AN OPEN LETTER TO EDITORS OF INDIA

June 18, 2009

( This has already been mailed to some of the well-known chief editors of both print and electronic media )

Sub: Will the Indian Media take a call on 2009 elections ?

Dear Sir / Madam

Two events of otherwise minor significance that happened last year manifests the diminishing reputation and tactlessness of the Indian media. Raj Thackeray held a press conference banning the English media from being present in it , but the latter gave that injunction huge publicity. Aamir Khan scornfully rubbished; “ News channels nowadays have reduced themselves to covering my body-building”. And sure enough, they did. The third episode, revealed a disturbingly unknown callous or myopic side. My office is a stone’s throw away from CST at Ballard Estate, and just a day after the CST massacre on 26/11 , there was not a single journalist even sauntering around. Forget , a cameraman, and this was the spot that saw the maximum casualties! .

The Indian media has had a controversial year, and despite sporadic excellence and some objective and meaningful journalism , has essentially lost huge credibility over several events; I am sure we do not need to make a laundry –list on that one, as it should be fairly obvious. That I thought was a tragic development, as there was a time when ordinary people looked up to the media as a respected vehicle for honest assessment and factual analysis, with governments shrouded in dark secrecy. Perhaps they still do, but I personally feel that despite the occasional stumbles, the government is got a lot better and transparent , but both the private sector ( Satyam is not the only scamster, and we all know that) and the media have failed to establish impeccable work ethics and standards. Or at least, there is vast scope for improvement. Currently, on many occasions it becomes a fish-market, opinionated with some sad commentary by flaky invitees, and frequently a slap-dash cosmetic summarization by anchors.

There are also several ( like me) who believe that the electronic media ( in particular, but not the sole culprits) want to have the cake and eat it too. There is a tendency to be totally flip-flop, conveniently make adjustments, flow with the popular tide, create heroes out of pathetic caricatures, and then smugly turn the other side with a “ I told you so” attitude if proved correct. I think such a high-handed and almost arrogant attitude can seriously boomerang.

So my recommendation; instead of aping the western ( read American) disasters such as 9/11, Enron, Watergate et al and hunting fervently for an Obama in Mayawati ( I thought that was too preposterous ) —- why not introduce the one aspect of the US media that I have admired since the days I developed global political consciousness. Why don’t NDTV, CNN-IBN, Times Now, Indian Express, TOI, HT, DNA etc announce their own endorsement of their political party of choice for the 2009 Lok Sabha Elections. NYT , WSJ and Washington Post do it, so do Fox and NBC. It is the ultimate in transparency , because it is either objective or at least reveals the ideological slant of the channel. Mr Arun Shourie ( whom you all revere) was a BJP mouthpiece in disguise as Editor, IE and a whole lot of us thought that he was genuinely hunting down corruption in the Congress and in high places as a professional journalist.

I think it is time the Indian media bit the bullet; fearlessly and with great honesty. A dispassionate review of foreign policy, track record of various government programs and policies , PM options and leadership capabilities , handling of economy, manifesto declarations, secular credentials, containing terrorism and Naxalite bloodshed, coalition fragility and structure etc can be held with both in-house editorial talent and invited guests from relevant sections.

The recent shameful incidents in Mangalore and elsewhere at Karnataka needs to be dissected to its barest bones, the people of India need to know. In fact, political parties will send representatives for espousing their case , which on LIVE TV will improve the quality of discussions, and let the public segregate the wheat from the chaff. You can involve domain experts from different fields. And viewers will look forward to the day of the great announcement when the newspaper/TV channel announces its endorsement with its reasons thereof. Even the political outfits will appreciate ( on a no-choice basis, perhaps) the verdict. The positives far outweigh potential counter-arguments. I don’t think your TRPs will be hurt one bit either.

And since it will be an open discussion on full national broadcast, no government or political party can take on a vindictive stance against a particular media group, as it will stand exposed in broad sunshine. In fact, this can easily substitute for public opinion polls banned currently.

The fact that we have multiple parties which makes it difficult to do the exercise does not hold water; we do have a choice. A Congress-led UPA, a BJP-led NDA and a potential Mayawati/Left led Third Front.

I think the 2009 LS elections could be a historic milestone for Indian media if you all could rise to the occasion. Since we have also gone to town about CHANGE ( Obama, again) , why not let charity begin at home?

I guess this note has become too long, but then brevity was never my strength.

Cheers and have a good-day.

Sanjay

Entry Filed under: Politics. .