The Indian media (tv) has done it again. Today, we were all aghast at the news of the serial blasts in New Delhi that happened between 6:15pm and 7pm.
I switched between CNN-IBN, Times Now and NDTV and kept getting looped images of scattered glass, blood on the streets, strewn slippers etc. And all the while the correspondents were chattering away non-stop.
Then at around 8.30pm we were treated to some "Breaking news" with all channels claiming a child was found with a live bomb. Of course this is news, but what turned me completely off were images of cameramen jostling with each other as the cops took the boy in for questioning. Now the boy was just 12, and to see the way the reporters were almost on top of him, trying to get his visual was disgusting.
And then they got even lower. All of the channels managed to get hold of the boy for "exclusive interviews."
I ask the Indian media, is it right to be showing visuals of a boy, supposedly a witness at a horrific blast scene? What about his safety? Or in the race for TRP ratings is that to be thrown out of the window?
It would have been funny if it were not so serious, but Bharka Dutt, that so-called icon of frontline reporting in Indian media, informed us: "Now, this is an NDTV exclusive. I have here a boy who was on the scene of the blast." She then went on to bring a little fellow, who looked all scared and bewildered. She asked him in Hindi: "Were you on the scene when the blast took place?" To which the poor chap answered: "No". Not to be done in by an under-aged "witness", Bharka then put him back and turning to us said: "He may not have been on the scene but we are told that a 12 year old boy who was selling balloons in the market was found with a live bomb and police are talking to him..."
Talk about decency in reporting the news. God help the 12 year old if the terrorists, who are at large, get their hands on him, having now seen his face on all channels.
Long live Indian media!
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3 comments:
Gasper, you are very true abuot the boy safety and media's TRP. Autority should have not revealed anything about the boy or Auto Driver. Now there life is going to be very heard. God blesss them.
Exactly my views at that moment Gasper! No wonder our investigations end half way! No wonder people do not want to testify! Why cant media be discreet in their coverage? Why do they not know their limits? Each media person wants to show that they have something better than the other and in the process, they hurt people.Can they not imagine themselves in the poor guys situation or maybe their kids? If it was their own kid there, would they have subjected them to the same treatment? I am sure they would have shooed him away!
It's because Indian media (at least television) is still in its infancy. Ethics is unfortunately thrown out the window. Its not too long before people start tuning off.
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