In this second part of my article-series on 'Media and Ethics', I have quoted some examples as to how media creates excitement and instead of choosing to follow the story on merits, it runs after TRPs and in the process, it forgets whether the thing it is getting involved in so passionately is right or wrong.
IN CONTINUATION of my previous article on Ethics in Media I would like to cite three case studies to support my argument. I would also like to point out that I am not making any diatribes against media or journalists. My only impassioned plea is to write reports in such a manner so as to prevent antagonising any section of our innumerable societies. This is a complex task, I agree but this has to be done with wisdom and dispassion.
The Aarushi Talwar murder case is something we can start our argument with. Immediately after this barbaric episode, the media reported, led by a leading newspaper of the country that she was murdered by her parents because she and her domestic man servant objected to the clandestine affairs of her parents, which of course included flagrant love affairs. The media then retracted. After that a series of murders took place and the media then said that domestic helps in their house and nearby were responsible for this grotesque act.
After a couple of years the main suspects were exonerated. We are told now that they are in hiding. After some more years the CBI closed the case yet again pointing accusing fingers at the parents. The case is now oscillating between various courts. In the meantime, the parents are pleading not guilty. It has been several years now but the justice hasn’t been done by our courts but some of our journalists drew the conclusions on the very first day.
The second case was that of the Anna Hazare anti-corruption campaign in which almost entire country participated, so much so that children proudly proclaimed that "I am Anna". We don't know what is happening now. Who is Anna, and who is for and against him. For months, there was only Anna on our TV sets, every station we surfed, Anna, his followers and TV debates were omnipresent. Now he has stopped to feature in our newspapers and electronic media.
These are only examples that I have given to show how the media creates excitement and loses all interest after creating excitement and tension. Who gains and who loses? It is the sensitive Indian.
