Being human...

A few weeks ago, I was following news, reporting an accident on television. The reporter covering that tragic incident was asking a bereaved woman, who had lost her husband and two children in that accident, how she felt!! The camera was zooming on that lady's face, trying to capture her every possible expression and word. The woman, deep in her shock was in precarious condition. But the reporter, hell bent on covering the most "potential" visuals guaranteed to catch more eyeballs for his channel, kept rephrasing the same question without realizing that he was transgressing moral bounds of basic humanity!

Indian media is going berserk in the race of getting maximum viewership. It has crossed all possible limits to create sensational news out of insignificant issues. Serious issues like terrorism or death have become sheer number games in the fierce war of survival and staying ahead in the business. And this filthy game doesn't stop at posing insensitive questions to the people affected by tragedies. The coverage of tragic incidents is hysterical and spicing up human suffering seems to be the mantra to grab maximum eyeballs.

A powerful medium like media seems to be in state of flux and is being used callously without realizing the responsibilities that it entails and it is clearly reflected in lack of accuracy, perspective and depth in the way certain issues are handled.  Agreed, media is just a business at the end but can we have certain codes of conduct? Can we expect objective reporting that is not devoid of basic human values like compassion? I wonder sometimes, God forbid, if the journalists or their family members were to face some tragedy, would their approach be as dehumanized and shameful?

Media is backbone for any nation and it plays a crucial role in shaping a healthy democracy. Indian media has undoubtedly evolved and matured in past two decades and its impact is noteworthy. However, there are lots of questions that need answers. With money and politics having entered the print and electronic media, is there any check on these "powerhouses"? Is it alright to let the media exercise its unlimited power and freedom without being responsible for the very purpose it is meant to serve? No amount of power can justify inhuman attitude devoid of ethics. And when ethics take backseat, all we witness is nothing but an ugly side of media that has potential to create havoc that is beyond our imagination. And that is dreadful for any democracy. I hope, Indian media wakes up to this fact. At the earliest!