MAINSTREAM versus SOCIAL MEDIA
BALANCE AND CREDIBILITY IN NEWS REPORTING
Musings
By
VIKRAM KARVE
When I was a
small boy, after dinner, I would sit with my father and listen to the 9 o’clock
news on All India Radio (AIR). Then we would all go to sleep. Once in a while
we would tune into BBC for the World News.
Later, with
the advent of Television (TV), I started watching the news bulletin every night
on Doordarshan.
I liked the
no-frills simple style of AIR and Doordarshan.
Then, there
was the information technology boom. It was fascinating to see the
proliferation of news channels blaring round the clock with breaking news in so
many languages. The TRP driven channels were each trying to outdo the other in
packaging and presenting news in an aggressive style not seen before. For a
simple viewer like me, bombarded with news 24/7 and with so many options, it
was difficult to choose from the “information overload” of “News”.
Now, I have
decided to stop watching News Channels on TV.
I am going to
get my News from the Internet, primarily via the Social Media like Twitter and
Facebook and also via Google, Yahoo, YouTube and various News Sites and e-newspapers. I can read
most of the regional, national and international newspapers online too.
I have decided
to stop watching Indian Mainstream Electronic Media TV News Channels for three
reasons:
1. Most Mainstream
TV News Channels focus on “Views” rather than “News”. Instead of reporting
factual news in an objective and unbiased manner they “process” the news with
their own views and broadcast the news as if they are trying to “brainwash” the
viewer by bombarding him with subjective opinionated and biased views. Prime
Time “Debates” to propagate “Views” are given more priority than telecasting
simple accurate authentic “News”.
2. Mainstream
TV News Channels are “Delhi-Centric”. An incident in Delhi
or NCR is blown out of proportion whereas a similar incident in a distant city
or remote mofussil rural part
of India
3. Mainstream
Media TV Channels do not seem to be “neutral” non-aligned and independent.
Instead of telecasting news in a fair, transparent, independent, non-partisan
and even-handed manner, on occasions, they seem to exhibit bias, partiality and
imbalance. To a balanced viewer it appears as if they are taking sides. Whereas
some acts and statements are given undue prominence, sometimes even quoted out
of context, and highlighted as “breaking news”, similar acts and statements by
others are either not reported at all or just given a cursory mention. Thus,
while watching news, even an open-minded viewer gets an impression that news
channels are opinionated and subjective in their approach.
Whenever I
switch on the TV to watch the news I want credible reportage which is
authentic, accurate, prompt, fair, objective and unbiased.
I want to
watch debates conducted in a balanced even-handed equitable manner with all
participants given fair opportunity to air and discuss their views.
That is why I
am going to watch BBC and CNN for the international news.
And as far as
the indigenous news is concerned, I am going to try to get it from the Internet
and Social Media, and maybe I will watch a few Regional TV News Channels for
the local news.
And yes, for
nostalgic sake, I am going to watch the news bulletin on Doordarshan and hear
the 9 o’clock news on All India Radio too.
Let’s see how
it works out. At least, I will go to sleep early, unruffled by the prime time
debates that generate more heat than light.
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