Being human is more
important than TRPs
Nepal earthquake
and its tragic aftermath have been exploited to the hilt by television cameras
in an appalling race for TRPs. They were overstepping the boundaries so often
and so dramatically that the Nepalese people finally turned against them and
virtually asked them to leave.
It is imperative
that television revisits the basic rules of journalistic ethics during disaster
reporting. They must refrain from sticking microphones in the faces of
survivors who may have just lost everything. They should learn the basics of sensitivity.
During Sydney siege,
there was news round the clock, but sensitive information was held back from
the world, which would in a way endanger the lives of people held hostage. This
vital was ignored by India media during 26/11 attack. The hostages freed were
not brought in the glare of lights. Traumatic as it is, and to add on to the
misery, media questions can be agonising. Their over-zealousness to take
centre-stage cannot be accepted as journalism. In a competitive scenario, TV
channels can still maintain their edge by showing responsibility. Their primary
role is to inform and educate. The TV channels and their upstart yuppie
reporters seem to forget that a colossal natural disaster like an earthquake is
a human tragedy and not just another story. One is reminded of the callous TV
live coverage of the 26/11 terror attack. The mastermind watched the visuals
sitting in Pakistan and directed the terrorists over satellite phones.
Indian media is
just a reflection of our society at large. We have the least concern for human
life, while we always expect sensational miracles to sort out problems. The
question is, should the media be happy to pander to the public emotion? The change
has to come from within.
It is necessary
for somebody to highlight the sensitivity, ethics and empathy the media
personnel, particularly the TV crew should demonstrate while covering national
disasters and other tragedies of any kind. It is hoped the experience in Nepal
will goad our Media management to hold training sessions and impart guidelines
to such crew members about the practices and care and caution to be exercised
while covering tragedies.
Sensational news
without adequate proof etc. appear to be the staple diet of the media. It is
high time the media itself inculcate within its four walls first that spirit
commensurate with their basic tenets. Media is big business now .It is not the
writers' domain. There was a time when the media was identified by its Editors
and lead writers. Now they are relegated to the backburner and gossip columns
and hack writers who have come to the forefront. It has become another
profitable business outlet. Heavy dependence on advertisement income makes it
sub serve its basic role of dissemination of authentic information. It adopts
the business tactics of more you sell more is your profit irrespective of
whether what you sell is good or evil.
More than the
tragedy, TV media is more concerned about TRP'S and the mad race for who broke
the story first. They should be sensitive enough to empathise with the
survivors than being an intrusion into their space. Freedom of speech and
reporting is being misused continuously by them, especially creating a trend of
a vicious and distasteful behavior. Not decrees, but moral decorum and
etiquette must take over. The youngsters moving into this field of mass
communication should be responsible and stop to think before they act.
No comments:
Post a Comment