Reality Check

When i started this blog in January 2008, it was started with a purpose. To enable people to read my articles and reports on my experiences following the covering deprivation trip to Vidarbha.Soon, i added a couple other reports and at some point it also turned into a personal diary with lot of my random thoughts becoming a part of it.

But this is not a random blog post. Nor is it a fun one. It is a serious one. Perhaps it might be at some level be rhetorical. But it certainly is a post which aims to do what this blog was meant to do-a reality check of our times.

And this time its a reality check of media houses. If you are tired of reading criticism about Indian media you are most welcome to close the window and walk away. If you are wondering where this leads to..read on. Ps: This is purely my perspective gained out of my experience in the media industry.So, If anyone gets offended reading this, you are welcome to ignore it.

It's been almost two years since i have joined one of India's leading English dailies and been a part of the media industry. I had never imagined media to be clean industry and had heard tales of corporatisation of media, of manufactured consent and what not. But to face it in reality far from the lectures and seminars was something that i was perhaps not fully prepared for.

For all our rhetoric about freedom of speech and expression, the fact remains that media industry is perhaps one of the many industries where freedom of expression and speech are hardly exercised. There is no scope for wider discussions and debates among reporters, more so if there is a hierarchy at place. As a journalist you have the right to question everything and anything, except your own editor or your paper's editorial policy. You have no freedom to challenge a viewpoint or present your perspective. And if you do chose to exercise this constitutional right, then you will be bringing upon yourself wrath. So, at the end of the day..all this hype about "getting truth to people" falls flat because you are not allowed to write truth-not the plain truth at least.

Most papers hide under the garb of being just, neutral, objective, apolitical and what not. But most media houses are quite opposite to that and that includes even self-proclaimed objective papers which believe in 'plain reporting'. The agenda, is often hidden under all this self-righteousness and rhetoric. And those who do 'real reporting' are shown the middle finger. Most media houses are corrupt and stink of nepotism and egoism at its worst can be experienced here. And journalists are as good as stenographers or glorified Public Relations Officers selling their souls by typing out reports and press notes.

And the power of 'Power Seat' corrupts them all.The media which goes on and on about corrupt politicians, society and questions and analyses how 'Power of Kursi' corrupts people should do a reality check and have some internal analysis. And no this doesn't mean having a seminar where the so-called and self-proclaimed journalists sit on a dias along with other 'intellegentia' to discuss this.

Like old politicians (not wise-old), the senior journos too are not open to perspectives from 'juniors' or 'youngsters'. And these youngsters who i think should ideally be used to the fullest extent are relegated to frustrating menial jobs..and so you are caught in a vicious circle of frustrations..anger etc.

News sense: This is another aspect that really worries me. We are living in a world where romps by Swamiji and greying Governors are aired prime time and published as front page news. Where 'issues' are relegated to third, fourth and sometimes district editions. Where real news is used as fillers and meaningless reports and press conferences cram your daily newspaper and news channels. As an opinion maker, media has forgotten its role of analysing the news and simply dump its viewers and readers with 'infotainment'. Every rule in journalism is broken every single day by countless papers and channels and no one questions or critiques them. Sensationalism has reached a nauseating level and we will do anything for TRPs even expose rape victims or publish photos of rape victims in our so-called attempt to get the truth out.

Objective news analysis are far and few in between and opeds by so-called Magasaysay winners fail to address the issue internally, in their own organisations. Journalists and media houses don't waste a minute in criticizing and at the same time are highly intolerant to criticism of any sort. Honest straightforward opinions are not welcome in this industry. Real stories are squashed because your boss's friend may be in the thick of it all; And meaningless reports are given space because it concerns your boss's friend. Some reports are killed because you don't want legal complications (read you may lose ads!) and a couple others because you don't want to offend the sentiments of the readers. Question all this and you are in a soup. And you are cooked in the soup in a slow,painless manner!!

Of course the 'higher-ups' remain oblivious to all this. While some papers do all this by wearing multiple masks, others do it shamelessly and blatantly. There is absolutely no intelligent reporting and majority of news that you read or watch is absolute nonsense. Reams of paper and hours of prime time is wasted on talking about inane issues which are not issues in the first place.

Price rise is discussed but the real story behind price rise is hardly told by anyone. Why doesn't anyone report on the food-stock that is wasted every year? Or talk about the tons of pulses that are exported as cattle-feed? Why doesn't anyone tell you that USA has access to our traditional seeds through a brilliant -'Knowledge Exchange' programme? Why doesn't anyone tell you that hundreds of children are employed in cotton farms by Monsanto, Bayer etc? And why doesn't anyone report fearlessly on how shamelessly soft drink companies are allowed to exploit ground water resources in this country just to 'quench the thirst' of those who can afford them?

