We Expect Media to be Vigilant Watchdog, Not an Anti-Establishment Hawk

Former President Abdul Kalam once wrote about Indian media - "Why is the Indian media is so negative? In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism and crime."

Then he went on to tell an experience,

"I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news."

In Indian context, it would be an Utopian daydreaming to expect anything like that from Indian media. But can we at least expect a little bit responsible media?

Let me tell two incidences in last three days.

Two days back, NGT issued notice against Sri Sri Ravishankar's 'World Cultural Festival' event. Condemnation by the media is based on limited information and reports presented to NGT. Art of Living Foundation has rejuvenated several rivers in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil-Nadu, many of which were dried up or contaminated by urban pollution. In partnership with United Nations Environment Programme, Art of living Foundation worked closely to plant nearly 10 million plants in 2 years all over the world. This has been barely mentioned in reporting the news.

It would be a lame argument to say that, earlier they have done good work so the government agencies should not take actions for this incident. But there should be proper assessment of- is there any serious damage to environment and biodiversity. There was not any mention, how this event is going to benefit India to improve hold of its soft-power all over the world, how it going to make India a spiritual destination and improve tourism. And even NGT is giving notice two days before the actual event? Date and venue was known and published in newspapers months before event.

Indian media is very keen to report that black spot ignoring whole white cardboard and if they couldn't find anything with bare eyes, that wouldn't discourage their endeavor to find that spot; they'd rather use microscope. Why is this obsession with negativity I don’t understand.

Another is incident happened yesterday. Media report says, " “We don't recruit Muslims”: Modi govt's Ayush Ministry

Media carried on this story without checking the authenticity of annexure to the original RTI query. What if the news is false? But media already created the animosity in Muslim community about the government. Who is going to do damage control now?

Media is creating an environment, where it seems Indian democracy is on the brink of extinction, which certainly is a lie. Earlier Indian left was showing the anti-establishment tendencies (it still does, but it losing its sheen), now media has taken that role. We expect media to be vigilant watchdog, not an anti-establishment hawk.

It is true that, people are consuming news in today's time as never before. Various apps, social media, online newspapers are becoming a tool to spread news or even brainwash people. We understand, it is simple principle of demand and supply. But in the race to provide first coverage of news, media should not put aside their professional ethics. It is true that in over-enthusiasm of first coverage, mistakes will happen. But what I propose is the same amount of media coverage and people reach to the news when the actual facts unfold.

Peace…