Can news reporting get any worse?

We have seen news reporting getting bad and embarrassing in the run for 'breaking news' on TV channels but never visualised that it can get as bad as this!

The news in reference is the coverage about an unsolicited guest - snake -in a senior MLA's house in Karnataka. A live story of 15 minutes on a Kannada channel!

The MLA's daughter saw a snake creeping in to their house and immediately called the DCP, Bangalore to arrest the sneaker. The snake catchers, ordered by the police chief, arrived at the venue with in fifteen minutes and successfully nabbed the terrorist snake. The News reader in the studio was lucky enough to get a live reaction from the MLA's daughter on the 'successful operation'. The viewers sighed in relief when the reporter on live coverage concluded with the 'all ended well' note with inputs from the family members.

But that was not all. There was more to come, from the news desk. A quick look into the archive and there was an increase in the instances of snakes sneaking into politicians residences, of late. This piece of information was sufficient to stretch the breaking news capsule with analytical inputs, definitely an edge over the other channels, in case anybody else had got the exclusive news.

A friend from Puttur was stunned to see this bulletin. He was already in a state of shock because of the response from one of the daily newspapers about his feature story on farmers' plight, the same day. He was asked to cut it short to 500 words as it was no more a prominent issue. And he was treated to the breaking news of the sneaker snake when he was still trying to find answer to the question what constitutes prominence for news media?

Marathon live coverage of the rescue operations to save a boy from the
abandoned bore well tube, from the same TV channel months ago, had raised questions about media responsibilities in reporting crisis and disasters.

The hype created by this coverage had led to premature announcement of
relief to the family of the child by the government, which in turn led to mass protest by the villagers and onlookers at the site of the rescue operations, who had gathered in thousands, thanks to the live coverage! The mob was sufficiently instigated to protest against the CM for not visiting the site, thanks again to reporter's observation on the serious lapse on the part of the CM.

TV viewers still remember the visuals of the poor street dogs declared as 'man eaters' and the fear it had created about the 'most trusted animal friend'. There is no difference of opinion about the fact that street dog menace has become an issue. But that does not mean all street dogs are man eaters, argued common people.

A young friend sitting next to me hints that the next breaking news on the channel - live coverage of rape!

Can news coverage get any more disgusting?

THANX to
Sathya S.

