Sunday, December 15, 2013

Indian journalism issues

 There are 2 problems with our journalism, whether print or electronic. 

Firstly, we need a better standard, which is only possible if we as consumers demand it. A rather famous Hindi newspaper here in Punjab is kind of famous for printing just about anything. 

Secondly, we need better a regulatory environment for the media. 
  1. Ownership should be printed on each newspaper. Currently, as per law, only the name and address of the editor/producer is printed. Many news channels are owned by Maruitious based companies. 
  2. Reports, surveys, exit polls, opinion polls etc. should have mandatory disclosure of methodology, sample size, sample demographics etc.
  3. Paid news should be controlled. Maybe a money amount 'cap' can be set up, under which excessive surcharge can be imposed. For example, if the 'cap' is set at Rs. 100 Crore/day, then any company spending more than this amount on a single news channel should be forced to shell out 10% or 20% of amount exceeding the 'cap.'

We need proactive regulators and not reactive or complaint-based ones like now.
Anything you would like to suggest is welcome.

16 comments:

  1. Agree with you 100%. In addition, for the public to be well served, transparency is crucial

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks SG. Transparency is crucial, but our 'rulers', in any country are great at making things look transparent when they are not.

      Delete
  2. Sounds like an overhaul is needed indeed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have been having overhauls since a long time. Something on a much larger scale is needed.

      Delete
  3. Our journalistic standards have really been slipping over here in the states as well. Must be a worldwide phenomenon :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes. The worldwide phenomenon is that news everywhere works on advertisements. Or on governments' money :-)

      Delete
  4. Wow, sounds like the people in charge need to get together and redo the entire thing and start over with new laws.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes. The thing about starting anew is that we already tried at least once, and there is no gurantee we will not end up in the same situation again. But like an almost dead person whose only hope is some 'new' medication or procedure, this is a chance we will have to take.

      Delete
  5. Sound pretty reasonable. It will benefit everyone in the photojournalist field.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought the journos would be in a problem because the flow of advertisement money would cease in the previous proportions.

      I would love to know how it will benefit all parties.

      Delete
  6. So many posts sir! Wonderful ! This was rather a short one, quite unexpectedly. But less the said, more the impact!
    The points you mentioned are really one of a kind and somewhat revelatory to me. The media was never free, and never will be.
    Because the problem is, people want you to be honest with them, only till you're not.
    And in some way or another, media will always be influenced by either corporate houses or the government.I wonder, what happened to all those China insurgency news or even the news about water treaty with Pakistan. I bet these must have not be faded out by the big bucks but by our own huff-puff ministry of external affairs ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think that newspapers only have so many pages, and news channels only have so many hours of footage. So, these guys are not able to show all news. You are spot on with your thoughts on China and Pak news. Even the important Bali meet and WTO/AoA stuff drowned in comparison to the recent Delhi/MP/Raj/Mizo/Chattisgarh elections.

      Most news channels as well as newspapers have blogs/sites. They should make use of that to show as much news as possible. Aakhir Youtube aur Vimeo ka zamana hai.

      Delete
  7. The most important thing is that the press should be free? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think your country is kind of great and worse in terms of press standards, with the Guardian's great work on PRISM and the News of the World scandal :-)

      The thing is that current media uses its right to freedom of expression to say almost 'whatever' it wants and then expects us to believe. And it mostly succeeds. By doing it, these guys take away our right to informed choice.

      Delete
  8. hi

    nice post! that paper is I think, Punjab Kesari right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks.

      Yes, Punjab Kesari is what people talk about.

      Delete