The role of the media

This is something which has come to my attention during the last couple of weeks. As a media student, and a future Media person, i should understand the functioning of the media more than the common man. However, events of the last month or so have made me confused as to whether the media is doing its job, or are they losing the plot somewhere? Many people living abroad have said that the media portrays in excess the negative things about a nation, thus damaging its reputation.

Such a topic is filled with controversy, and a lot of backtracking. Notably, in the field of Politics, environment and the Film circle, this debate is more pronounced. Everybody, in particular in India, knows that Politics is nothing but the gutter, and that All the politicians are corrupt. But, it is the media which is focusing only on the Scams and the corrupt practices of elected representatives. Such saturation coverage of the negative aspect of the politician has made generations of people shy away from Politics. This negative portrayal of politics spills out in to the coverage of events that affect society at large. Although justified, it gives a wrong yardstick to judge the societal condition at that time

In this case, People's mentality is to be blamed. Their conditioning is such that the mind will be alert to Bad news, and they will be very quick to give in their opinion. Sitting on the casting couch, they can pass of the character judgment of the politician and dismiss his statements and his stance. Maybe, this is what Politicians deserve, but at the same time, it is not warranted. The common man does not understand the kind of Pressures and hectic activity that the politician does. It takes a lot of guts to become a politician, because no individual will easily put up his hand for social service.

If people can balance their negativity with the reality of what Politicians ALSO initiate, than perhaps there can be better growth of Democracy in the country. If Transparency and Balance come into the minds of people, only then shall a nation function as a smooth one. The media, just as they conditioned generations regarding the negativity of politics, must now also take steps to show the positive side also, and people must oblige, failing to which this system might stagnate, and it could sow the seeds of Anarchy.

In the environment, the monsoon deluge has hit the metro cities of India. The rains have bought life to a standstill, and people and infrastructure have been affected. The media has highlighted all of this, and it has provided Citizens with important information and ways to ensure their safety. But, perhaps, they have been a little unfair to the municipal authorities of not doing their work.

This could be a controversial statement, because after all the Municipal Corporation has been established to ensure people's life is not paralyzed in the wake of some civic or natural problem. But, perhaps, when nature wreaks such havoc, perhaps even the toughest of vigilance may not be enough. After all, Municipal Corporations have to manage a wide area and ensure the smooth functioning of all Civic apparatuses. To do this sometimes is very difficult, because each area is so different from the others. Therefore, i feel that how much ever the Municipal authorities try, they may come second best to Nature's fury. I guess, the role of the media here is very difficult to outline, because the very nature of disaster is chaotic.

Today, i had gone to a food festival. I saw many Foreigners and the local Media were clicking away the activities taking place in the festival. It was however distressing that the media personnel were photographing the Foreigners more than the locals, and the foreigners seemed to enjoy the limelight. This bought out the fact, that Indians trip head over heels to satisfy Foreigners, especially those of the west, while these foreigners may never do the same to us in their land. It shows the fascination that the Indians have for White skinned foreigners, and i do not understand it. Granted, let them be treated well, but not to an extent as to avoid the local population.

A Legend had arrived in the hotel, but nobody noticed him, in fact nobody even recognized him. My well informed sources told me that the old man who entered was Habib Tanvir. This guy has been behind the creation of film geniuses like Naserruddin Shah, Irfan Khan, Makrand Deshpande and others. Prithvi Theater, and all those who came out of it, worship him as an Idol. He has even collaborated with Munshi Premchand, the greatest ever Hindi writer. He has taken some of Premchand's work and made it into Plays in Theater.

I have often wondered with Sadness that how the media promotes wannabes in films and not take note of such geniuses like Habib Tanvir. I guess geniuses do not crave for Publicity, because it goes against their set of principles. But, at least, they should get acknowledged for their contribution. Instead, wannabes like the Bachchans, Kapoors get saturation coverage, thus overshadowing true value works. This says a lot of Indian Cinema. Many say it is booming, but i view it as something which is nothing but over hype, stagnation and something which contributes to Crap and Thrash Culture.

I guess many people may want the Media to just go away. But, Information is crucial. The problem that i have written about in this post is that there is a too much leaning on the negative aspects of life, Society and Politics. I cannot give the answers to all of this, because as mentioned in the previous topic, the lines are blurred