MEDIATOR

Mediocrity

2009-03-20T10:31:00.000-07:00

Rajdeep Sardesai of CNN-IBN is one enthusiastic voluble speaker. His news delivery style is quite unparalleled. He speaks really loudly at times, occasionally even screaming his point across and sometimes he stammers in his over enthusiasm (which is pardonable).

But in being a good journalist or a newsreader, I think it’s more important as to what you say more than how you say it. It’s important to pick and choose your words and try to avoid accusational or implicative statements. As a journalist, it’s your job to bring the truth in front of people and not pass your own judgments. More often that not, our Indian journalists do just that, unfortunately.

Take for example a news programme that CNN-IBN ran on the 19^th of March. It was kind of a pre election discussion going on and two candidates who are standing from their particular constituencies were called on the show to talk about their campaigns. These candidates were Mallika Sarabhai, daughter of Vikram Sarabhai, prolific classical dancer and social worker. The other was Shashi Tharoor, ex Indian diplomat at the UN and writer. Both these people are obviously well to do and successful in their respective fields and highly educated, good English speaking individuals (unlike most others standing for elections).

So, Rajdeep starts off by asking questions about their constituencies, how they plan to campaign etc. But at one point this discussion took a crazily incomprehedible mode.

Mallika Sarabhai was asked the following questions, some of which can only be described as senseless, baseless, totally discouraging for a 1^st timer at elections and examples of journalists thinking that the sun shines on their asses…Here are a few of those questions;

Do you think, the fact that you are English speaking and educated could work against you?

Do you really think you can win from your constituency?

But L.K Advani is fighting from the same constituency as you, what makes you think you will win?

Do you really think you can connect with the people?

Pretty ridiculous one must say these questions were. I mean c’mon, no one stands for elections thinking or knowing they are going to lose. Obviously everybody wants to win. These questions reflect sort of an indirect implication saying that she has no chance of winning. You don’t have to be a genius to figure that out. But I admired the way in which Mrs.Sarabhai answered these questions with dignity and firmness. She sounded like someone who is determined to make a difference to society. And with youth and rational thinking on her side, I really do wish she wins, even though she is fighting from Advani’s constituency and all that. Its time the old, haggard players let go and let youth take over the reigns of this country. And as far as the media goes, I’l say, just give us the bloody news, don’t express your opinions on them. THAT’S NOT YOUR JOB!!!!

'Suck'ularsim

2009-03-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

That Varun Gandhi is pretty screwed looks like. News channels were going crazy today, showing his speech video over and over again, speculating, discussing, pre-concluding like there’s no tomorrow. It was pretty interesting to watch. This novice, ‘newbie’ politician enters the not-so-glamorous world of politics and he is faced with this!

The story goes that Mr. Gandhi(of the famous Gandhi family),during his political rally made an extremely inflammatory, outrageous and communal speech(well that’s how you would describe it if you watch the videos) that his own political party is on the verge of disowning him and the media of course, are out like blood thirsty hounds feeding on the subject. The man in question himself vehemently denies having even made the speech, in his defense saying that the CD which contains it is doctored and it’s a conspiracy against him. To be very honest, after watching all his interviews on TV, one would have to say, he dint look very convincing with his attempts at self effacement.

Whatever the truth is, this is downright dirty politics. If it is in fact proved that the tapes were not doctored or distorted and the voice in the CD is actually that of Varun Gandhi, then this is probably the most brazen display of hatred ridden politics. Some of the comments made by this man (if in fact he has made them) are insensitive to the limit that one might label them to be fanatically charged. Without going into much detail, his speech contained pro-Hindu overtones, bordered on anti-Muslim idealisms, often getting disgustingly derogatory at times. So, if he did say those things its beyond shameful and if it’s a mischief played by his opposition or whoever, it’s one hell of a cheap joke!

Though it has been just about a day since this news broke, media and television have started drawing conclusions to the effect of telling what action should be taken against him, what good or bad is going to come out of this etc etc. English news channel Times Now even had a half hour debate, discussing, with a panel of speakers whether Varun Gandhi should be arrested. Well I guess that’s all commonplace with Indian media. They not only jump the gun, but pole vault the missile launcher.

