New Media: Are we difference makers just by accident?

Is the modern media really a difference maker or is it just another profession, which is claiming a moral high ground that does not exist? I have seen in the last month issues ranging from Tibet to Indian Hockey right here on Insta and also else where in mainstream print and electronic media. There seems to be a trend that is scary and that almost conveys the message- that we as modern media are committed to making a difference, if only by chance. If that is the trend that we wish to set and follow, then maybe we just no longer hold any right to call ourselves as a constructive part of modern society. This by no means is to say that modern media is inept and never makes an impact but is trying to question if we have made enough of it.

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Media today is strong and a medium that can capture hearts and minds. Only yesterday I saw one of my friends on Insta make a comment saying that media is the fourth pillar of a nation- apart from the legislative, administrative and the judiciary. So are we conducting ourselves in a manner that is fit to carry such a mantle? I recently saw a program of Larry King Live on pro-wrestling and it was edited in such a fashion that you knew the only purpose of the show was to make the pseudo-sport look bad. Irrespective of our personal opinions, do we have that right to play with facts and edit content to suit our motives and increase the TRPs? While that incident is not isolated, it does stem from Ted Turner’s hate for the sport. CNN later went on to apologize, but it was just a cover up; to say the least.

It is almost as if every channel that is news based in India today is an extension of an entertainment channel. There are stories and issues that get attention and certain problems are solved because of media impact. I will not and cannot take away that credit. But it looks as if that only happens by accident as if no action on a particular story is taken up; it is forgotten and shelved within no time. I do understand the constraints of reporting, but sometimes it would be nice if more of a follow up could be taken on certain issues. Sure we went crazy at K.P.S. Gill for the early exit of Indian Hockey from Olympics, but have conveniently forgotten it just after 2 days.

We talk about sleeping members in parliament, corruption in every sector and also about how we are not progressing as a nation and as a planet. But then, we forget all that the next day a star gets engaged or Britney checks herself in to rehab again... For the 127th time or so. This is not to say that entertainment news has to die, but it can have its own small section; not the main page please. The famous and common reply to this is, “We are giving people what they want to see’ or a more simple, “The market governs the industry”. Industry!! That is what we are now- Just a working unit that produces end result with the base motive of gaining profit- Is that what we are reducing ourselves to?

If we are only giving people what they want to see and not what they should see and respond to, then how is that any different from the not-so-famous ‘Vote-Fetching Policies’ that politicians dish out? If we play to TRP ratings, then do we have a right to criticize those who stoop down to play politics with arithmetic and chemistry? This is not a criticism, but just a kind of introspection. Since the past two days a couple of my friends have reminded me of what is our true responsibility. Make profits in the way; I have no problem with that. But do not make those profits as motives. If we choose to make a difference, we must try leading that path and we can do that a lot better than what we are doing right now.

This is not to say that modern media has failed, but it has fallen in to a bad habit. For the potential it has, it still is an under-achiever. So instead of patting ourselves on the back, let us take that much needed hard kick on the back and move forward. Let us be the strongest pillar of modern democracies and for that we cannot be difference-makers by accident, we need to get there with purpose.

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