Social Hypocracy

I was just watching a debate on Lok Sabha Channel. Unfortunately, i caught the debate when it was approaching the end. The subject was regarding the Unprecedented Boom in the Media industry, and how so many channels are now beamed in India. This growth might continue in the coming decades. But, one important point stood out. With all these channels, how viable and important will these channels be? The News media is already suffering because of Infotainment content.The amount of Soap Operas that are being broadcast on major channels here in India have provided people with an escape from reality route.

However, it is the one point of Social Hypocracy that stands out from this whole debate. We can continue to Criticize the Media for Dumbing down, but it is also very relevant that People watch this with much more interest. Let us open up and acknowledge the fact that nobody watches serious stuff on TV. The perception that still lingers on is that Television is a medium of entertainment. The liberty of the remote control is such that audiences, with a click of a button, change their choice. If there is anything that perturbes them, they can change the channel. Such is the liberty of this thing, that to argue for serious programming is a Farce.

India suffered in its quest to usher in serious programming. One, when Doordarshan was ushered in the 1960's, the reach of Television was very limited. Serious programming content was broadcast, but, in the end, it was hampered by poor distribution and production. Then ,when Liberalization set in, the demands and the mindset of the people changed. As liberalization was a western thing, people started looking west for their entertainment. So, in this case, the reach was there, but, in the guise of entrtainment, people ignored serious programming content.

Now, the problem is that, entertainment has penetrated so much into People's minds that Television Broadcasters are going overboard to fill the Audience's escapist venture. This impact is seen more in the News Media. Under the guise of News Channels, several Infotainment News like Star Plus and all are doing well! Media organizations in India, noably, the Hindi one, are Dumbing Down News to such an exent, that for them, TRP is the ultimte goal, not goodwill. Advertising Coffers are to be filled, rather than Information to the Citizen.

Perhaps, this is indeed Social Hypocracy. The demands of people for the creation of Serious Programmes at a time when these same people watch trivial, dumbed down programmes to escape from reality. I guess, this is the flip side of the Television boom. The Idiot Box has indeed made the Public Idiots and Hypocratical. Perhaps, the tide can be reversed, if Individuals acknowledge that their prior motive is to get entertained rather than getting informed. Only then perhaps, can People have real power, and not be Dumbed Down Idiots.