Author: MC Joshi
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: August 31, 2002
I was struck by the letter, 'Media
struck' (August 22), in which Mr M Ratan rightly says there are sections
of the Fourth Estate-comprising of an "all-too-familiar group of secular-left
oriented editors and so-called progressive intellectuals"-who work with
missionary zeal against the present Government under the garb of secularism.
One need only look at the English language 'national' newspapers and watch
'independent' private television news channels. For them, even a single
word of appreciation for the Government is taboo and finding fault even
with its constructive work is journalistic dharma.
TV channels are far ahead of the
print media in this respect, given its advantage of round-the-clock access
to viewers' drawing rooms and bedrooms. TV's miracle men who claim to present
events 'as they happen, when they happen and where they happen' are mostly
engaged in speculation and crystal gazing about the things yet to occur.
Self-appointed prosecutor, jury and judge, they hold trials in front of
the studio cameras and deliver judgments. There is one straight-talking
programme which is anything but straight talk, making fun as it does of
everybody. Another is a fight of sizeable proportions in which all (including
anchors) take on the ruling establishment. A couple of dozen men and women
of our metro culture, along with secular-left oriented journalist-cum-intellectuals-who
are far away from the ground realities-project themselves as representatives
of the one billion people of the country and ridicule anything and everything
on their agenda.
In 'discussions', anchors put words
into your mouth. If you refuse to toe the line, you are cut short, not
responded to or consigned to a 'commercial break'. Adhering to their line
is the pre-condition for a smooth sailing. If you happen to belong to a
different kettle of fish and come prepared to face rough weather, you are
pulled up, ridiculed and even humiliated. Highlighting the negative, suppressing
the positive, creating hype, sensation and confusion and even injecting
poison into perfectly debatable issues have become the hallmark of private
TV channels.
The unrestrained style of some sections
of the media (in the name of freedom of information and expression) has
been objected to by the political class and other sections of society.
Matters have reached such a stage that, on August 20, the full Lucknow
bench of the Allaha-bad High Court hearing the Ram Janmabhoomi- Babri Masjid
dispute case, issued a warning to newspapers and various TV channels against
publicising any opinion, televising interviews of parties or the counsel
or publishing any article concerning the merit of the case as that might
'affect the public mind.' In a separate order, the bench, specifically
naming an English language newspaper, observed that if anything published
hampered fair trial or 'poisons public mind', it would amount to contempt
by the press.
It was in a three-point directive
that the bench restrained the newspapers from publishing any article, opinion
or interview in the matter and also prohibited TV channels from televising
interviews in respect of the sub judice Ayodhya issue. These were rightly
seen as undermining judicial authority and amounting to interference in
the administration of justice.
Sections of the media are misusing
their freedom. It is time to say enough is enough and to take remedial
measures. Freedom is not a license for anarchy. One is sure that enlightened
voices in the media would agree, since the credibility of the entire Fourth
Estate has been put on the line by certain irresponsible sections.
