !! Ideas in speech if imposed well will definitely result in regaining the lost faith of Indian mass in newscast Media. In recent years, within newscast media, the lure of being on pinnacle has unfortunately made sensationalism more rampant leading to degradation of Indian Media whether be in print or electronic form!
India's media largely seems to have forgotten that its prime responsibility is to inform the listening/reading public about significant happenings in the country and abroad with comments on these happenings by experts. But today in our country news reporters have become commentators in both forms of the media and news anchors of the electronic media talk as though they are experts on neclear technology,macro-economics, diplomacy, jurisprudence or whatever. It is time that the media, especially the electronic media, is pulled up for vitiating ongoing court trials by conducting trials of their own in TV shows. The pro-govenment fourth estate in this country has ceased to be the voice of the people. Two examples will justify this allegation. Does the media take on the government on the latter's miserable failure in checking mounting inflation? Doesn't the media protect the PM and the Cabinet by continuously focussing on the Raja's and Marans of this world on the 2G scam ?
I fully agree with the report. The common man feels that the Media is not only devoid of objective information but is totally biased. While reporting news, it forgets to keep in mind the national interests. The information is laced with sensation and personal views and interpretations. The information is presented in such a way that it either encourages hoarding, increase in prices, heightens the emotions, encourages religious tensions and so on. I feel that news should be separately dealt with and should be only truthful and objective, while there can be a separate section for views and interpretations. Now a days, it is a common talk among the people that media too has become corrupt especially the electronic media. The two most important columns which can help sustain a real democracy in a country are Judiciary and the Media. Therefore, the people expect them to be above board, unbiased, fearless and must always keep the national interests in mind.
I fully agree n support the views expressed by Justice KATJU ... there has to be a LINE drawn for everyone i.e. "Laxman-Rekha" & Media is no exception ...! The Law-Makers know their JOB, but all voices should be heard before bringing Media under the ambit, this would enable to make a better Draft with inclusion of all sections of SOCIETY ...!! Last but not the least, Media must ensure that they upheld/ uphold the same Standards n Conduct, which they expect of OTHERS ...!
Denying government advertisements would tantamount to chocking them which should not be the objective of the government. The issue of ‘paid news’ has been debated so much with no sight of the guilty being booked. One instance of media neglect or partiality is the way it handles the issue of a dynastic hold on the Indian governance. I have yet to see an editorial criticizing a family’s hold on Indian governance as if it were a throne. Most of the newspapers do not critically examine public projects, especially the new mantra of PPP which may turn out to be future scandals paling the 2G scam. The last is the homily of a union minister that media should not comment at all and ‘wait for all things to be over’. He also lamented the judiciary sending erring corporate honchos to prison even though it has become part of good governance ethics for punishment to be meted out to corporate crimes even to the officers at the board level and directors.
The role of Indian media has really deteriorated.The matters of concern are not taken heed of.Every morning,one cannot wish to have genuine news on the tv channels.They are busy in telling about your future,that too on peculiar grounds.Once,it was about a person's day on account of the animal's face he/she resembled.There are obscene tv programmes shown in the primetime.Yesteryear,there was large hue and cry over the timings of big boss but its next season has started and if you wish to see it in the afternoon,you can,quite comfortably.If the media just performs its role positively,then the burning topics of our country will be highlighted.We saw the media's sincere efforts in case of black money,cwg scams and saleha masood's case.The tradition has to be carried on.This will not only highlight their impotance but will give self satisfaction to them too.
Every institution and society as a whole is going through a churning process and changes are inevitable. Media's influence has grown many times since liberalisation but perhaps the tv-channels have forgot that with authority comes the responsibility too. Last 4-5 years have led to commodotification of news and business motives taking precedence over journalist ethics. Print has been much more responsible in its coverage but self regulation has utterly failed in case of electronic media. I hope Justice Katju's tenure will bring fresh lease of life to the defunct Press Council of India. First starting point can be bringing electronic media under PCI.
A good article. But is passing from feudal agricultural society to a modern industrial society, really an ideal situatiom? We have been watching the plight of such societies in the West. Industrialization seems to cause more unemployment than employment. Only computerization seems to have justification. Though initially it caused some unemployment it ultimately led to creation of more jobs in allied fields in addition to improving the efficiency of administration. Our country is basically agriculture oriented. Food is something everybody needs everyday. This situation cannot be exchanged for any other. Our vast population needs lots of food. The plight of farmers and the hungry poor is not being considered seriously. Is a solution really elusive? Every manufacturer decides the cost of his product calculating from his cost of production. WHy not the farmers? Where is the snag? The millers and middle men are making great profits surely with the connivance of people in the government. The media deal with the problem but perfunctorily. The people in the media are ordinary mortals too. People in power are apathetic and ignorant.Yet there are some worthy people in the media and the government. They ought to come together and take so concrete action with courage and determination like Anna's team.
Justice Mr.Katju is very correct. I have been seeing all the news media in the last few weeks are competing with each other to capture Pregnency bump of a leading actoress. It is very distressing in a soceity known to worship Women and motherhood..!!! What is education we have taken and what is guidence we give to our youger geneartion...??? Media introspection is a must..Media is to help construct a good soceity and report correctly.
The statement "Media have become irresponsible and wayward" is more applicable to electronic media. Unless the government put a severe restrictions on them, they play spoil sport in destroying opponents. This is exactly what is happening in Andhra Pradesh. Same may be true elsewhere. All bad elements joined the electronic media, the government must put a tab on the assets of people running the show on a regular basis.
Good advice.Will the indian media listen?
Media's Social responsibility
The problem is that you can't police the media based on your own ideas about various issues. It is your opinion that fashion events should not be covered adequately and that media should cover the harsh realities faced by 80% of Indians. Those may be a reasonable opinions - but does the media have to agree with it? And if it has to, where is media freedom? Where is the freedom to make up my own mind? I need to agree with Justice Katju or I will face sanctions. You can't tell the media what it must report on - that violates the constitutional rights of free speech.
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