| If iBN chief editor Rajdeep Sardesai had a ball lampooning
`stalwart’ editors of yesteryears who frown down on the young brigade’s
aggression, saying they primarily did “stenography journalism” compared
to today’s go-getting newshounds, original sting operator and editor
of Tehlka Tarun Tejpal felt that journalism (and presumably media)
had just one cause to keep in mind: public interest.
What added spice was when he said that quality and honest journalism
cannot be had if people continue to buy newspapers and magazines
at highly subsidized rates, which, amongst other things, forces
media owners to keep their business interest in mind (read, advertising
revenue from big corporate houses).
That made adman-cum-theatre& movie personality Suhel Seth,
moderator of the session Is The Indian Media Aggressive Enough?,quip
Tejpal was trying to market his newspaper Tehlka, which is priced
higher than normal national dailies. It is another thing that Seth
spared none from his caustic and, at times, incisive observations.
Star News CEO Uday Shankar defended the aggressive media, but did
point out that “selective aggression” targeted towards softer targets
is something that bothers him at times --- an issue that was echoed
by Sardesai too when he observed, “Far too much back slapping is
going on in the media.”
If almost all the speakers for this session were for aggression,
tempered with intelligence, Outlook magazine editor Vinod Mehta
felt that the media has failed to investigate adequately the wrong
doings in the corporate world.
That India is not unique in these respect as it undergoes a change
--- hopefully for the better and a more matured outlook --- became
evident when Prof. Phill Brooks of the Missouri University of Journalism
in the US and international faculty of ISOMES said the Vietnam war
and the Watergate scandal changed the primarily passive US media
into an aggressive one that now looks at things more skeptically,
especially those issues that are related to public figures.
But, Brooks said, in the process, it has gone so much overboard
that the American public is loosing confidence in the media.
Aggression was also written all over the other session, Is TV
Corrupting Popular Taste?. Moderator Anil Wanvari, Indiantelevision.com
chief editor, felt that though ratings and business interests might
take precedence in programming-related decision at times, ample
choice is available today for intelligent and more discerning viewers.
If anybody brought out the dichotomy of the programming world ---
weighed down on one side by the urge to have higher returns on investments
and a commitment towards society on the other --- it was BAG Films
MD and film & TV producer Anurradha Prasad.
Pointing out that good and socially relevant programmes and entertainment
don’t bring in the ratings, Prasad said, “I have made programmes
like Haqeeqat (aired on Sahara One), Rihaee (on Sony
Entertainment TV) and Siddhanth (on Star One), but believe
me these shows have brought me awards and accolades, but not adequate
ratings for channels to justify their long run.”
The respective channels have pulled the plug on both Rihaee
( a women-empowering show) and Siddhanth (based on the legal
profession). On the other hand, a BAG-produced crime show, Sansani,
on Star News has the ratings chart rocking. Ditto for a mushy family
drama on Star Plus.
Pawan Shankarr, the lead actor in Siddhanth, made a spirited
defence of popular programming on TV saying any new art form would
be criticized as the industry goes through a dynamic phase of change
where a fine balance between crass commercialization and intelligent
programming will be achieved over a period of time.
Similar thoughts were also expressed by Sharan, Screen editor
Bhavana Somaaya and former programming head of Sony TV Rekha Nigam.
“Ratings drive business, which drive motives (of channel managers),”
Nigam concluded.
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