Till two decades ago, journalists were a feared lot. Journalism was a honourable profession. 2010 A.D journalists are 'people who can be brought' and are not feared. Journalists are people who throw tantrums if they are not given 'complimentary' gifts, passes and tickets. Journalists are people who will threaten you with an 'expose' for personal gains.

Of course, what do i know about journalism? Am after all a 'junior'.

Cynicism Vs Optimism

One of the biggest drawbacks of being a journalist i think is that one turns into a cynic. You come across so much 'reality' and so many times is one slapped on the face by this reality that you tend to become a cynic and start thinking-this is it. Nothing will change. And then some day as part of work, you meet a group of people or individuals who are so hell bent on bringing this change...who still believe that things can change, that you feel heartened, even as a part of you laughs at their blind optimism.

When i decided to take up journalism, i truly believed in the proverb 'pen is mightier than the sword', then i had a wake up call at a J-School, that change happens but at a really slow pace and that journalists of today are not the same as the glorified activist-journalists of yesteryears.

Yet, i was not prepared for the complete lack of conscience among people-politicians, beauracrats, officials, ngo workers, doctors etc...One year into journalism and i had turned into a cynic. Three years ago, i truly believed that change was not impossible...and three years later i felt change was not wanted truly. Through my reports i tried to highlight issues, fight of individuals, good work done by organisation..but deep down there was always this feeling that its not enough..what is the govt doing? how much can a handful of people do? I would come home frustrated at the lack of response to media reports..at the complete fearlessness of the fourth estate and at the rising yellow journalism ..there have been times when i have felt that i was nothing short of a glorified PR person.

But then it is always not so bad. It feels good when someone reacts to your report. When someone takes cognisance and try to bring about change. When readers call up congratulating you for highlighting an issue...but at the end of the day i always ask the same question: Have i really done my bit? And if pen is truly mightier than sword..?

The trip to Kurnool was one of my most frustrating trips as a human being but professionally satisfying. Frustrating at the complete lack of response from the officials, the complete failure of the State machinery and the insensitivity of fellow human beings towards those suffering. One somehow wants to believe that natural disasters and war time tend to erase the barriers such as caste and religion and gender..but it seldom happens. The idealist in me believed that those affected would have risen above these silly yet destructive barriers. But i was taken aback when that was not the case. However, wasn't i supposed to be prepared?? Low caste areas continued be under the slush...those who could afford it (read upper caste) got the slush out of their homes..those who couldn't lived with it. Old town of Kurnool where Hindus and Muslims live in equal number also saw this disparity. I surely did get good reports...but as i began my journey back from Kurnool, i felt despair. Despair at what would happen ten years down the line. What would happen to this society?? What can erase these barriers? Colleagues, friends with whom i would air my frustration and despair ask me to be patient.Be patient change will happen. Be patient it's not easy for one or two individuals to change the world. Be patient, things will fall in place.

And just when i was hitting the rock bottom of the cynic-pit something happens that pulls me out and revives my faith in humanity. I remember the day 3 weeks ago, when my mom woke me up with the news that my servant maid's six-year-old had been diagnosed of blood cancer. I was upset..Ofcourse, it;s not a new thing and hundreds of young children are diagnosed of cancer every year..but when this was closer home and it hit me hard. Swathi, would come home with her mom and like any typical child would catch hold of the numerous soft toys in my home and sit in the rocking chair even as her mom would tell her to get off the chair. It was a typical case...poor family..no father. No money and 2 other daughters to look after. Suvarna, my maid was helpless and she wanted to kill the entire family along with herself. The doctors had told her that the treatment would be around a lakh rupees. I wanted to help..and the help in this case had to be financial or medical. When i sent out an appeal to a group of friends and people, little did i expect a response. Sms, mails status msgs evoked response. When Mr.Thiagarajan and Ashwin said they would do the needful, i wasn't expecting a response of such a large scale. Both of them are two of the most positive individuals i have met in ages and are full of energy that shames a 23 year old like me.

The mail got forwarded to unknown people, got posted in groups and help started pouring in. In less than 2 weeks, i was assured of 40,000 Rs and that's when i felt humanity exists. That was the point when i felt that all was not lost. Here are people whom i had met through my professional capacity as a journalist who came forward to reach out to this unknown person and i was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with the trust people placed in me and with the compassion shown by people from across different countries wanting to help a child in need...

Humanity exists in different forms..what we need is a united front to bring about change....I just hope my optimistic side wins over the cynical side..there may be few things to cheer about but i hope i can continue to cherish those few things....