TV News Channels: Converting A Tragedy Into A Circus
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
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By Linus Garg
First publised on 2020-09-10 11:56:53
About the Author
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
View all posts by this Author
What is the television media trying to do in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case? Day in and day out, they are bombarding the viewers with nothing but 'news' from the happenings in the case as if there is no other pressing or important news that needs to be brought before the public. All frontline news channels are guilty of having reduced the tragedy to a circus. More disgustingly, almost all of them have declared Rhea Chakraborty to be the culprit.
The way the news channels are hounding Rhea, they have called her all names except the P-word which they obviously cannot use on national television (although the way they are going, it is but a matter of time before words normally considered unsuitable for prime time audience will become commonplace on television). Acting as judge, jury and executioner, the television media has already pronounced Rhea Chakraborty of pushing Rajput to death, if not actually murdering him. They have even coined presumptuous hashtags such as #IndiaForRheaArrest.
It is a matter of shame that the 'debates' that take place on the issue are dominated by fire-spewing anchors who try to be more excited than their equally disgusting compatriots on other channels. The way they try to lead the debate up a pre-decided path makes a mockery of all journalistic principles. Even the law gives space to all accused by presuming them to be not guilty unless proven so. But the Indian television media has already decided that Rhea Chakraborty is guilty. As a result of their unethical and impertinent coverage, some people have started to malign all Bengali women on social media, which is preposterous.
The biggest tragedy is that the real facts of the case are getting buried in the 'manufactured' evidence which the channels are 'digging' up by talking to this or that acquaintance of the deceased actor and presenting the same as 'damning' in exclusive 'scoops'. But however much may the channels make hay now (the rising TRPs are giving them the kicks), the real facts will emerge only after the CBI has concluded its investigations. Till then, giving a miss to the news channels is the best option for citizens who believe in fairness.
