Development issues: Empty sound replaces substance

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Development issues: Empty sound replaces substance

A national meet on development issues seemed to become a free-for-all exchange. Media obsessed with sensation could be seen at a loss. However, such meets do sensitise some journalists to come forward and lend a voice for the poor and the meek.

CJ: Vikas Parihar

Fri, Feb 01, 2008 19:06:57 IST

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VIKAS SAMVAD at Chitrakoot recently organised a national meet on the developmental issues. In this meet several topics were discussed. The most important was the use of Internet as an alternate media, especially the scope of the blogs. Though different people had different opinions, I felt that blogs are in an initial stage, thus it would not be proper to give any firm decision. In the present context, the scope and importance of these mediums of expression cannot be underestimated. When James Augustus Hicky started his first hand written paper he himself did not know about the future of that paper, which today is the powerful medium for raising the voice. Similar is the case with the blogs. Nobody today knows what wonders this innovation would do in the coming time.

The next session dealt about the space mainstream media give to developmental issues. It seemed more like a blame game with speakers shifting blames on others. Participants seemed to pass the buck. Despite finding a solution, everybody was busy pointing each other’s lapses. Truly, getting adequate space for such issues is not much of a problem provided the issue has been addressed well and the language used is smart enough to attract the readers and the editor. There is a lack of constant effort and true commitment. Often, our words outweigh our deeds.

A clash ensued. Most seniors, who have a say in the policy making of the newspaper opined that reporters and correspondents did not usually come out with the good stories on developmental issues, while the juniors blamed the seniors for denying them the requisite space. It was difficult to judge who was speaking the truth. However, we, media persons, must accept that the problem does exist and that it calls for honest efforts.

In the journey of journalism of mission to journalism of sensation, the poor and the marginalised, and the issues related to the basic needs of life have lost focus. It seems that today’s media is more concerned about what Mallika is wearing (or not wearing), what Rakhi Sawant says and what is happening in the Abhi-Ash wedding, rather than how many people in the world are dying due to starvation; how many don’t have even rags to cover their bodies and how many people are sleep in the open, on pavements. Contrarily, discussions about the poverty, hunger and development have become a fashion in present time. So everybody talks about these issues but when it comes to work there are very few who actually come forward to work and address these issues, honestly. Everybody just steps backwards.

Perhaps the people who find the answers to these questions might start making an honest effort. It’s clear that most people would shy away from doing anything about these issues – after all it’s not their cup of tea!

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