To be a
journalist has been this dream of mine ever since I can remember. There
certainly were days when I thought flying in a fighter jet would be better, but
it always came down to the feeling of having the need to show people the truth.
At the end of the day, it was always the thought of the nonsense being fed to
the public that got my temperature to boiling point.
Journalists
taking sides, whole media houses promoting big companies/religious leaders/
political parties, anchors who didn't let their panelists speak (OK you know
who that is), shameless partiality in reporting news, making up news and
avoiding real issues that affected people in lieu of issues that could make
newspapers sell like hot cakes, channels increase their TRPs and websites
increase their traffic are things that make the world laugh at the ethics of
Indian media and the gullibility of its populace.
Indian
journalism seems very bleak if one knows where to look. If one does manage to
somehow get to the reality, it is almost hopeless and this not my opinion but
of those few good people who have to hold their conscience down and do what
they are told by their corporate bosses.
Image Courtesy: Google Images. |
It might
seem that I’m trying to propagate conspiracy theories about the media being
controlled by a few rich people and those in power but my case is substantiated
by the recent fact that the CEO of Door Darshan is demanding that the
government declare complete autonomy for the government controlled channel.
It might be
confusing for some that I've joined a field which I have no qualms about
criticizing but a system can only be changed from within. It’s high time the
media realizes that the people are not stupid, that they can see through their
sensationalism, their mockery of national issues and manipulation of people’s
emotions. The fact that the media is actually supposed to show society a mirror
of itself seems to be lost under the weight of commercialization and the greed
of those who would seek nothing more than to perch themselves in the front row
of so-called democracy.
However,
there is hope for change. There still are independent media houses, new
entrepreneurs and upright journalists who cannot bear to see the state of
things as they are. These people need to be supported but without any vested
interests otherwise it will all be for naught.
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