MEDIA: Identify your role

With the advancement in technology, incidents occurring around the world are covered in a span of minutes if not seconds. Television is a major player in reporting this news. With the introduction of satellite television, channels from around the world are available at affordable rates.

We have channels telecasting us sports, wildlife, educational programs, politics, etc. What I want to primarily write on is the cheap way, in which some news stories are covered. The other day I was watching a report, where in a funeral was being covered. The reporter was being asked by the television presenter, "Waha ka mahaul kaisa hai" (What is the mood out there). It’s understood that when a funeral has occurred, there will be sadness and not happiness. The reporter adds that people out here are crying a lot. It is a great loss to the family members. What sort of questions or answers are these. A death in ones family is played like a drama on television. Luckily we don’t have advertisements sponsoring funerals. What a mockery that would make.

Earlier when incidents like bomb blasts were covered, we had news reporters saying, “What you are going to see now may make you uncomfortable, please ensure your children are watching this under your supervision”. This was done so that children or some people like me, who can never tolerate blood or dead bodies scattered all over. However nowadays we have these reports just starting without any warning. What impact does these have on young minds. Isn’t media supposed to play a bigger role in nurturing young minds?

Recent fashion shows in Mumbai had their share of problems with wardrobe malfunctions. It is a different question if this was planned or just an accident. Most news channels refrained from telecasting those semi-nude images. However some channels did just the opposite to increase their TRP ratings. What are we looking at out here, news at the cost of nudity? Agreed that some might say with the advent of internet, when porn is available so freely, why should blurred semi-nude clips not be telecast as news? I insist on thinking otherwise.

I feel media plays an important role in everyone’s lives. I really admire certain reporters for the manner in which they present news. One feels good while listening to certain reporters and news presenters. We kind of associate with them. I feel just because certain news channels want to sell themselves; they broadcast news without any standards. I think its time for media to understand their role, and not lower themselves to certain levels just for the sake of selling news. Feel free to leave your comments on this article.