On the Media and its unethical journalism

This is an extension of what I talked about in my last article on the same. There is one more problem that I have been observing when it comes to news stories published or broadcast on TV channels as "Breaking News"

Reporters are getting information from our police stations on the crime committed and the alleged criminal activity and even the alleged criminal details with names and full story about the crime.

I personally think, police should only give information about a crime registered with them. Why should police give full details of an alleged criminal when the crime is only reported and investigation by the police is yet to be initiated? Many times police take press conference and give away details immediately to pat on their own back. And the media reports the story in full details. But in many instances criminals arrested are acquitted by the courts on account of insufficient evidence.

So publishers of the news story should only report a crime and should not have debate on the story like the media trials we witness everyday. Media debates assume in most cases whatever is reported by the police is the truth about the crime and criminals involved?

How far that assumption is correct till investigation on the crime committed is not completed with its logical conclusions?

For example, when Devayani Khobragade was accused in US for not following US labor laws while appointing her maid servant, the news story had two sides and nobody knew which side of the story was factual? But Indian media gave the news story Racial color and reported the story in the Indian media accusing US administration for following racial discrimination? And the worst part in reporting the story was, all legal angles were assumed, no channel wanted to report the factual story as it happened when the labor RULES by Devyani Khobragade were flouted in reality. All Indian channels were in support of what was illegally done against the US labor laws by the lady and it only showed unprofessional, unethical journalism to the world by Indian media.

The other news story was about a very senior judge who was accused by young intern of him trying to make physical advances while under his internship. But this news story was doing rounds in the TV studios for many days with the forgone conclusion that the senior judge committed a crime and on the basis of this one sided assumption, Media trials were going on in TV studios for days with Women activists.

Now who decides what is a truth in the news story? Who is telling the truth? Does media decide in the TV studios when the case is under investigation? And who decides who is speaking the truth? TV anchors, Human Right activists, Women Activists, NGOs, few lawyers, politicians ??

How can anyone be the prosecutor, witness and jury? And what about the accused right to present his or her version of the allegations? Why are the police, investigation agencies, courts operating in the civil society?

What right Media has got to ruin somebody´s life in a public space by making random, lose, irresponsible accusations by prejudging the crime, and the accused?

Isn't it the fundamental principle of justice that " An accused is not a criminal till such time it is proved in the court of law ?

I strongly feel... a senior judge in the case mentioned above was put to shame in the civilized society even before the law could prove the crime was committed by him.

And Ms Devyani Khobragade was blindly supported when she had committed a crime as per the law of the land and Indian media had no business to give a "Spin to that news story. But it was done because her father Mr Khobragade has political connections.

The political connections were used on the media in this case to put pressure on US administration and prove Ms Devyani Khoragade was being unfairly accused for being Indian ?? Whatever, but these are classic cases of unprofessional and unethical journalism.

The same media, TV channels did not report about Mr Khobragade´s involvement in Adarsha Society scam? When he was GM of the BEST organization and is being accused of selling BEST land to Adarsha Society ? These TV channels did nor report about Ms Devyani Khobragade owning huge apartments in Adarsha society with the blessings of her father Khobragade? Which happens to be a big political scam under investigation now.

So media can not report bias news stories, bias views, fabricated news feeds, and have orchestrated debates in the public space when millions of viewers and readers are paying them to know the factual stories as they are happening. News reporting, news analysis must be based on the facts and not fiction or prejudice.

Therefore, its time we must have code of ethical practices for the media simply because I as a reader of the news paper or viewer of the TV channel do not feel misled, misinformed and cheated. And if I do... I must have the right to complain to the right forum that looks into unethical practices followed by the corrupt media and its corrupt professionals which impact and affect the lives of millions daily by news reports. more