Has the mainstream media lost
relevance and credibility? Do today’s readers even know of the titans of Indian
journalism like Frank Moraes, Durga Das, Khasa Subba Rau and M Chalapathi Rau
who were fearless and impartial? Has Indian journalism regressed from being the
citizen’s watchdog to the status of lapdog of the rich and the powerful? If it
has, how does it affect the common man and the Indian nation at large? This
video seeks answers to these questions.
Until the dawn of 1980s,
Indian journalism provided a more or less genteel fare. Even the most
hardboiled critic of politicians shunned the use of invective. Journalists were
aware of their responsibilities. Their thought-provoking articles and reports
kept the government on its toes and the democracy vibrant.
Arun Shourie’s arrival on
the scene Indian journalism changed for better or worse. His combative style,
investigative acumen and abrasive attacks on Dhirubhai Ambani’s Reliance
Industries came to the fore in articles written in conjunction with the Sangh
Parivar loyalist S. Gurumurthy. The campaign targeted Indira Gandhi’s regime and
the tycoon.
When Doordarshan made its
presence felt, it was a state monopoly and the only television channel in
India. Most news and documentaries were pro-establishment. However, Syed Naqvi
stood out. His interviews of national and international personalities on different
issues were informative and a delight to watch.
With the arrival of private
news channels, the NDTV’s Big Fight launched Rajdeep Sardesai as the new
combative kid on the block who revelled in anchoring contentious debates with high
decibel sparring amongst the invited participants. But he was soon eclipsed by
Times Now’s Arnab Goswami whose flag-waving ultra-nationalism pandered to the
lowest common denominator among viewers. Hurling insults at invited panellists,
hectoring those who differed with him and intimidating the gentler ones were
the salient features of his talk shows. However, one witnessed his timid side
when he interviewed Narendra Modi.
When Goswami shifted to the
Republic TV, his behaviour became worse. As de facto boss of the media-house he
enjoyed full backing of the ruling establishment. His ranting style of
journalism fetched his channel the much needed TRP ratings at the cost of professional
ethics.
Prannoy Roy’s NDTV stuck to the
ethics and decorum expected of a responsible news outlet. But most other
channels preferred to take a few leaves from Goswami’s book. Times Now’s Navika
Kumar, though not in the same league as Goswami, loves to troll dissenting
panellists. Anand Narasimhan of CNN News 18 frequently cuts short those
panellists whose views are unpleasant to him.
Penetrating questions in a
polite tone can send even the President of the most powerful nation on earth
hopping mad as shown by CNN journalists during Donald Trump’s press briefings.
Indian viewers are deprived of such pleasure because PM Modi avoids press
conferences in India. Anyway, most media houses find saashtaang pranam more
beneficial than investigating those in power.
Ravish Kumar focuses on
unglamorous issues like health and education with searching questions in his ‘Prime
Time’ show. In fact, the entire NDTV team is way above the rest when it comes
to quality journalism. Between NDTV’s polite firmness and Republic TV’s
abrasive pro-establishment propaganda, a section of journalists finds it safe
to sit on the fence.
M Chalapathi Rau remarked in
his article of 2016, “At press conferences… (during) the free-for-all
exchanges, … some press correspondents did not fail to insult him (Nehru)… To
him, journalism was a part of action, political action, social action.” Clearly, the thought of gagging the press never
crossed Nehru’s mind.
Free flow of authentic
information is essential for effective governance. Otherwise, rumours poison people’s
minds which can prove dangerous to the nation’s stability and security.
Are media seths and
politicians listening?
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