On the newshour

As is my habit during primetime, I make it a point to surf news channels to find out as to how the media is covering the day’s burning issues and I must admit to my sneaky preference to hear what Pronoy Roy or Arnab Goswami has to tell us. This is over and above what I absorb from the BBC/CNN on international news and the Asianet/Surya channels for the ones that are Kerala specific. I’m of the firm opinion that the media, unwittingly, gives terrorists, unwanted ruffians( Muthalik is the best example in this category along with the Thackerays –both uncle and nephew) and many banned outfits, too much of media space and ample coverage to sell their wares. And what’s most disparaging is, that, these bad men spew so much of venom that can easily sway the minds of misguided youth and drifters as they, in turn, realize (much to our agony later, perhaps) that they too can get wide coverage by virtue of the path of destruction that they choose for themselves!
To cite this evening’s instance, the two news lines that were predominant were the Pune blasts being linked to the ‘Karachi plot’ and the Maoists’ deadly attack on two police camps in the state of West Bengal. In the process a guy called ‘Maki’ was shown spewing the most vitriolic language and threats to India, from somewhere in Pakistan. Similarly, known Maoist sympathizers were covered, giving their opinions and justifying their actions against the state, in another clip. Both the parties, according to me, have achieved the otherwise impossible accomplishment – tell the whole country that they can do and strike at any place of their choosing and our state machinery just can’t do a fig to stop or prevent them!
For once, the media needs to stop going overboard in their coverage of Pakistan, terrorist organizations and outfits of nuisance value like the Ramsene and give more coverage to the many good things that are happening around us everyday and the numerous unsung heroes of our society who carry on their good work despite all odds and difficulty. The media can definitely be more balanced in their coverage of news towards fulfilling their moral responsibility to society.