All I have to say is we should give time for the truth to surface. If indeed this person is found guilty, our Election Commission I’d say is efficient enough to not give him a ticket. As far as law is concerned, technically this kind of an offence (communal remarks) implies 2-3 years imprisonment. But as far as history with respect to jailing politicians who have committed a similar offence in the past goes, it’s not a very encouraging one in our country. But that doesn’t mean this case cannot be a precedent. A start has to be made somewhere. An example has to be set sometime. Democracy and secularism have to co-exist peacefully!!!!

City Slicking

2009-03-16T13:31:00.000-07:00

A shocking and sensational headline on a rather less talked about newspaper-DNA caught my eye. The header read-‘Killer’ expressway sees 240% rise in deaths. Our Expressway- our very own celebrated Mumbai-Pune expressway has seen this steep rise in accidental deaths in the past year, while we brood about traffic jams, bad roads and mundane urban problems. This in fact, is a serious cause for concern.

The expressway is a driver’s paradise and its quite obvious, drivers would make good of this chance and drive at breakneck speeds (ask me).But this stat is frightening. Sample this-165 deaths in 2008, compared to 69 in 2007, which as stated earlier is a 240% rise. This of course, is just the death toll, other accidents not accounted for. Cops apparently are rendered helpless against booking these rash drivers, because of some regional district booking problems blah blah. Shockingly, there are no speedometers with the highway police. Even so, this piece of news should serve as a deterrent enough against rash, reckless driving on highways. Because, after all hospital ceilings are boring!

But how can I forget to mention my beloved favorites. Bombay Times (sorry BT) says Naomi Campbell has decided to walk the ramp to pay a tribute to 26/11 victims. And some big ‘designer’ names are set to join her. Noble thought. Just one query though. If these fashion people are going to come down here, walk up and down some ramps at Mumbai fashion week or whatever, how is that going to benefit terror victims? Beats me. As far as I can remember no mention of charity or proceeds going to victims was mentioned. Well if that’s true, all I would say is even if one bereaved family member of the victims is allowed into the hall where the fashion show happens(not that any of them would be interested in coming and watching),it would at least send out a message of compassion and support. But obviously that’s not going to happen. I guess it’s just in ‘fashion’ these days to do stuff and pay tributes to or dedicate it to tragedy struck people. It’s an outrageous and sad state of affairs, to say the least. And this we print as 1^st page headlines. Appalling!

Mumbai 'Mar'rer

2009-03-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

I googled this name Queenie Dhody(sorry, I dint know who she was).She happens to be a big celebrity socialite from Mumbai and an ex beauty queen apparently. But again, who is she? What does she do? What field does she specialize in?

I guess nobody knows. But one thing we do know is that she writes columns in Mumbai Mirror. Ah! The effervescent ,the ever so inviolable Mumbai Mirror. So that’s how she got so famous, is it? Take for example an article of hers that Mirror ran in today’s paper. Like a true socialite, she starts off her ‘classy’ literary masterpiece with a reference to some wedding she attended at Taj Hotel(wow!).She then goes on to describe, in her own unassuming way what the delectable menu contained (hmm..yummm!).I tell you, this is what people want to read when they open their papers in the morning, at the breakfast table.

As if that wasn’t enough, she then talks about some concert that she attended, that of a famous pianist who had come down to Mumbai for a performance. She was one of the special invitees to that one too. As she puts it, only excellence was permitted. Man, now I feel like a dumb, ignorant fool for not knowing who she was. She must really be a queen in some way. But after a solitary 3-4 line mention of the concert, she goes on to talk about how bad breath turns her off, especially while blowing air kisses to people. Well, what can I say. I’m just so glad we have people in this country that can actually stand up and talk about real social issues like bad breath!!(Page 3 anyone?)

And that’s not all folks. In her already wholesome article, she also manages to talk about the IPL, Shilpa Shetty’s father, Abhishek Bachan’s recent weight loss, and if I remember right, I think I also read the words ‘economic meltdown’ somewhere.

