I see the fuss being made by the
media about the one-day ban on NDTV.The comparison to Emergency is laughable
and betrays an exaggerated idea of press freedom. I am myself shocked but not
at the ban.
In all fairness I must confess that
I have great respect for NDTV and its professionalism which is why I am disturbed to see their
lapses. I am shocked at the fact that
the seniormost TV channel,NDTV, failed to observe the widely accepted reporting protocol. I do
not need to remind media that there has already been a serious reporting episode during 26/11. No lessons seem to have been learnt. Channels
compete with each other in open displays
of their access to sensitive government documents including, if I remember
right, cabinet notes. I do not seem to recall any reaction from government
either on this ongoing private battle!
After the present instance of
reporting of the Pathankote attack which I saw on TV I wrote to the print media expressing shock
at the reading by certainly one reporter, if not more, of the “inventory” of military assets which
escaped enemy attention in Pathankote. I am not surprised that this letter was
not published and I do not know if the present one will fare any better ! This
kind of reporting is NOT exercise of
press freedom but lack of professional discretion.
In all developed countries press
reporting follows certain rules and conventions which are strictly
respected.Reporters who are privy to sensitive information are able to
recognise it as such and retain it as
trustees. In UK WWII press briefings included news of reverses but any news
affecting morale of the people or of military consequence was given and
accepted in confidence, not for publication.I may mention that even as recently
as post Uri and a few days ago the NDTV reporter was happily reporting every
move of the Raksha Mantri and the Army Chief in the Uri area.
TV Channels should immediately set
up training programmes for “anchors”/ reporters, outdoor and on-screen, which
should include the use of correct spoken language, ‘traffic” management during
discussions, nuances of the subjects covered , whether military or civil, and
the ability to recognise and respect sensitive information. What viewers expect
is something educative or entertaining
or enlightening, not doses of daily Hitchcockian suspense and sensation.