Bangalore
18 August, 07

Indian News Television Awards

TV18 Group & NDTV win top honours at Indian News Television Awards; Prannoy
Roy gets Lifetime Achievement
Below is a detailed list of the winners:
S.No Category Winner Nominee Programme Channel
1 Best TV News Reporter - Hindi Upendra Rai Star News
2 Best TV News Reporter - English Shaili Chopra Power Lunch, Profit
At Night, Business Primetime NDTV Profit
3 Best TV News Anchor - Hindi Vinod Dua - NDTV India
4 Best TV News Anchor - English Barkha Dutt We the people &
Special NDTV 24x7
5 Best Promo Campaign By a News Channel Match Ke Mujrim - Star
News
6 Best Promo for any News show Kaun Banega Mukhyamantri Kaun
Banega Mukhyamantri Promo Star News
7 Best Promo for a News Channel CNBC AWAAZ Awaaz baby Film
Promo - India Speaks Business CNBC AWAAZ
8 Best Sports News Presenter - Hindi Darain Shahidi - IBN
7
9 Best Sports News Presenter - English Meha Bharadwaj Master
Selector CNN-IBN
10 Best Sports Reporting by a channel - Hindi Wah ! Cricket Wah
! Cricket Star News
11 Best Sports Reporting by a channel - English Rudraneil Sengupta -
Fifa world cup 06 Fifa world cup 06 CNN-IBN
12 Best Sports News Show - Hindi Jeeto India Jeeto Jeeto India
Jeeto NDTV India
13 Best Sports News Show - English The Game The Game
Times Now
14 Best Auto Show-Hindi Top Speed Top Speed Star News
15 Best Auto Show - English Auto Show Auto Show
CNBC-TV18
16 Best Business News Show - Hindi Dhan Daulat Dhan Daulat Aaj
Tak
17 Best Business News Show - English Axe The Tax Axe The
Tax(Citizen Journalist Special) CNN-IBN
18 Best Business Talk Show - Hindi Hum Honge Kamayaab Hum
Honge Kamayaab CNBC AWAAZ
19 Best Business Talk Show - English Young Turks Young Turks
CNBC-TV18
20 Best Business News Anchor - Hindi Pranjal Sharma Dhan Daulat
Aaj Tak
21 Best Business News Anchor - English Udayan Mukherjee -
CNBC-TV18
22 Best Investigative Reporting- Hindi Khabro Ki Khabar
Khabro Ki Khabar NDTV India
23 Best Investigative Reporting- English I am M K Subba I am M K
Subba CNN-IBN
24 Best Daily Newscast- Hindi Badi Khabar Badi Khabar Zee
News
25 Best Daily Newscast- English India At 9 India At 9
CNN-IBN
26 Best News Documentary Programme-Limited episodes-Hindi Special
Report Special Report NDTV India
27 Best News Documentary Programme-Limited episodes-English
Missing In Action Missing In Action CNN-IBN
28 Best Current Affairs Show (Home & International)- Hindi Khabron Ki
Khabar Khabron Ki Khabar NDTV India
29 Best Current Affairs Show (Home & International)- English
Nandigram : The Land Bleeds Nandigram : The Land Bleeds NDTV 24x7
30 Best Crime Show- Hindi Pardafash Pardafash CNBC AWAAZ
31 Best Crime Show- English Action City Action City
Times Now
32 Talk Show on a News Channel- Hindi Hum Log Hum Log NDTV India
33 Talk Show on a News Channel- English We The People -
Homosexuality Spl We The People - Homosexuality Spl NDTV 24x7
34 Best Lifestyle & Fashion News Show- English High Life High
Life Times Now
35 Best Lifestyle & Fashion News Show- Hindi Raat Baaki Raat
Baaki NDTV India
36 Best Entertainment News Show-English India Questions Amitabh
Bachchan India Questions Amitabh Bachchan NDTV 24x7
37 Best Entertainment News Show-Hindi Jai Jawan With Preity Zinta
Jai Jawan With Preity Zinta NDTV India
38 Lifetime Dr Prannoy Roy - -
39 Newsmaker Rajdeep Sardesai - -
40 Best English News channe; CNN-IBN - -
41 Best Hindi News Channel NDTV India
42 Best Business News Channel CNBC-TV

HEADLINES DATED 1ST JAN 2025

1. President Sonia Gandhi and prime minister Priyanka Gandhi receive
Italian prime minister Rahul Gandhi.

2. Dhoom 17 ready for release.

3. I will play next world cup - Sachin Tendulkar

4. Salman, Vivek and Abhishek attend Aishwarya's 3rd marriage.

5. Mein tau aabhi jawan hu - Dev Anand.

6. Petrol Rs.999/lt.

7. Kyunki saas bhi kabhi bahu thi completed 2,50,000 episodes & Baa has
completed 400yrs.

8. Coach Ganguly resigns, as India went out of world cup in 1st round
after losing to Korea .

9. N.Siddhu will launch his own TV channal where he can speak for a whole
day.

10. Riots in the Parliament as the newly elected MP MALLIKA SHERAWAT
enters the assembly.

indian journalist shuld learn from Mika

If you r a journalist, you have responsblity to do something newsworthy. A journalist refuses three times to lead with the Paris Hilton story while her co-anchors act like rude, demeaning, sexist jerks.
Mika Brzezinski, you've got a new fan. you are new news star. A lighter and paper shredder helped make Mika Brzezinski the symbol of television journalism's guilt trip about Paris Hilton.

