Dealing with publicity hounds?

It’s a tough call to take when reporting about notorious publicity-seekers such as graffiti gangs and just-born fundamentalist groups. Should a news agency report the act and, in the process, give them the publicity they want? Or should it bury the news and deny them their life-blood — fame?

Publicity seekers and the media have formed an indirect alliance. Both are feeding off one another. And this is a recipe for anarchy. Today, people have become camera-savvy; they know how to get publicity. Consequently, protests have become more visual; from painting faces to burning effigies, outrage is being tailored for the camera.

This is where the media must exercise its discretion and decide what and whom to publicise. What was the need to report protests against Sachin Tendulkar at Ahemadabad, on the front page?  Newspapers and channels must realise that by playing up frivolous news, they could be encouraging publicity hounds.

It's time for all of us in the media to show greater maturity in news selection and coverage. The press does have a freedom of expression, but it comes with responsibility. In the race for TRPs and readership, let's not forget our special, social responsibility. If I know that a particular news will incite communal passions, it's my responsibility to withhold it, in the larger interest of society.

When Star News chose to give coverage to the Surat couple, it supported law-breakers. The girl was underage and the man had committed a crime eloping with her. Make no mistake, I am not against inter-faith marriages. But the news channel in question cannot claim to support the cause of such marriages on the basis of one interview.

What they have done, is endangered the life of the couple. It's nothing but frivolous journalism. And most Hindi news channels today are guilty of frivolous journalism and peddling petty news.

Rakhi Sawant accusing a singer of molestation is news and must be covered. But do we need to see the kiss over and over again, throughout the day? Ditto for Richard Gere and Shilpa Shetty. It's simply perverse. And such news coverage is tarnishing the image of Indian television journalism. No one can get away with the argument that if it's happening, it must be shown. There are so many things happening around the world? Will news channels show it all? Will they get into people's bedrooms to check what's happening? How many news channels have covered the farmer's suicides in Vidharba extensively? It all boils down to what reality you are willing to show.

Fringe groups like the hitherto unheard of Hindu Rashtriya Sena — which attacked the Star News office — exploit the media for publicity. Once they shoot to fame, it's easier for them to gather funds and grow.

As I see it, Indian media is in serious trouble. We must show maturity and depth, or we will lose credibility with the masses.

(Wagle is the Editor of Aapla Mahanagar)