Uneven Heads that Crown the Indian TV Channels!

The recent attack of terror on the city of Mumbai has raised some issues about the coverage of events by India's TV Channels. Although, all the TV channels were reporting the events live almost from the same spot, each one was claiming it was exclusive offering from their channel.

After every half an hour or so it was claimed: “the reporter concerned has been covering these events by risking his/her life.” Perhaps the channels consider the lives of their reporters at a more risk than the lives of the security persons, the hostages, the public trapped inside the hotels and buildings and stations under attack.

Though it may be admitted that reporters were at some risk doing the job, but to make it part of the news and announce it as if only he is the one at risk, is never permissible in ethics of journalism. The history of Journalism is replete with instances where journalists have covered all the wars that the earth has witnessed, with dignity and a sense of duty and repose, not only by risking their lives but also by laying down their lives. Even the Discovery channels cameramen and crew are always at a risk while covering the nature, but they never make news out of it for gaining the TRPs. Strangely enough even the Times Now was a part of the same commercial boasting.

The mushroom growth of the Channels and their constantly increasing greed for finances, has led to a mad race amongst them so much so that even in peaceful times they claim at top of their voice that their channel is the first one to break the news. It is almost deafening and only the TV remote helps you to switch over to some saner foreign channel. The fact, however, is that every channel is associated or subscribed to the News Agencies from where the news flows.

Boasting and Speculations are an inseparable part of reporting by Indian TV channels.Every channel has a spot for breaking news on the screen. The viewer some times feels that breaking news is part of some advertisement. And why is this boasting be an important part of the News?

The breaking news on the left photograph is :" Amitabh Bachan-an Indian Actor - catches cold."

The Indian TV channels are a recent phenomenon.
Mostly, the TV reporters covering the events are untrained and unprofessional in approach. They have just passed some crash course of one or two weeks from fly by night institutes and joined the Channel by proximity to the owners, rather than on merit. They have, however, acquired the skill of shouting at the top of the voice with hysterical frenzy while covering an event. It may be a condolence meeting or a page3 party, their voice is always at the same pitch-like that of theatrical Ravana in a Ram Lila. And in the heat of moment or lack of it, even when they have nothing to say or they know nothing to add, and since the presenter has asked them, they prefer to stretch their vocal chords to the extreme with utter disregard to the situation around them.

As regards the recent covering of events, the less is said the better it is. They were reporting events emotionally and hysterically. Journalists always have control over their emotions, and they are required to report the news “as it is” without involving any personal bias.

Zee News knew the exact number of bullets and grenades the terrorist carried.

Star News claimed one Rahman Chacha was the mastermind.

CNN-IBN7 aired a rumour that terrorists were firing from an ambassador car.

India TV proudly claimed –– Terrorists Are Watching India TV.

And, India TV in response to the notice issued by M/o I&B later defended this by saying that they were helping security agencies.

The security agencies can be helped even without shouting ‘Terrorists Are Watching India TV.’

In fact, they were reporting events and breaking news on unconfirmed reports in a very irresponsible manner. Such other reports have led the Naval Chief Suresh Mehta to state:” All over the world, media is an enabling instrument. In India, it is a disabling instrument.” Reporters have been taught to say many things to gain competitive edge.

A stock question these reporters often ask the interviewee is: “how are you feeling?” And this question is always asked by each and every channel's reporters whether one has scored a century in a cricket match or one is drowning in a flood or facing bullets. And before the drowning man catches the mike, the reporter starts giving his or her verdict.

Can’t they improve their claimed service to the nation?