Brzezinski used both to destroy a script calling for her to read about Hilton's release from jail on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program recently. Part serious, part an act, it has become an Internet sensation. More than 2 million people have watched a clip of the incident, about 10 times the number who watched it live on TV.

"Among journalists it touched a nerve because I think we're tired of pretending this is important," she said. "We also know that, deep down inside, our viewers know that we don't believe this is news. They can't. They can't think we're that dumb."

Brzezinski, who left CBS News last year, has been working as a news-reader and on-air foil for Joe Scarborough on the show MSNBC is trying out to replace Don Imus in the morning.

"Among journalists it touched a nerve because I think we're tired of pretending this is important," she said. "We also know that, deep down inside, our viewers know that we don't believe this is news. They can't. They can't think we're that dumb."

Brzezinski, who left CBS News last year, has been working as a news-reader and on-air foil for Joe Scarborough on the show MSNBC is trying out to replace Don Imus in the morning.

"Among journalists it touched a nerve because I think we're tired of pretending this is important," she said. "We also know that, deep down inside, our viewers know that we don't believe this is news. They can't. They can't think we're that dumb."

Brzezinski, who left CBS News last year, has been working as a news-reader and on-air foil for Joe Scarborough on the show MSNBC is trying out to replace Don Imus in the morning.

"Among journalists it touched a nerve because I think we're tired of pretending this is important," she said. "We also know that, deep down inside, our viewers know that we don't believe this is news. They can't. They can't think we're that dumb."

Media barons and press freedoms

How relevant is the argument of a threat to freedom of the press in cases where the financial interests of a media baron could ostensibly conflict with that of the public? The question resurfaced recently in Andhra Pradesh over the Eenadu-Margadarsi controversy, writes B P Sanjay.

7 March 2007 - The tussle between the Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy and media baron Ramoji Rao has been in the news for a while. The Eenadu group which owns a very successful Telugu newspaper celebrated for its innovative pullouts and local editions, twelve television channels, film production company and a film city, also runs a chit fund and financing company. It is also known for its anti-Congress stance.

The crux of the antipathy is the editorial stance on the CM by the newspaper and the chief minister's so called attempts to arm-twist Rao by probing his other business interests, the Margadarsi financiers. By a Government Order (GO) in December 2006, a committee headed by N Rangachary had been asked to ascertain "whether M/s. Margadarsi Financiers, carrying on business in Hyderabad and who have raised huge moneys from the members of the public by way of deposits are acting in any manner prejudicial to the interests of the depositors and whether they are likely to return the deposits collected from the public." This order was challenged by the company and the A.P. High Court had refused to stay the proceedings initiated by the A.P. government. The government proceeded to "seize" documents from the Margadarsi office recently and the Rangchary committee reported that depositors could expect about 49 paisa only for their rupee. All this was duly covered in the media. Ramoji Rao also issued a strongly worded rebuttal to the Rangachari committee report.

A related development was the filing of the Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court by Ramoji Rao with two senior journalists N Ram and Kuldip Nayyar who impleaded themselves in the petition. A threat to Freedom of the Press was invoked in the context of various actions by the state government, in probing the activities of the chit fund company. The affidavit filed before the Supreme Court goes on to suggest: "The freedom of press and the right to free speech enshrined in the Constitution are in grave danger and¡­are part of the attempts of the State Government to silence Eenadu."

The editors guild had earlier issued a warning to the A.P. government that an attempt to search the offices of the media baron tantamount to an attack on the press. These developments, apart from motivations and agenda on either side have once again framed press freedom. The Hindu in an editorial (on December 23, 2006) that was faithfully carried by the Eenadu the next day described the situation in A.P. as reflecting a "Dangerous Intolerance" towards press criticism and invoked Nehruvian principles of press freedom.

