Mangaluru: “Media does not just change public perception but it also creates perceptions,” said Press Club of India President Rahul Jalali.
An eminent journalist with over three decades of experience covering Kashmir, Pakistan and insurgency issues for various reputed newspapers, Mr Jalali was in Mangaluru on Monday, December 28 to participate as the keynote speaker at a media conclave on ‘Does media change public perception?’, organised by Spearhead Media Private Limited as a part of an annual get-together of Spearhead Media Private Limited, news portal newskarnataka.com and ‘Karnataka Today’, monthly magazine, at Hotel Deepa comforts.
In his address, Mr Jalali spoke about several dangerous trends existing in Indian media, which is putting truth at stake and compromising with the very ethics of journalism.
Speaking of changing trends in journalism, he recalled how about three decades ago a newspaper was identified by the editor of the newspaper and how today, the editors of the newspapers have taken backseats with the owners of the newspapers calling the shots.
“Due to the explosion of media, the pattern of ownership in the media has undergone sea change,” he said adding that the concerns of owners and advertisers has driven out news and editorial from media.
Speaking of how paid news and private treaties are smothering the media, Mr Jalali lamented that the two phenomenons seen only in India are destroying Indian journalism.
Bringing to fore the degree of sensationalism existing in television, Mr Jalali said that the televisions would go to any extent to create perception, simply because ‘sensationalism’ sells.
Opining that televisions thrive on ‘sensationalism’ and ‘provocative content’, he recalled how an input editor of a famous news channel was pressurising his on-field reporter covering cross-firing in Kashmir to increase the death toll, even when the truth was that none died in the cross-firing, Mr Jalali said that the ultimate news flashed on the channel said that ‘four villagers suspected to have been killed in cross-firing in J&K’, only because the contenders were increasing the death toll.
Mr Jalali pointed that news channels first decide on the ‘line’ to follow and tow the same lines, keeping all journalistic ethics aside.
“News channels set trends in India and they have their star faces, who are the templates for their channels. The channels while covering an issue, first decide on the theme and sticks by the theme,” he said adding that a classic example for media ‘changing’ and ‘creating’ perception could be Aarushi Talwar case.
The conclave was moderated by Karnataka Today Editor A Ram Babu.
The gathering was welcomed by Spearhead Pvt Ltd Founder and CEO Prakash. Editor in charge News Karnataka Bhakthi Hegde, Chief Operating Officer Brian Fernandes among others were present.
