Jun 05, 2006 07:08 PM
5485 Views
A current trend observed in the News channels since the last few months is that of harping on one story all day long.
Be it the Salman Khan case or the wardrobe malfunction at the fashion show or any other story that really does not have much substance but has more humane value or attraction value.
Since the channels are 24 hours functioning - they do need to have that kind of viewership as well and what better way than to have a story around a celebrity who attracts the crowds.
I recently was at home when the Rahul Mahajan episode happened. That is when I realized that the policy of the news channels in harping a story involving a known name did make some sense.
Since it was a known name and had some intrigue to the whole thing it did make for interesting viewing.
Because by nature we are all curious people. When it is someone else's misery, we more so enjoy listening or talking about it.
After a day of however the same stories running on different channels with no one really sure of what really happened and it was all hear say, what really bothered me was the fact that not one channel had one journalist who went a step ahead to do hsi work.
There was not one investigative story that was done on the entire episode that would make the viewer sit up and watch the news.
Aaj Tak couldn't gloat enough because the fourth accused guy had landed up in their studio. Every story made sure they made a mention of that fact.
Instead of digging for the real dope, I believe news channels have a monitoring room where they constantly watch what the others are doing and try catching up.
Without really knowing too much of the facts the news channels also make up their own stories which have all the spice adn which in turn leads to people reaching their own verdict.
Whether the person concerned did drugs or not? Who was the one who got him the junk? How did Sahil know Vivek? the police might or might not have the answers but the news channels do and so the people.
I think it is a very unhealthy way of bringing the news to the people.
The news channels must sit up and pull up their socks - we live in a democracy where if an actor stands up for a cause he is beaten down by the politicians.
Sadly we also live in a democracy where in the name of freedom of speech - the news channels serve any crap to the people.
