Media: The downward march:

In the Times of India of 20th May 07 in the top of the front page nearly quarter space has been allocated for a write up ‘ woman hurt as pavement caves in on Hailey road.’ It was not a serious injury. The photo of the woman was published alongwith the write up. What a quixotic way of determining the importance of news.

As a regular reader and that too extensively of more than two papers a day, I find that of late pandering to base instincts has become the main preoccupation with newspapers/magazines. Less dress on the lass, larger the photo. Men ogle at the same. Many a man would say that it is better than reading what is going on in politics. To satisfy women, there are more write ups on fashion, latest Bollywood gossips and details of ‘ sale.’ Gossip is slowly getting converted as stories. Cross checking is at the nadir. Rejoinders / recriminations of those who have been unjustly targeted are either not published or done in small print and that too an abbreviated version. ‘ Quotes ‘ have become news. Murder, mayhem and sex occupy disproportionate space in the newspapers. Or news pandering to the middle / upper class of Delhi population. Since all newspapers have adopted the same strategy as enumerated above, lest their sales go down, there is no choice available to reader. Editorials are also often lacking in depth and incisive analysis of an issue. The earlier practice of looking at both sides and then giving appropriate emphasis has been replaced by uni-dimensional approach. The only redeeming feature is the lead articles, many of which are top rate. Visual media, which started with a lot of promise, has also degenerated in its presentation. Mayhem is the focus. And visual images of same incident is repeated ad nauseum. Anchors bully, take a combative posture, address all by their first names ( not an Indian culture ) and never lack in expressing opinionated views. Anchors have slowly altered group discussions to debate which have of late become fight between the participants. And then the views of a couple of hundreds or thousands are declared as ‘ peoples’ verdict. As in the case of newspapers, here also all popular channels have adopted the same style, that there is choice at all for viewers.
Investigative journalism is being replaced by intuitive journalism. After the event, all focus is on the event, as happened in the arrest a fraud Swami in Kerala a few days back. The Swami has been indulging in misdemeanors for a long time. Many people were in the know of the same. But why did not the fourth estate zero in on this murky affair.Free press is the keeper of the conscious of any democratic country. Hence I lament at the above mentioned development.