I was telling someone the other day is that the saddest conclusion that i have reached is that the most honorable institution of them all is the Government.
Ultimately, no matter how venal, power mad, inept, or corrupt the are – sooner or later they are accountable and answerable to the people. They lose their jobs, retract their statements, are forced to back off from trampling our Constitutional rights. All we have to do is scream a bit … and they usually end up listening, especially if it is close to elections.
Amongst the insitutions that has rapidly lost my trust, espeically in the last two years, is the broadcast news media. Between the Prince episode, the Arushi Murder Case, running recorded footage with live bugs, with the 26/11 coverage – i have stopped watching TV news. I read magazines, i read newspapers and I read blogs. I do these because i have far more faith in the credibility of those who write – than the credibility of those who produce and package news on TV.
When you begin to sell TRP’s instead of credible, reliable, non sensationalized content (remember words like journalism, ethics, reportage), then you are selling a product, and rules that apply to the rest of the world apply to you. This includes getting product attributes criticized.
As a consumer if i tell you that i don’t like your product because a part of it is screechy, emotional, inaccurate, irresponsible and all over the place then maybe your job is to improve your offering instead of threatening to sue the customer for defamation.
The Ambanis didn’t sue the customer for laughing at Reliance Mobile 6 years ago, they fixed the service. Tata’s didn’t sue the customer for pillorying the Indica when it first launched. They made a better car (btw i own an Indica Marina). Maybe, NDTV needs to introspect and figure why so many of its natural target audience found its reportage appalling. And, maybe they need to fix it.
And to those who took the call to threaten the individual with legal action:
Imagine – if the Government behaved with you the way you are behaving over Chyetanya Kunte .Imagine your outrage, your self righteousness and your defence of the “Freedom of Expression. And then remember that media organizations enjoy the same ‘freedom of expression’ as individuals. There are no other separate provisions. And understand, that in attacking our Rights you are destroying yours.
I feel sad that the journalistic insitution built up by Prannoy Roy has come to this. Really, really sad.
Also read
Desi Pundit – the are running the story & reactions here
Blogbharati are running the story and reactions here
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