Scanning Media

The Press Council Chairman's remark about the journalists sound too
harsh and too generalised.Almost all professions are manned by
mediocre people- the talents are always few and far between.All
professions have sincere and honest people and at the same time very
dishonest and insincere guys.So our fourth estate is no exception.
Journalism is in fact a very noble profession and it's a very
challenging and reponsible job too.

Unfortunately journalism has lost much of its sheen over the years.Now
it has become like any other profession.Both print and electronic
media, definitely not all, have ceased to behave responsibly and
honestly.Media should be objective in dessemination of news without
indulging in subjective assessment.In most cases views dominate
news.For print media there is leader page to analyse the story in
their own way.But still the correspondent pronounces his views while
catering the news.Some times the same story is telecast or printed in
different ways in different TV channels or news papers.It confuses the
readers or viewers rather than bring home to them what has exactly
happened.Often stories are tailored to suit the convenience of the
media house.

Sadly,media,particularly the regional ones,are now more or less politically
polarised- a section takes the onus of defending the ruling party,
sometimes brazenly and others indulge in crticising the govt at the
drop of a hat.They hardly take a neutral and dispassionate stance that
they're supposed to do.So press is more often than not accused of
partisan outlook.Press Council Chairman's view that electronic media
should be brought under the ambit of Press Council perhaps deserve
support from all corners.

Once paid news was unheard-of a phrase but now it's so common that
sensible media people are scared of it.Nevertheless there is no
dearth of honest, fearless and dedicated journalists who make no
compromise with truth and never fall short of calling spade a spade.
Hats off to them.