A young girl gets molested in Guwahati last night. The molestation is captured on camera. The culprits pose like heroes. It becomes a breaking news and even after the news is completely broken and shattered, the police do not find the culprits.
Today morning, this was the big news in a regional 24x7 news channel. Right from 8 AM till about 10:30 AM (till the time TV was on at my house), the footage of the molestation was being played non-stop in the news channel. The most disgusting part was that the news channel did not have even the basic minimum ethics to blur the face of the victim.
In India, this is still called "positive proactive ethical journalism". The people who shot the footage did not do anything there to save the girl. The news channels only made the case worse for the victim by showing her (being molested) non stop. This is our "Media". Do we need this kind of so called journalism?
In one of the most populous countries in the world, the word "Sex" is a taboo. There is a huge hue and cry in the academia and on the "news channels" on the issue of "sex education". But showing a girl being ripped off her shirt and 40 men enjoying it is an act of "proactive journalism". Fantastic !! is it not?
It is very unfortunate that news channels can stoop to this level to increase their TRP. Can't they have at least blurred the face of the girl?
Has the cut throat competition buried ethics so deep in oblivion ?
Shame on the media.....
(PS: On this issue,i have written a letter to the secretary, ministry of information and broadcasting, government of India. I have requested his/her office to initiate policy changes so that these "news channels" are kept under check )
We have been having this kind of discussion since long time.. each time a disgusting incident happens like this.. it gets end up with a criticism on the media for lack of ethics...may be answer is yes.. competition has indeed buried all the humanity and basic ethics on which the journalism should have been based.... even now.. this will be a hot topic for few days...then the story repeats...I hope your letter to the govt office initiates some stern action on these channels and keep tab on them..
ReplyDeleteAgreed with what Mahaesh says anywayz will hope for the best & wish we'll get a positive response from the concerned members....
DeleteCompletely agreed with what Mr.Mahesh said,well that was so shocking video i felt very bad about the girl & definitely i would say media could have blur the face of the victim..But it didn't happen anywayz you've written a letter to a concerned members we'll hope for the best & i wish we'll get a positive response from them.....
DeleteThe media in India behave as if no rule applies to them. If any one as much as suggests regulation, the pout lines such as "If you dont like the message, dont shoot the messenger".
ReplyDeleteAll media houses gang up to stop Markendeyu Katju's intiative at regulation.
National security was compromised during 26/11. Writing to Government may not be a solution. Media will mount an anti-government campaign. Judiciary may be a hope.
Markandeya Katju spoke of regulations and media ganged up against him.
ReplyDeleteGovt. may not be the answer because the media will campaign against the government. May be our only hope is the judiciary.
Its rightly said that media has become a monster
ReplyDeleteAmol