Watching a news channel is very risky affair, you run the risk of believing something that may not be true at all. It is quite surprising that agencies of repute in the print media have allowed their news channels to distort and sensationalize every bit of information available in their hand. Small issues are blown out of proportion, unconnected people are interviewed, public views are being solicited without any reason, with footages repeating time and again, the same stories being told and retold several times and public figures are repeatedly misinterpreted to create news.
All of this is only until something else comes their way and the next sensation is created. I sometimes, wonder that all of what is shown, spoken about, exaggerated becomes so worthless, just because there is something else to talk about. I also keep thinking about some of those topics that were "breaking news" sometime ago, such as the Arushi murder case, Nithari killings, Swine Flu epidemic , IPL scams etc., which have already been archived by news channels.
Well, the media is not interested any more because, those issues may not evoke any interest in the viewers. But if someone choses to sensationalize a new finding in those old issues and there is a chance to enhance the TRP, why not? Suddenly, it starts making sense. Isn't all this indicating the fall of the responsible media and the rise of selfish, greedy, insensitive media with a goal of making money and nothing else?
I saw an advertisement in Times of India, " Arnab Goswami in conversation with Kalmadi on the truth of CWG ". Many may not find anything wrong in it , but to me, it symbolizes a sense of vicarious pleasure the media draws by putting public figures in front of the people, just to be mangled intellectually by misbehaving interviewers. And by advertising, we all are invited to witness an ugly display of the ill-gotten power of the media in the name of news.
The news personalities are the ones who create news. If a big name in the industry tells the story, it is bigger than truth. A recent movie " Rann" highlights the same issue in very minute details. I have validated some truths from the friends in the industry and found them to be true.
People of India are very unfortunate. In an era , where there is a hope to bring equality and promote responsibility amongst its people, media is acting irresponsibly. I wonder sometimes, whom do we really have in our newsrooms, friends or enemies?
