We have travelled a long way from Doordarshan being the only TV Channel, All India Radio being the only FM station, Letters being the only way of communication to the world of Digitalization, satellite Television and 24/7 news channels. Multiple sources of news and information are today’s reality. We now have a choice of news channels. Regional, National, International and etc;
With both excitement and curiosity, the generations before us waited for the news on Doordarshan and happily watched the news. Have we ever understood the complaints by the elders on the changes in modern society? Everything they say might not sound good to us, but they do have a point to make. Isn’t it?
Doordarshan and News reporting was most reliable with the anchors being celebrated and taken as a role model by the younger generations. It was more news and less noise in the Doordarshan days. But things have changed rapidly and ridiculously. We are witnessing only noise in these days. I am not stressing that the entry of private TV Channels was a mistake. But the desire by the modern-day news channels to being the first channel to break the news, to report the news just for sake of sensation and higher ratings has worsened things.
If we look at the news channels right now, every anchor is in a fight with the rival channel and want to create a sensation out of nothing. Take regional news channels or the national channels, every channel has its style of reporting the news. When you watch a news channel like Republic TV, you are there just to make sure that you are in 2nd largest populated country in the world. Republic TV is an example of only NOISE and nothing else kind of news channel. The director here is Arnab Goswami, who decides the ‘Hero’ and ‘Villain’ well before the debate starts and Arnab starts his shouting program.
On the other hand, we have the channel which is on the verge of collapsing, NDTV. It’s the channel from another extreme. Republic tends to defend the Right Wing and NDTV takes the side of Left-Wing parties. NDTV can take the title of ‘fear-mongering’ news channel. Like this every news channel has got their support system, may it be party or person whom they support unconditionally. We have an unworthy set of individuals who are part of Journalism in the modern era. Many of them don’t have an idea about the news they report and simply report for the sake of money. Not sure, when News Reporting has turned into personal opinion reporting.
People on the name of ‘My Take’ like Rajdeep from India Today bring in the element of pessimism and negativity. This damages the people’s mindset.
News is not Views, it’s just News – which is pure information and nothing more than that.
Let’s take an example of Delhi Pollution, every news channel is surrounding the issue as the failure of human being and Diwali is the biggest reason. But has any news channel bothered to do a historical data study to find out the Air Quality levels before 10 years? None!
Before calling somebody a convict, has any journalist done enough research about the case and the person involved. Sarvjeet Singh case is the example of how news channels put the blame on him just based on a social media post by Jasleen Kaur. Not something expected from news channels.
Now What? Will the Indian news channels try to become sensitive and talk two sides or just spread the information in an unbiased manner? Well for me this doesn’t look like a possibility until and unless the regulations on the news media are strictly followed. If not, the real damage will be done to the next generations, who will start believing in every false information.
Journalism is a prestigious career and it’s an opportunity for those in this profession to spread the news with balance and make people aware of things and let them form opinions. Journalists are not supposed to dish out opinions and polarize people and spread hate, fear and bring insecurity in the country. I just hope things change soon!!
