In the past few years, journalism has seen a sudden shift in its approach, the move from print to digital to somewhere losing truthfulness and accuracy. The new motto of digital media seems to have no purpose of educating the population, but to promote speculations as truth to gain sky-high TRP.
1. Battle of TRP and Media Ignorance
- Public accountability is considered to be the media's primary job. But in the current scenario, media contribution to news adds zero value to the general publics' welfare.
Several media outlets with a large consumer base are in a cut-throat competition to gain the highest TRP, which somehow has blinded the media ethics and journalists are now contemplating to 'pack journalism'. As defined by Merriam Webster, pack journalism is practiced by reporters in a group that is marked by the uniformity of news coverage and lack of original thought or initiative. This pretty much explains the current scenario of giving the highest media coverage to #JusticeforSSR and drug peddling, disparaging the falling GDP, rising COVID cases, loopholes in new farm bills, and crime happening across the country. Recently, during the drug peddling debate, one of the panelists pointed out the collapsing GDP and got heckled for not focusing on the debate by the profound news anchor known for his faulty journalism. In another debate, the GDP statistics chart proved to be misleading, however, the journalist called out the panelist for spreading misleading information. Journalism today is blaming others for revealing the truth.
2. One misinformation at a time
Traditional media’s hunt for the highest TRP has promoted an intentional spread of false information, masked as traditional news. Many unverified details about SSR’s case were aired in the name of trending real news. For example, Sushant’s psychiatrist claimed the actor had bipolar disorder, which made it to the headlines. However, there is no evidence and facts to prove their truthfulness. Neither the Police nor the Psychiatrist took a stand against the occurrences on the news. Fake news and misleading information can prove to be very dangerous and can inflict riots and serious issues. For example, the ‘Pizzagate conspiracy theory’ that proved to take high turns. There’s a thin line between people’s understanding of fake news and real news- and this can leave people in a farrago of believing the misleading lies prompted by unethical journalists. Drug peddling has given a boost to peddling lies and hoaxing.
3. Media trials or media circus
The process of declaring the accused as a convict, by the media before the court's decision is called a media trail. I have hazy memories of media coverage that followed "why are the Nirbhaya rapists not punished?" and why it took seven long years, even though the whole country waited for them to be hung.
But, has anything changed?
Yes, of course.
Media now seems to violate privacy, ethics, and morality to find the truth that does not serve anything in the public interest.
In 2020, we have witnessed several media trials by well-established media outlets, spreading hatred, and dividing people. The unrelenting media coverage during their trials is a new low of journalism, and it has reached to an extent where the alleged person has to take legal steps against the media. In April, we noticed huge news channels debating on ''Tablighi Jamaat" members and announcing them as "corona terrorists", "corona jihad". Jamaat Ulema-e-Hind, a leading Islamic organization even filed a petition against violence caused by media trials.
Eight police officers recently filed a petition against malicious media campaigns during Rhea's case which maligns the reputation of Mumbai police as well.
4. Open display of hate against minority
- The fact that media bias cannot be neglected and has highly influenced people’s perspectives into believing what media houses show. Media these days has forgotten their ethics of maintaining peace and harmony.
Media has openly started serving news as per the majority of interests and mocking minorities. Bashing minorities and other religions have been the escape for the media from issues that matter. It has tarnished the country's reputation as international media has started criticizing Indian media for its widespread negativity. The Alderman report has mentioned Indian Media as the second most untrusted organization in the world.
Media has a wide scope and is succeeding at making youth believe that minorities are their enemies and the only way to safeguard their rights is by fighting against the minorities.
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