Media Madness

Without much ado, I will get straight to the point. There was an extremely intriguing segment on Star News today. Intriguing because it set my grey cells working overtime. For a long time now, I’ve been wondering where Indian media is headed. 24-hour news channels have been sprouting with much intensity. The heat is on. Being the media-enthusiast that I am, I want to know what is the future of journalism and quality reporting.

This piece that I am talking of was the story of a 16-year old girl, Akanksha. Hers was an absolutely shocking tale of the death of all four members of her family. Fate has been playing this dirty trick for the entire length of her teenaged life. Even more soul-stirring was the fact that her father, mother and both her brothers had all committed suicide. Needless to say, she is shattered.

Unfortunately I saw only part of the news report and therefore, know nothing more. But what I do know is that the channel had brought in a doctor to analyse her mental state. Their efforts were directed towards boosting her morale, giving her some emotional support and hence, helping her cope with this awful tragedy. Among other things (which I missed), they had a comedian from a popular comedy show (currently on air) talk to her, trying to make her smile and lift her spirits. And smile she did.

Before I comment on the nuances of the report from a critical viewpoint, I’d have to admit that the novelty of the channel’s attempt is commendable. It slices straight through the heart.

What worries me is exactly that. It is a story heavily laden with emotions. It is about the girl’s mental state and that which must be treated with utmost care. The story surely qualifies as superb “human-interest”. I am concerned whether in this vicious war for scoops, the channels understands what it has done. It taken upon itself, a gargantuan responsibility – that of a human life. I hope they know what they are doing because while there is nothing wrong in trying to make a girl laugh and smile, they must realize that Akanksha’s case is extremely delicate. It is working on her emotions. God forbid if anything goes wrong.
If only somebody would tell me… then I could rest in peace.

Journalism, today, has become a play of time. We are talking seconds and fractions here. All channels can spring up new ideas but the real test is who executes it first. And this is the thin line that distinguishes a Hot Scoop from routine news. Competition is bringing the media closer and closer to the masses. Not only is it about making news reach more and more numbers in the furthest corner of the country, but also about taking stories from these very “once communication-deficient” districts and regions.

There are the disadvantages too, like that of lack of verified and complete information, and display of unconfirmed data. The menace of a bias has long tainted the media and continues to do so. It has translated even to our camera-sporting, location-hopping brethren.

At this juncture, I have only a word of caution. Whereas the spirit of the freedom of speech and expression has been extended to newer pastures, there rests a heavy responsibility on the media. It is accountable not only to its viewers but also to the people in the stories. After all, it is not just a story; it is the question of a life.