Media is one of the most important pillars of democracy. It not only informs and educates the citizens but also ensures balance in the society while acting as a moral compass and taking up social causes.
It acts as a mirror that reflects the true face of society while giving it scope to improve and hence evolve.
But what if the same media, which is supposed to act as a guiding light in the troubled times, looses its sense of morality and goes rogue?
What if the same media, which sets higher standards for the society, starts contradicting its own standards?
Indian media has been criticized around the world for its sensationalism and yellow journalism. It has been mocked and looked down upon for its insensitive coverage of events solely focused on gathering page-views and increasing TRPs.
Sadly for us, the story doesn’t end there. Indian media, which is famous for ‘branding people’ and giving ‘public verdicts’ has lost track of its own morality.
Remember how the image of a boy clicking selfie with his dead grand-father went viral on the social media and how media went crazy over it? How readers and media criticized the boy alike for his insensitive behavior?
Now here’s an alternative scenario. Balika Vadhu actress Pratyusha Banerjee recently committed suicide and the news became a hot topic of discussions and speculations everywhere. From her past to her present, from her relationship with her boyfriend to her pregnancy rumors, even a minor update in the police investigation qualified to become a ‘Breaking News’ and was being frequently followed by the readers.
The saddest part was when the entire media was flashing pictures just before her last rites. How she was dressed for her last journey, how people paid their last respects and how she was taken from her house to the crematorium.
There was something deeply disturbing in it that was hard to ignore.
People come and go in every household, and no matter who it is or what the time or the cause is, it’s never easy to deal with the loss.
The thing is, when something like this happens in our own house, we want people to be sensitive and respect our privacy. But when it happens to a well known face all that sensitivity and privacy is forgotten and media taking a contrary stand forgets all its code of conduct and begins the marathon for the highest TRPs and page views.
What’s even more disturbing is that people actually followed the news religiously.
If media is reflection of the society and it fulfills the demands made by the same society, then isn’t the society equally responsible for the cold-blooded coverage of the event?
If media is naïve, then how is the society that we’re living in any better? After all our society is known for its double standards.
In our country both media and the society are the sinners. Let’s not put the entire blame on one because it’s easier that ways.
It acts as a mirror that reflects the true face of society while giving it scope to improve and hence evolve.
But what if the same media, which is supposed to act as a guiding light in the troubled times, looses its sense of morality and goes rogue?
What if the same media, which sets higher standards for the society, starts contradicting its own standards?
Indian media has been criticized around the world for its sensationalism and yellow journalism. It has been mocked and looked down upon for its insensitive coverage of events solely focused on gathering page-views and increasing TRPs.
Sadly for us, the story doesn’t end there. Indian media, which is famous for ‘branding people’ and giving ‘public verdicts’ has lost track of its own morality.
Remember how the image of a boy clicking selfie with his dead grand-father went viral on the social media and how media went crazy over it? How readers and media criticized the boy alike for his insensitive behavior?
Now here’s an alternative scenario. Balika Vadhu actress Pratyusha Banerjee recently committed suicide and the news became a hot topic of discussions and speculations everywhere. From her past to her present, from her relationship with her boyfriend to her pregnancy rumors, even a minor update in the police investigation qualified to become a ‘Breaking News’ and was being frequently followed by the readers.
The saddest part was when the entire media was flashing pictures just before her last rites. How she was dressed for her last journey, how people paid their last respects and how she was taken from her house to the crematorium.
There was something deeply disturbing in it that was hard to ignore.
People come and go in every household, and no matter who it is or what the time or the cause is, it’s never easy to deal with the loss.
The thing is, when something like this happens in our own house, we want people to be sensitive and respect our privacy. But when it happens to a well known face all that sensitivity and privacy is forgotten and media taking a contrary stand forgets all its code of conduct and begins the marathon for the highest TRPs and page views.
What’s even more disturbing is that people actually followed the news religiously.
If media is reflection of the society and it fulfills the demands made by the same society, then isn’t the society equally responsible for the cold-blooded coverage of the event?
If media is naïve, then how is the society that we’re living in any better? After all our society is known for its double standards.
In our country both media and the society are the sinners. Let’s not put the entire blame on one because it’s easier that ways.
