Needed: Cure for media first

They say media reflects society, may be that's why every ill in society finds its voice in media. The ease with which we all get carried away for a breaking story or revenue targets is appaling. HIV/AIDS is one subject where utmost care is essential. Many of us may balk at the exorbiant fund being spent on the issue while other serious ailments like cancer or malaria get ignored. but the fact remains that HIV/AIDS has wider social implications be it rehabilitation of widows and orphans or inaccessible medical treatment, rejection by community or rights of gays and sex workers.
Then there are many fakes including soothsayers who promise perfect cure taking those living with HIV/AIDS for a ride.
Coming back to my point isn't it media's duty to not only report any discrimination but also check if its own powers are being misutilised. Here's an advertisement which appeared in one of the frontrunner newspapers of the country- Hindustan Times proclaiming cure for AIDS. You can check it out at this link 'Article/Photograph <http://epaper.hindustantimes.com//artMailDisp.aspx?article=21_12_2008_009_009&typ=1&pub=47>or turn to page 9 of HT (December 21). I know there is minimal link between editorial and advertising sections of a newspaper, which results in such difference of opinion.Having said that I believe there is greater need for a media company to ensure that all their staff members are aware of what is unacceptable. Newspaper builds its credibility to woo readers who in turn get advertisers. It cannot wash off his hands from the content by claiming that the responsibility lies with the advertiser. The harm has been done, but we need to ensure it's not repeated.

What's his name?

To name it or not has always been a quandry for media whenever it comes to reporting of communal riots. Though the media schools would have wannabe journos cramming up of Press Council of India's guidelines , all goes up in smoke with the communal flare. I grew up reading news from far away places in India which gave not even a slightest hint about members of which community hit and who were the victims. Sometimes, it would be so frustrating that I would label such news a piece of trash as it gave nothing more than that a clash took place. But now in the hindsight, I believe the past of utmost restrain was better than the present of plenty.

Though media, in certain cases, would still like to exercise caution, it fails miserably. It would not name the community still, but restricting who and giving out what, why, where and how does not serve any purpose. For instance during Durga procession this year, media reports talked about how it was stoned near a place of worship in Andhra Pradesh whch led to riots. Then the local BJP unit demanded a probe. It's clear from the very start whom the finger is pointed against.

The follow ups were done with eye witnesses with Hindu names sounding scared that they saw for the first time that youngsters were carrying firearms. The issue is when victims are identified, the identity of preperators does not need to be guessed.

The problem with present-day Indian press is that while it demands that the judiciary be brought under public scrutiny, it rejects the scrutiny of the Press Council or any other watchdog body for that matter. Death knell has already been sounded for the Press Council, which has remained a powerless body for long.

A rejection of watchdog bodies by media amounts to a rejection of the concept of accountability. The Indian media has always been reluctant to open itself to scrutiny and seldom accepted criticism readily. However, at least self introspection should be exercised. What journos need to do is dig out positive stories from the heart of an unfortunate incident. We seem to stress to much on the negatives. The need is to underscore the point that against 10 miscreants live hundreds of noble souls. The stories of neighbours saving their friends from another community in times of crisis are not new. But may be the chase of on-the-spot events and stories of victims and lawlessness leaves the journalists so burnt up, they don't actually get time to touch the positive chord.

It's for the media houses to decide which way they want this communal cart to trudge on.