Of News, Newspapers and Other Media
This week has witnessed a major media house shutting down in one stroke six of its editions at Bhopal, Indore, Ranchi, Kanpur, Allahabad and Varanasi. It is disheartening to think of the staff losing their jobs due to this move. While this doesn't come as a surprise given the scenario of news consumption in the country, it is time to ponder for all media companies with few or no exceptions. The Newspapers/media are supposed to be the voices of the public. But are they these days?
Somewhere down the line media seems to have forgotten the reason for their existence - a reader or a viewer. In a mad race to chase numbers in the print and TRPs in the electronic segment for augmenting advertising revenue, the common man is completely forgotten. His problems have been relegated to inner pages and money spinners have taken over front pages and prime time slots. Advertisers, influential political class and cinema stars have occupied their mind space(read page space and time slots)resulting in erosion of their loyalty, credibility and trustworthiness. Media houses which were once known for 'fearless' journalism have relegated themselves and taken up 'favourable' journalism. Gone are the days when a news item could shake up a whole government and unsettle the political party in power. Earlier they had only one motto - constructive criticism of the government and betterment of public life. Today most media houses have 'other business interests' and they cannot afford to rub the government on the 'wrong' side, so where is the question of questioning the government. What matters is profit at any cost. To hell with value journalism is what they seem to be thinking. If a media house doesn't question, how can the vast public who are individual parts fight against the wrong doings of the government. By paying a subscription fee for reading and watching, the public have given that responsibility to media but they are being disappointed year after year. Sensationalism has taken over sensitivities. Commerce has replaced common sense. Rubbing the shoulders with those in power and the glamorous is the order of the day for most media. Some print media companies have reduced their publications to the level of a commodity.
While the above are self inflicted injuries, there are external factors plaguing the media. As digital and social media evolved, the people have started highlighting their own issues effectively in the public domain. They are being served news on the go and every minute. Nobody seems to have the time to read the news they already know next day morning in fine print. Adding to problems by media's woes is the increasing wage bill and newsprint costs. 'Thanks' to wage boards, they are forced to pay unequal pay for equal work or equal pay for unequal work. In a declining market scenario it is next to impossible to continue at the same cost structure forcing them to take the tough decisions. The e-commerce segment has opened up better opportunities for the newspaper delivery boys and it is increasingly becoming difficult to get boys for delivering newspapers in the morning hours. However there are no such problems for the electronic media except for competition from within the segment.
In such a scenario, the media houses have to seriously introspect and reinvent themselves to stay relevant. They have to stand by the public for whom they are reportedly in place. Else, they themselves will be in news for the wrong reasons and the society would have a weakened fourth pillar of democracy.
A sound, strong and values based media is good for the country and its people.
Somewhere down the line media seems to have forgotten the reason for their existence - a reader or a viewer. In a mad race to chase numbers in the print and TRPs in the electronic segment for augmenting advertising revenue, the common man is completely forgotten. His problems have been relegated to inner pages and money spinners have taken over front pages and prime time slots. Advertisers, influential political class and cinema stars have occupied their mind space(read page space and time slots)resulting in erosion of their loyalty, credibility and trustworthiness. Media houses which were once known for 'fearless' journalism have relegated themselves and taken up 'favourable' journalism. Gone are the days when a news item could shake up a whole government and unsettle the political party in power. Earlier they had only one motto - constructive criticism of the government and betterment of public life. Today most media houses have 'other business interests' and they cannot afford to rub the government on the 'wrong' side, so where is the question of questioning the government. What matters is profit at any cost. To hell with value journalism is what they seem to be thinking. If a media house doesn't question, how can the vast public who are individual parts fight against the wrong doings of the government. By paying a subscription fee for reading and watching, the public have given that responsibility to media but they are being disappointed year after year. Sensationalism has taken over sensitivities. Commerce has replaced common sense. Rubbing the shoulders with those in power and the glamorous is the order of the day for most media. Some print media companies have reduced their publications to the level of a commodity.
While the above are self inflicted injuries, there are external factors plaguing the media. As digital and social media evolved, the people have started highlighting their own issues effectively in the public domain. They are being served news on the go and every minute. Nobody seems to have the time to read the news they already know next day morning in fine print. Adding to problems by media's woes is the increasing wage bill and newsprint costs. 'Thanks' to wage boards, they are forced to pay unequal pay for equal work or equal pay for unequal work. In a declining market scenario it is next to impossible to continue at the same cost structure forcing them to take the tough decisions. The e-commerce segment has opened up better opportunities for the newspaper delivery boys and it is increasingly becoming difficult to get boys for delivering newspapers in the morning hours. However there are no such problems for the electronic media except for competition from within the segment.
In such a scenario, the media houses have to seriously introspect and reinvent themselves to stay relevant. They have to stand by the public for whom they are reportedly in place. Else, they themselves will be in news for the wrong reasons and the society would have a weakened fourth pillar of democracy.
A sound, strong and values based media is good for the country and its people.
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