The essence of media was to bring forth various pieces of information across the globe as an informative source. With the privatisation of TV channels sops, live shows and reality shows, the media focussed on entertainment. As the newpaper readership ratings were coming down and to increase the TRP rating of the channels amidst competetion, Media opted a different route. That was to mix entertainment and news, which surely was well received by the audience. Then the real war started as competition surged.
Initially competetion was restricted to multi national consumer products like the Coke-Pepsi war. This was a usual tactics globally but in India the war seems to have created a wonderful impact. The impact translated into soaring sales figure. And the wars continued since a century I suppose. Probably the statistics started proving too good for many who wanted to be in limelight. Then emerged the war of the political titans. For the political it is true that `out of sight out of mind'. And they hog to stay in the public's eyes, as it is essential for survival.
The political battle has now taken over the media. Most parties have their own media channels and they use them as their mouth pieces. However many others act in disguise, they stay unbiased and put in dossages of favourism at the hour of need. Well all is fine when the media is used as a mouth piece. However in recent times, media is used as weapon to combat the opponent. And n the last month or so (rather last one year) in Andhra Pradesh, each party owned or sympathised media transformed into weapons. To garner eyeballs, spilling venom, at times beyond the line of decency, seems to have a meteric rise in the media's approach. And the limitations have no boundaries. This has become painful for the ardent sincere averaghe scribe. In disguise of investigative journalism each of them are going dirtier to expose the opponent. Reporting backed by severe criticsm some times goes overboard and hazrdous too.
Parvez Chowdhary, Managing Editor of newscommado.com said in a press conference that it is really very sad and unfortunate to see that telugu media stooped to these levels. In fact media is the fourth pillar of democracy and it is our duty to protect the dignity of our noble profession. “It is dangerous and very serious thing to ponder the nasty and narrow caste fanaticism penetrated into Telugu media. Now it is time to intellectual community to wake up and educate the society and guide the media on right tracks” he added
Come June media is used as a weapon by educational institutes and most flash their success rate in the previous years at the national and state competetive exams to attract admissions. This is just not plain advertising while claiming the ranks they also throw sattires at other institutes over false claims. This could be in their terms to kill competition or to enhance their own chances. However the elite feel that the very institutes that should instill decency and discipline on Gen-Next is setting a bad example to the them. Amid the commercialization of universities and institutes, peer pressure, and a society which craves for top rankers, the definition of education is somehow being deviated as we strive to shine in the crowded academia.
Be it the politicians or the educational institutes or the brands, etiquette and responsible broad cast is much needed. Even for scribes exposing is definately going to grab attention but using words with out overtone also helps in the long run in one's career. If at all we could control this oversized venomous mammoth tree which takes a u turn at the civilisation signal and questions our very etiquette!! (With inputs from internet-AarKay)
