From covering divorces, marital discords and taking interviews of warring factions of a family as if somebody%u2019s misery is the nation%u2019s business to a detailed half-hour, coverage of two pet dogs married off in Ahmedabad, tabloid journalism%u2019s ugly face is now the unfortunate reality of our TV. Crime shows telecasted on these TV channels add to our woes (a TV host of one of such shows %u2013 I don%u2019t recollect which Hindi TV channel I saw that on %u2013 actually wears a police uniform as a costume!) As a fellow journalist, my heart bleeds when I watch my profession going down the drains, into the gutter, with every passing day.
The article is right in pointing out that tabloid journalism is rampant not only on India TV but also on Zee News, Aaj Tak and Star News. However, I do not think banning anything is the answer, because it unnecessary stirs a hornet's nest. Responsible censorship may be the answer or the short-term solution. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with us %u2013 the viewer. Viewers clearly want to see cheap news, sex and sleaze on TV news and they get cheap thrills out of watching such mundane news. If viewers accept responsibility and understand that such cheap news telecasted by such unscrupulous Hindi news channels like India TV, Zee News, Aaj Tak and Star News is of no good use to anyone, automatically these channels would be forced to change their strategies. Even channels like BBC and CNN report such tabloid news, but in a more sop
RE:where is the viewer's responsibility?
by kayezad Adajania on Jun 02, 2007 11:47 AM Permalink
...continued from my previous post....
Even channels like BBC and CNN report such tabloid news, but in a more sophisticated form. Nine out of ten reports on any given day in their news pertain to clashes and violence throughout the world. When have they ever reported any positive news emanating from developing nations! If only viewers wake up and switch off such news channels, will the Hindi news channels - and many of their English counterparts too - learn their lesson.