Perhaps press freedom advocates find it difficult to understand the relationship between the business aspects of a media company, its political affiliation and the content of the media that is apparently intended to serve the public interest. But the truism that a free press has been defended in the past to mask among other aspects, the attacks on related business enterprises of a media company, has been reinforced in the current developments in Andhra Pradesh.

Eenadu's own well-known slant

Since Eenadu's launch in 1974 its editorial stance towards the Congress has not been friendly. Prior to its support to TDP (formed in 1982) the newspaper was aligned with the communists largely dominated by the Kamma community in coastal Andhra. The internal emergency declared during the Congress regime was another anti-Congress rallying point for Ramoji Rao. The paper's campaign for prohibition in the State opposed the Congress clique that then controlled the liquor business. And although the campaign did result in a prohibition policy, when this was subsequently lifted by the TDP, there was no similar critical reaction from the newspaper". The importance given to Telugu Desam and its leader in Eenadu is not lost on anyone.

Academicians who monitor the Telugu daily press do agree that the editorial stance of the Eenadu group is anti-Congress. Dr Satyaprakash, a communications faculty in the Hyderabad Central University sums up the Eenadu-Congress issue as follows: "Its critical reporting about the Congress since it unseated the TDP in the last election is more than evident and can be perceived by the lay reader as well. Since the Congress MP, Undavall Arun Kumar from Rajamundhry raised the issue of Margadarsi financiers, allegations and counter allegations have continued about the newspaper targeting the Congress and the Chief Minister using his state power to muzzle the paper by trying to destabilize the financial institutions of Ramoji Rao. Since the issue has been raised, Eenadu continues to feature stories and treats stories related to Margadarsi in a predictable manner. Other Telugu dailies do not miss to introduce the freedom of the press angle in their stories as they have a stake in the issue as well."

Coverage of the current controversy

The coverage of the raids conducted on the premises of the chit fund company by the state government was predictable. With the Deccan Chronicle carrying a front page story on the committee report pertaining to the chit fund company and the same story being tucked to an inside page by The Hindu, the alignment was evident. With N Ram, editor in chief of The Hindu impleading in the special leave petition filed in the Supreme Court by Ramoji Rao, the business association was transparent. It may be pointed out that The Hindu and Eenadu have a marketing alliance to leverage their combined readership base. "To enable our large circle of advertisers and clients to achieve their communication objectives for this market with immediate ease and efficiency, two leading media vehicles - The Hindu and Eenadu have come together to offer AP on a platter." This combined offer began in 2001.

The coverage in The Hindu was not necessarily in conformity with its claim of applying pure editorial values. The Rangachari report was relegated to the inside pages, as noted earlier, and the front page anchored a story on the furor over the searches of the chit fund company. Further almost an entire page barring the ad space was devoted to the story that included the gag order against the media (the backdrop to this story was evident), Ramoji Rao's response with his photograph and Jayalalithaa' s description of the raid as undemocratic. The Bharatiya Janata Party's response and Chandrababu Naidu meeting the governor were also given importance, along with defense of the ruling party that the raids, etc. was not in any way tantamount to an attack on the freedom of the press.

Additional coverage in the Deccan Chronicle focused on official action and justification in the inside pages, and included references to the protests against the raids spearheaded by the Telugu Desam party in particular.

There is another aspect, in addition to political alignments. There have been headlined media stories in the past highlighting the misdeeds of other chit fund companies and financial institutions. Alarmist reactions by the depositors have also been featured. Call it media power, the alarmist perspective is missing in this case. The episode is being treated as the hyper-critical attitude of the media baron towards the present state government. According to Ramoji Rao's SLP, the government's response of muzzling the media was intended at "financially destabilizing the media enterprise from running the daily Eenadu and 12 television channels."

