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State of Indian Media: News or Noise, Watchdog or Lapdog
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Asmita
2:05
2:10
Presidential Assent to the Prasar Bharati marks its 30th anniversary. To mark this event, a panel discussion on the State of Indian Media: News or Noise, Watchdog or Lapdog is organised in collaboration with Jan Prasar. We have speakers Shri N. Ram, former Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu, Shri Jawhar Sircar, former CEO, Prasar Bharati, Ms Pamela Philipose, senior journalist and author of Mediaโ€™s Shifting Terrain in with us, with moderator Suhas Borker, Convener Jan Prasar and Editor, Citizens First TV (CFTV). Welcome to the conversation.
2:14
Suhas Broker starts of by saying "This is the 27th discussion since 1994 to commemorate the Prasar Bharti Act. Discussion is based on Media both on print and broadcast."
2:15
Suhas Broker introduces panelists.
Suhas Broker talks about the infamous obituary published in The Hindu
2:17
Suhas Broker notices the media being under seige.
2:18
Suhas Broker says, " Studios have become courts; anchors have become judges. Real issues are being ignored."
2:19
Suhas Broker goes on to talk about the declining GDP, poor employment rate and flood situations.
2:21
Suhas Broker says "Dissent and criticism is curbed. Facebook is being manipulated."
2:25
Suhas Broker gives the floor to N Ram
2:26
N Ram says, "The policies seem to be open to a choice of directions and paths it might take.Newspapers had opportunity for fairly huge growth rate."
2:27
Jawhar Sircar enters discussion
2:28
Sircar says, "The two key issues - news and noise and the question of being a watchdog/lapdog - I can assure you as a student of history these terrible years will not be forgotten; those who are conspiring will not be forgotten."
2:29
JS further adds: "Let's not belittle history - the reason why it's happening is more important to us."
2:30
NR then talks about interesting investigative, analytical and intelligent journalism that's available to us, though in relatively small levels.
2:31
NR asks not to underestimate them. Though news or noise predominates (at this point he quotes Nidhi Razdan on villification of Rhea Chakraborty), media has set a very low bar today.
2:32
NR especially mentions NDTV for not fizzling out under government pressure and other forces of imposition.
NR believes the watchdog or lapdog question is almost rhetorical.
2:34
NR says: "The watchdog function itself is arguable. Investigative journalism is being numbed by noise."
2:35
What do you think about current satus of indian Media?
Agree with N. Ram (100% | 1 vote)
 
The media is honest (0% | 0 votes)
 
Total Votes: 1
2:36
NR mentions one particular case of TN reporter being ousted by social media and government smear campaign.
2:41
JS goes on to say that in Prasar Bharti, there were some good people and lousy ones too - completely converted after 2014, pretty well during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's time as he was more tolerant.
2:44
Sirkar explains why Prasar Bharti is not discussing, though Jann Prasar is intrinsically connected to Prasar Bharti's broadcasts - it converted its name to Prachar Bharti , speaking of the competition it faces from Republic TV and its likes.
2:46
Sirkar refers to how these competing channels go overboard. Why is it happening? He speaks of how subtly the government uses hegemonic powers, the absolute precision with which merciless executive powers are used. He says these type of acts give completely new dimensions to the story of the Indian Republic.
2:47
2:48
Sirkar says: "There are compulsions on editors and advertisers. We know about it. We cannot document it. But there is an audience for it. The large numbers of people who have voted 'someone' a second time indicates a support of this sort of mentality/articulation. We cannot deny it."
"The noise is getting the TRP. The lapdog is more popular."Sirkar adds
2:51
Sirkar explains that to some extent, this is happening because some channels/newspapers are playing to this. It's a different matter altogether that this stems from irrationality, which in turn stems from an excess of the liberal rational attitude to life. Nonetheless, the fact is that we have a large audience waiting for, say, an SSR murder type of news.
Sirkar says: "There is a large audience who want to lap up."
2:53
Sirkar talks about a Colosseum style of politics - first you put in gladiators, someone dictates who dies. The you let loose the lions against the gladiators, and then against the humans. This goes on until someone interjects.
2:54
Sirkar further says he has served as an Information and Broadcast Secretary. He knows there are instruments available to the government that aren't being used. He mentions the commission to Sudarshan TV to insult the minority community is proof of this.
2:55
Sirkay states: "Society in the form of state organs need to bring in a certain amount of regulation. Otherwise, it's open obscenity. That has to be regulated."
2:56
2:57
Sirkar goes on to mention a generic urge within the Press and the Judiciary. He says he's seen that in 45 years, to question the executive, and having been on the other side, it's acted as a quick check on that part of exec that's hegemonic.
2:58
Sirkar quotes: "The rage circus that's going on is an escape through a safety valve. Noise is getting TRP. The lapdog is more popular. We have come to pass where there is a blend in the trend of Indian Media."
Sircar speaks of mainstream media - The Telegraph, ABP, NDTV - who are trying to fight it.
2:59
Sircar explains: "History watches who were the ones who capitulated to the forces of darkness and who stood up."
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