A thought process inspired from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-2054967, prtpage-1.cms
Changing definitions
As a child, I was taught that reading newspaper every day was a habit of intellectually distinguished people. Now, I have realized the limiting factor of the statement. Actually, the urge to look up to the News media, (be it a news channel or a magazine or a news daily) is less of an intellectual need and more of an addiction.
People who are hooked to the media are pseudo intellectuals living a life so emotionally barren that they want an action filled, sadistic piece of tabloid to add meaning to their lives. The real intellectuals are out there campaigning against the commercialization of today’s news media.
Today’s news media strictly adheres to ‘Sensationalism’.Gone, are those days when News served as the single important source of basic world knowledge. Now, they serve as the source of pressing anxiety which add scary uncertainty to the agony of daily routines, chores and drab.
Reasoning
Media reports about issues, tabloid, gossip, cover stories, columns, reviews and opinions designed to satisfy the anxious, insecure public who wants to collect, dissect, analyze and judge them all.
The dark reality; the stench of rotten human beings who are inhuman enough to swipe away thousands of lives with bombs; the image of the unjust, terrifying, uncontrollable fury of mob violence; the ripped down façades of the irrevocably corrupt-to-the-core politicians; are wrapped with resonant words and brought to us as ‘Breaking News’and ‘Head Lines’
The media brings us face-to-face to the uncomfortable, deceptive reality which distorts the image of the perfect world we saw through the old Moral Science School books. And this thought percolates a sense of gloom.
Sensationalism
I watched a ‘CNN-IBN’ reporter claim that the kidnapping of ‘Anant’ son of Adobe’s CEO has left all mothers of school going kids in a state of paranoia. This is a perfect example of ‘Sensationalism’.
The idea of a school going kid ‘being kidnapped’/’getting lost’ is a nightmare that parents have always faced. The news channel could have listed a few precaution notes to parents and children to implement when faced with a danger like this. That would have been an example of positivistic journalism.
But today, the news media is filled with young immature journalists who want to sell news like any other product. They do not realize their words can induce negative cynicism, anxiety and even anger amongst the readers/viewers.
Suggestions
The following can be implemented for betterment of the news media.
BottomLine: News Media should serve as a watch-dog of the society and not an attention seeking in-house pet.
Adding an emotional angle or Sensationalizing should be stopped
Sarcasm(puppet shows and mock shows) and Voyeurism(sting operations involving sex scandal) should not be a part of a news report.
View points of Independent thinkers, Visionaries and Mature critics(who use constructive criticism) of the nation should be presented to the public.
Self acclaimed society critics, Film industry people and ‘Page3’ socialites(like ‘Shoba De’ and ‘Pooja Bedi’) should not be given chance to hog the limelight in a regular news sections.
Age limit should be introduced in to the currently popular ‘People Journalists’ trend. I.e. Youngsters(within ages 18 - 24 or less) are usually over-anxious, highly opinionated and easily impressionable. Hence their view points tend to be flawed.
And lastly,
- News media should take an unbiased stand on various pressing issues. News report should not indirectly pressurize sensitive elements of the social fabric like judiciary, religion-based and caste-based reservations etc…
All these would make the news media boring for a few people.Such people should realize that News is not meant to be entertainment and should go back to watching ZOOM TV for entertainment.