Pandemonium in Pune: Fodder for the electronic media!
Pandemonium prevails in Pune. The alarming rate at which swine flu is spreading its tentacles in the city has caused unprecedented chaos. And electronic media continues to take liberties with facts and tampers reality to grab those elusive eyeballs
PUNE, ONE of the most cosmopolitan cities of the country, which has been host to students and migrants from several corners of the country since years now, is suddenly in the limelight for reasons it wouldn’t want to be proud of. The alarming rate at which the swine flu epidemic is spreading its tentacles in the city has caused unprecedented chaos. What’s adding to the whole mess is the way the electronic media, as usual, continues to take liberties with facts and tampers reality to grab those elusive eyeballs. It is true indeed that the media is required to play watchdog to the democracy and showing the people the truth of the moment is part of their job. However, there is a certain something called discretion, which every media body is required to have. Just as it is unacceptable to show stacks of dead bodies during natural disasters or telecast communally inflammatory statements during riots and unrest, it is also not sensible to show nothing but long queues, masked faces and victims’ testimonies, when you know that the obvious reaction of the masses will be one of panic. And this was very apparent in the way people began thronging Naidu Hospital to get themselves tested on Sunday. This is not to say that the electronic media did not perform their role well. It must be admitted that they did indeed create a lot of awareness regarding the disease and its precautions. However, it was less out of interest in public welfare and more due to TRP concerns. Several people of those that were tested turned out positive, indicating that the test was a boon after all. And yet, the whole process was not without its flaws. It is possible that a few people in perfect health contracted the virus from those surrounding them, during those several hours that they spent in queue awaiting their turn. If a realistic portrayal of the issue was all that they intended, it could certainly have been done even without re-playing the same visuals over and over again, and flashing images of grim-looking, mask-wearing people throughout the day. One hopes that at least in delicate situations like the present one, the media and especially its electronic wing, realises both its powers as well as responsibilities, and lives up to its name of being a true caretaker of the people. Without scaring them away, that is.
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