Off late I have been really disturbed by reading news-papers (thank God I don’t have a TV), and I wonder what an editor must be thinking while deciding which news to put where… Front page carries – three crime news… while some significant heart warming achievement is shelved to National news page….(Page 8-10)
What has triggered off this blog post is a news flash late evening today: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked the media to take a “larger view” of daily events.
He says…..”It is this three roles that give the media a special place in a democracy,”
Noting that media has been an “important healer of our democracy”, he said the combination of providing news, of shaping views and guiding society is what gives the media a special status.
So … is the objective so forgotten, that all we see is aimless bantering today?
The bus corridor is a wonderful case study … – While it captures 10″ x 8″ media reporting on front page everyday, few reporters have gone in depth to find out the reasons for Delhi Govt to bring in the bus corridor, Or have I missed it completely in the paper i read everyday – which calls HCBS the Killer corridor
Disintegrating the role of media here :
Provide News – Record: State facts…as is visible ad behind the scenes as well. Investments in to the project and expected returns… keeping the larger objectives of public convenience and judicious use of Public money in mind.. rather than mindlessly hyping traffic jams.
Guide the society: State precedents, sucesses and failures worldwide in bringing in a better transportation system… state ways of curing the system in the short run keeping in view the nature of the problem. In short suggest ways of solving the problem of traffic jams
Shape views: Bring debates – catch opinion makers on the front page… heal/aggravate public anger based on expert insights
That is all. Objectively.
Will Media go back in time and be a healer again.
4 comments
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May 1, 2008 at 10:31 am
_ram-jaane'
I’m not a follower of newspapers or TV & I think there are many of us out there in a similar position.
Reason: I think the media is now formed of what sells. It is more a business than it is a responsible identity that feels the need to meet the original goals.
If I want real news I look for real people. The internet truly is new age media in this respect.
May 1, 2008 at 11:08 am
entretante
Thanks, Ram….
I am concerned for the lot of people who religiously pick up the paper every morning … form opinions and react to stories there…
and that includes a huge fraction of population…
Responsibility is more towards them.
Aakriti
May 2, 2008 at 10:24 am
_ram-jaane'
At the risk of sounding condescending .. A large part of the population are sheep, that’s what makes society – it’s an unfortunate truth that they are herded just as the media wants, but realistically, it’s not any of them that re going to make a difference – is it?
June 20, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Sravanthi
hi.. nice blog!