Is India paying too big a price for media freedom?
Negative picture by media :
The problem in India today is that more than the positives, negatives are highlighted by the media and discussed in public forum. There is nothing really wrong about discussing the negatives but there has to be a sense of proportion ,balance and responsible fairness in discussing the events and developments by the media.
In a vast country like India with population of around 1250 million, undesirable utterances and acts are bound to take place on any given day in one corner of the country or the other. This would be so, since vast segment of the national population still live below poverty line without adequate educational and skill acquisition opportunities and job prospects and section of the affluent and privileged class of society seem to think that they can get away with any wrong doings.
Media has gone haywire :
Unfortunately, the Indian media appear to have gone haywire and do not seem to have a code of conduct in reporting matters and events and discussing various view points.
All that is required to get media space for any politician or activist is to say or do something that is obnoxious, which would be immediately highlighted by the visual and print media. There are many good things happening in the country which are rarely discussed at national level and seem to be of no interest to the Indian media. This attitude of media is causing problems for Mr. Modi in shaping a climate of confidence and progress in the country.
Negative noise made by Indian media has now reached such feverish level that Mr. Modi has to personally express his views on matters which really deserve to be ignored by the Prime Minister.
Any abuse good enough for the media :
A member of parliament belonging to the ruling BJP made a number of allegations and criticisms against the Governor of Reserve Bank of India who is held in high esteem by many people as a knowledgeable person who has done excellent work. Though it is obvious that the criticisms are motivated and half baked and even personal to some extent , the media has been discussing this issue so extensively as if it is a matter of national priority. Mr. Modi has to speak to stop this ridiculous observations against the respected financial expert.
Similarly, the scientists and engineers working in Koodankulam nuclear power plant were criticized by some activists in such harsh terms as if they are anti nationals and several of the scientists and those who supported the nuclear power project were verbally abused. Media worked over time to publicise such harsh criticisms, unconcerned about the harm that it would cause to the morale of the hard working technologists. Finally, the nuclear plant has been successfully commissioned and has been dedicated to the nation. However, the media do not seem to think that it is necessary to applaud the scientists for their efforts , which are viewed with admiration by several discerning technologists abroad.
All of a sudden, a national debate was started on so called intolerance in India. The media gave so much of importance to the politicians who accused Modi government of promoting intolerance , for which there is no basis. Then, the media stopped discussing the so called intolerance after the elections in a few states.
One of the Chief Ministers called Mr. Modi as coward and psychopath and the media gave huge publicity to such verbal abuse and obviously this was what wanted by the man who made such uncharitable remarks .
There are several other instances that can readily be cited to prove the fact that Indian media is focused on creating a public opinion largely based on negatives rather than positives. Possibly, the media houses seem to think that this would be the best “strategy” to attract viewership and build media business.
Challenge for Mr. Modi :
Even after Mr. Modi’s forthcoming Independence Day speech that would call upon the country men to look forward and work hard with scientific temperament, the Indian media and the preachers of negativism are unlikely to change.
The challenge for Mr. Modi is on how to build a positive mood and climate in the country inspite of the Indian media and the free wheeling activists ,who seem to think that negative criticism is the hall mark of vibrant democracy. Can it be so ?
N.S.Venkataraman
Nandini Voice for The Deprived
nandinivoice.com more
The problem in India today is that more than the positives, negatives are highlighted by the media and discussed in public forum. There is nothing really wrong about discussing the negatives but there has to be a sense of proportion ,balance and responsible fairness in discussing the events and developments by the media.
In a vast country like India with population of around 1250 million, undesirable utterances and acts are bound to take place on any given day in one corner of the country or the other. This would be so, since vast segment of the national population still live below poverty line without adequate educational and skill acquisition opportunities and job prospects and section of the affluent and privileged class of society seem to think that they can get away with any wrong doings.
Media has gone haywire :
Unfortunately, the Indian media appear to have gone haywire and do not seem to have a code of conduct in reporting matters and events and discussing various view points.
All that is required to get media space for any politician or activist is to say or do something that is obnoxious, which would be immediately highlighted by the visual and print media. There are many good things happening in the country which are rarely discussed at national level and seem to be of no interest to the Indian media. This attitude of media is causing problems for Mr. Modi in shaping a climate of confidence and progress in the country.
Negative noise made by Indian media has now reached such feverish level that Mr. Modi has to personally express his views on matters which really deserve to be ignored by the Prime Minister.
Any abuse good enough for the media :
A member of parliament belonging to the ruling BJP made a number of allegations and criticisms against the Governor of Reserve Bank of India who is held in high esteem by many people as a knowledgeable person who has done excellent work. Though it is obvious that the criticisms are motivated and half baked and even personal to some extent , the media has been discussing this issue so extensively as if it is a matter of national priority. Mr. Modi has to speak to stop this ridiculous observations against the respected financial expert.
