Looking at the way things are going in Indian media since past few months, exposés, sting operations and scams incessantly keep embroiling the nation and seem to be the current flavour of Indian politics. A handful of people with their mindless rhetoric have mastered art of creating anarchy, getting media attention and stall governance issues. The media has reached such filth that it is difficult to believe that we are world's largest democracy. Considering the impudence and superficiality of mudslinging campaigns, the Indian media seems to have taken toll on independent, resourceful and honest journalism. The saddest part is that media is losing its credibility in its chase for "being first to present the news" as it is becoming instant views churning machines without taking pain of doing relevant homework.
Watch any news channel and it seems courts have shifted to media that is playing role of prosecutor, jury and judge; pronouncing judgments on 24/7 breaking news, setting a very dangerous precedent. The real amusement in this whole charade of "we are cleaning up the system by purging it of rot, notion" is that both media and people like Anna, Kejriwal and their clan don't realize that they have completely lost the plot. When the modus operandi of any protest is conducted and projected in a manner that shows complete disregard for constitution and judiciary and is not based on proper research, some very serious doubts are raised about the credibility of its very premise. I fail to understand, how real issues of systemic failure and lack of good governance get addressed by this circus.
Every single day, we find senior journalists, seasoned politicians engaging in endless debates that get us nowhere! We all know that every politician covers up for personal muck of his breed. One probe after another dies down, one inquiry after another producing reports upon which barely any action is taken. What is the point of any debate if its outcome does not ensure any action? With media completely dependent on corporate sponsorship for its survival, isn't it unrealistic to expect unbiased news?
The people of this country are tired of this tamasha of sling matches over press conferences. We don't want slogans. We are getting bored of ostentatious goodness. Connecting electric cables of defaulters or favouring a particular community for vote bank politics does not lead to any concrete action that offers better law and order facilities, infrastructure, stable economy, opportunities for education and employment, fast track courts or gender equality.
While other institutes of democracy are eroding it is all the more important for media to come stronger as fourth estate. There are a few who are celebrating Indian media's revolution, claiming a victory over bridging the gap between the government and the governed, I remain circumspect. Instead of being a watchdog of democracy, Indian media is enslaved to Bollywood gossip, the ubiquity of sting operations and ravenous paparazzi. It has lost its moral compass and sadly poses question on sanity of our democracy. But does anyone really care?
Every single day, we find senior journalists, seasoned politicians engaging in endless debates that get us nowhere! We all know that every politician covers up for personal muck of his breed. One probe after another dies down, one inquiry after another producing reports upon which barely any action is taken. What is the point of any debate if its outcome does not ensure any action? With media completely dependent on corporate sponsorship for its survival, isn't it unrealistic to expect unbiased news?
The people of this country are tired of this tamasha of sling matches over press conferences. We don't want slogans. We are getting bored of ostentatious goodness. Connecting electric cables of defaulters or favouring a particular community for vote bank politics does not lead to any concrete action that offers better law and order facilities, infrastructure, stable economy, opportunities for education and employment, fast track courts or gender equality.
While other institutes of democracy are eroding it is all the more important for media to come stronger as fourth estate. There are a few who are celebrating Indian media's revolution, claiming a victory over bridging the gap between the government and the governed, I remain circumspect. Instead of being a watchdog of democracy, Indian media is enslaved to Bollywood gossip, the ubiquity of sting operations and ravenous paparazzi. It has lost its moral compass and sadly poses question on sanity of our democracy. But does anyone really care?