Phew!Is this woman versatile or what. I wonder what real newspapers like Mumbai Mirror would do without socialites and articulate writers like Mrs.Dhody? Its so heartening to see and read such highly stimulating stuff. Thank you so much!

P.S:-No part of this blog post means sarcasm!

Seriously..

'Mad'ia

2009-03-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

Two major pieces of news developed during the course of today, the 13^th of March.

One-Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari was given a 24 hour ultimatum to act on the lawyers' stir for overturning the controversial measures of former ruler Pervez Musharraf. If not, his office would be completely marginalized and Zardari would remain President no more .And going by the current scenario, there seems to be every chance of that happening.

Two-India submitted a comprehensive reply to Pakistan’s ’30 questions’, which they had asked India in regard to the 26/11 probe(more a time wasting ploy on their part)..

So anyway, here were 2 big stories breaking. I happened to be lounging around at home, browsing channels on TV. Every news channel was broadcasting latest developments on these 2 big stories. That’s when I happened to switch to India TV.I remember the 1^st 5 minutes of what I saw, after which I passed out of absolute disbelief (well not literally, but close enough).It was a half hour ‘special’ programme on what they probably considered to be of utmost importance and a hardly ignorable story compared to the other 2 major events. This was huge, some very interesting and shocking story apparently!The programme was-‘Kya Saif aur Kareena Shaadishuda hain’,..or something to that effect.

Well I can’t really comment much on what the programme carried, as I slept through most of it, except that they kept showing some interview by Kareena Kapoor over and over again. Frankly I don’t know how to react! This is beyond ‘ridiculous media’. This is an all new dimension of crap.Hindi is our national language, but these Hindi news channels I’m afraid are the poorest brand ambassadors of Hindi this country has ever seen.

I don’t know what their explanation to showing such insignificantly contemptible programmes is. I don’t think even an illiterate villager is interested in seeing more than a passing mention of some news like this, let alone having it drilled into your head for a gruelling half an hour. So the question of viewership from the educated and understanding class doesn’t arise at all. And mind you, its not even news in this case. It’s just a fantastic speculation on the part of the news channel asking, Are Kareena and Saif actually married! Which makes me wonder-who the hell watches this?

Im sure Kareena or Saif don’t. But if by any chance they are reading this blog:), my request would be to please give India TV a call (far cry?) and update them about your marital status, if you are in the mood to reveal it that is! If not, I guess we will just have to satisfy ourselves with the speculations. Well at least 'India TV' is there to do it for us. So rejoice all!!!!!!

Mediator

2009-03-12T11:53:00.000-07:00

Enough has been said on TV. Enough has been read in newspapers!!

Unnecessary stories, insignificant happenings blown out of proportion, breaking news breaking every 5 minutes…We have been made to feel like soft targets of the media dictatorship. Just when the so called free media was considered to be the boon of the century-every now and then they go ahead and prove their suckerish attitude for cheap popularity and keep compromising on quality, making attempts to take people of this country for a ride. Be it the nonsense reporting on TV channels (and man, do they take nonsense to a new level), or the the papers almost entirely filled with extravagant party stories of ‘socialites’.

So this I thought would be a good place for, well ,I wont say media bashing, but more of a platform to post grievances, discuss pitfalls and vent out built up frustration towards our news broadcasting community. Expect anything! News channel criticism, caustic takes on newspaper articles, updates on news and latest happenings (probably more when there’s no media ass to kick)..Well I’m a blog virgin, so I guess anything goes! And though quite a few blogs have been written about this in the past, they have been what can only be termed as crass and inexhaustive.

Being a journalist is India is probably fun (I wouldn’t know).You get to play with the psyche of the public, well that’s the feeling I get with all the dramatic reporting (read Barkha Dutt during 26/11), at the same time you get to witness some of the most bizarre and unexpected events and stories this country has to throw at you. All said and done, it is a tough job, I agree. But please let the sanity in news prevail!!

I hope to bring, in days to come all the colorfully tasteless and positively atrocious news and reports witnessed on TV, the papers and even the net. This should probably be more fun than the news itself. Till then, peace!.