Similarly, the scientists and engineers working in Koodankulam nuclear power plant were criticized by some activists in such harsh terms as if they are anti nationals and several of the scientists and those who supported the nuclear power project were verbally abused. Media worked over time to publicise such harsh criticisms, unconcerned about the harm that it would cause to the morale of the hard working technologists. Finally, the nuclear plant has been successfully commissioned and has been dedicated to the nation. However, the media do not seem to think that it is necessary to applaud the scientists for their efforts , which are viewed with admiration by several discerning technologists abroad.
All of a sudden, a national debate was started on so called intolerance in India. The media gave so much of importance to the politicians who accused Modi government of promoting intolerance , for which there is no basis. Then, the media stopped discussing the so called intolerance after the elections in a few states.
One of the Chief Ministers called Mr. Modi as coward and psychopath and the media gave huge publicity to such verbal abuse and obviously this was what wanted by the man who made such uncharitable remarks .
There are several other instances that can readily be cited to prove the fact that Indian media is focused on creating a public opinion largely based on negatives rather than positives. Possibly, the media houses seem to think that this would be the best “strategy” to attract viewership and build media business.
Challenge for Mr. Modi :
Even after Mr. Modi’s forthcoming Independence Day speech that would call upon the country men to look forward and work hard with scientific temperament, the Indian media and the preachers of negativism are unlikely to change.
The challenge for Mr. Modi is on how to build a positive mood and climate in the country inspite of the Indian media and the free wheeling activists ,who seem to think that negative criticism is the hall mark of vibrant democracy. Can it be so ?
N.S.Venkataraman
Nandini Voice for The Deprived
nandinivoice.com more
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View all 16 comments Below 16 comments
media highlight more than the positives, negatives, there is no sense of proportion ,balance and fairness in the media. Indian media have gone haywire and do not seem to have a code of conduct in reporting matters and events and discussing various view points. There are many good things happening in the country which are rarely discussed at national level and seem to be of no interest to the Indian media. This attitude of media is causing problems for Mr. Modi in shaping a climate of confidence and progress in the country. They more concerned get space for any politician or activist that is obnoxious, which would be immediately highlighted by the visual and print media. Negative noise made by Indian media has now reached such feverish level that Mr. Modi has to personally express his views on matters which really deserve to be ignored by the Prime Minister. The media has been highlighting extensively allegations and criticisms against the Governor of Reserve Bank of India by a BJP member of parliament as if it is a matter of great concern. Media worked over time to publicise such harsh criticisms against the scientists and engineers working in Koodankulam nuclear power plant , unconcerned about the harm that it would cause to the morale of the hard working technologists. Finally, the nuclear plant has been successfully commissioned and has been dedicated to the nation. However, the media do not seem to think that it is necessary to applaud the scientists for their efforts , which are viewed with admiration by several discerning technologists abroad. All of a sudden, a national debate was started on so called intolerance in India. The media gave so much of importance to the politicians who accused Modi government of promoting intolerance , for which there is no basis. Then, the media stopped discussing the so called intolerance after the elections in a few states. One of the Chief Ministers called Mr. Modi as coward and psychopath and the media gave huge publicity to such verbal abuse and obviously this was what wanted by the man who made such uncharitable remarks . There are several other instances that can readily be cited to prove the fact that Indian media is focused on creating a public opinion largely based on negatives rather than positives. Possibly, the media houses seem to think that this would be the best “strategy” to attract viewership and build media business. Challenge for Mr. Modi : Even after Mr. Modi’s forthcoming Independence Day speech that would call upon the country men to look forward and work hard with scientific temperament, the Indian media and the preachers of negativism are unlikely to change. The challenge for Mr. Modi is on how to build a positive mood and climate in the country inspite of the Indian media and the free wheeling activists ,who seem to think that negative criticism is the hall mark of vibrant democracy. Can it be so ? more
Aug 17
One way could be that people should be able to block these channels from their SET TOP BOX. I am sure many right minded people will do so. The reduced following will force these channels to mend their ways. more
Aug 16
Is it that there is no rule to regulate the media. A government cannot BJP or Congress or any other party. Once an MP is elected, he should act as a responsible MP and not as a BJP or Congress MP. Similarly the media should also work for the good of the country and not for making money along. more
Aug 16
Medias busuness is to give the news without its own judgement and leave it to the readers to draw ther own inferences but unfortunately they are twisting facts to suit their own orguement to influence the opinion of the public. This is what has lead to corrupt media. The anchors invariably take sides as if they are expressing the opinion of the public. This must stop immedietely otherwise it would lead to disaster as it has happened for the last 7o years and lead to the misrule by the Congress. In the name of freedom of press people are being misinformed. more
Aug 16
It is true but the main reason for this is that section of the meddia which is against BJP and mostly supportive of congress not realising the fact that it is only congress which has been the cause for all the problems faced by the country today. They seem to be misusing the freedom given to them by the present Govt. It is really shameful that some sections of the media are projecting the antinationals as heroes.It is for we the people to tech them a lesson by not viewing such channels. more
Aug 14