The view of the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court while refusing to stay the inquiry taken up by the state government into alleged irregularities of the Margadarsi group made a few observations that are valid in the context of media and editors' reaction to the raids. When Ramoji's counsel attributed malafide intentions to the chief minister, chief justice K G Balakrishnan commented according to the Deccan Chronicle, "Financial institutions are always in trouble. Why can't the government intervene?" At another point during the hearing, Justice Ravindran observed: "When the Chief Minister commits a mistake you pointed it out. Similarly, when you did wrong, the State government has acted. Your client (Mr. Ramoji Rao) is wearing two hats. One as a newspaper owner and the other as a proprietor of chit fund company." The intervener applications filed by N Ram and Kuldip Nayyar evoked a different reaction from the apex court. "It has nothing to do with the freedom of press. It is only a financial business."

The relationship between Freedom of the Press and the capitalist order is problematic especially in the context of the economics of media industry where both cross-media and vertical integration practices prevail. In cases where the interests of the media baron could ostensibly conflict with that of the public and their resources how relevant is the threat to freedom of the press argument? This is an important question as the public's right to know is enshrined in the RTI Act and media claims to be a champion of probing all matters that concern the public. By extension it cannot shirk from its primary role merely because the story refers to the same group.

See in the light of the raids on the chit fund company, the media's claim to transcend conflict of interest dynamics and posit a public interest dimension is once again under scrutiny. But when political and business interests converge to operate media enterprises, the pretense of public interest is exposed. The fragility of public discourse on matters that concern them is also evident. The poor public's right to know is always added as a defense to fight what apparently is the right or wrong practices of a company that is owned by a media baron.

The issue itself may die on a symbiotic note. The attitude of the media in this case although polarized depending on whose side you want to be is reflective of the enormous business stakes involved, the ethical dimension of corporate affairs reporting, including the financial and other interests of the media owners. The Supreme Court at least by drawing the sharp line between financial interests and press freedom has been explicit in highlighting this issue. ¨’

B P Sanjay
7 Mar 2007

B P Sanjay is a Professor of Communication, Hyderabad Central University, Hyderabad.

Saints turn radio jockey in Bihar

People across the country tune in to FM radios to catch popular music. But in a remote corner of Bihar, people have become ardent listeners to spiritual teachings, broadcast not from radio station, but a poverty-stricken saint community that vows to enlighten the society.


In Bhagalpur, Bihar, Sant Gyanmukh Ashhram through its makeshift FM station broadcasts programs on spirituality and even spearheads an anti-dowry campaign.


“The holy men here broadcast good programmes. They tell us about good deeds and positive thoughts,” says Pappu, a local villager who begins his day by listening to this local FM channel.


Though the channel doesn’t have a license, it has become immensely popular among the locals. “They sing about the evils of dowry system. Everybody listens to the programmes with joy. We learn a lot,” says Yogendra Prasad, villager.



The ashram authorities say they are trying to enlighten the locals. “Our elected representatives look for a chance to take advantage of people. We educate people about their rights and duties to protect them from harm,” said Yogesh Gyan Swarup, Saint.


With this local initiative, the ashram plans to catch up with big-time saints like Asha Ram Bapu. And for the locals, it’s good music to the ears.

Pulitzer Center seeks to shed light on under-reported issues

English speaking print and broadcast journalists interested in drawing attention to issues of global importance, particularly under-reported issues, can apply for a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting to cover their travel expenses.
The Pulitzer Center, an independent division of the World Security Institute (WSI), was established in 2006. Sponsored by the Pulitzer family, the main goal of the center is to raise the standard of reporting on global affairs.
Grants are usually awarded in the region of US$3,000 but proposals up to a maximum of US$20,000 will be considered.
Interested applicants should prepare a short project proposal in 250 words or less and include a plan for how they intend to distribute the final report within the mainstream media.
Project proposals should be submitted with a budget estimate, a C.V., three professional references and three samples of recent work.
Applications are accepted throughout the year.
For more information or to send proposals, email info@pulitzercenter .org, or visit http://www.pulitzer center.org