Skip to main content

Short public memory - Mumbai attacks

People (and politicians in particular) believe that public memory is
short and as long as one can get a couple of weeks pass, people will
get back to "life's like that". This appears to be a part of popular
Indian way of life "यहाँ सब चलता है".

On the question of accountability - does it rest with only politicians
and public service (servants). Mumbai attacks seem to have changed
the way we keep our short memories. Just in aid of those who would
like to change the system, let me propagate public accountability of
those who are neither politicians nor in government.

It is about media accountability. I received an emotion charged mail.
It made me think that even without the emotional outburst, there is
something to ponder about.

What will be the results? Will the "culprit" own up? Will the concerned
organisation "take action"? Will the action be in line with action
demanded from the establishment?

Quote

Appalling journalism. Absolute blasphemy! As I watch the news from
home, I am dumbfounded to see Barkha Dutt of NDTV break every rule of
ethical journalism in reporting the Mumbai meyhem. Take a couple of
instances for example:*

*In one instance she asks a husband about his wife being stuck, or held
as a hostage. The poor guy adds in the end about where she was last
hiding. Aired! My dear friends with AK-47s, our national news is helping
you. Go get those still in. And be sure to thank NDTV for not censoring
this bit of information.*

*In another instance, a General sort of suggests that there were no
hostages in Oberoi Trident. (Clever.) Then, our herione of revelations
calls the head of Oberoi, and the idiot confirms a possibility of 100 or
more people still in the building. Hello! Guys with guns, you've got
more goats to slay. But before you do, you've got to love NDTV and more
precisely Ms. Dutt. She's your official intelligence from Ground
zero.You do not need to be a journalist to understand the basic premise
of ethics, which starts with protecting victims first; and that is done
by avoiding key information from being aired publicly—such as but not
limited to revealing the number of possible people still in, the
hideouts of hostages and people stuck in buildings.*

*Imagine you're one of those sorry souls holed-up in one of those
bathrooms, or kitchens. A journalist pulls your kin outside and asks
about your last contact on national television, and other prying
details. In a bout of emotion, if they happen to reveal more details,
you are sure going to hell. Remember these are hotels, where in all
likelihood, every room has a television. All a terrorist needs to do is
listen to Ms. Barkha Dutt's latest achievement of extracting information
from your relative, based on your last phone-call or SMS.*

*And you're shafted—courtesy NDTV.1*

*If the terrorists don't manage to shove you in to your private hell,
the journalists on national television will certainly help you get
there. One of the criticisms about Barkha Dutt on Wikipedia reads
thus:

*During the Kargil conflict, Indian Army sources repeatedly complained
to her channel that she was giving away locations in her broadcasts,
thus causing Indian casualties.*

*Looks like the idiot journalist has not learnt anything since then. I
join a number of bloggers pleading her to shut up.*

*Update: In fact, I am willing to believe that Hemant Karkare died
because these channels showed him prepare (wear helmet, wear
bullet-proof vest.) in excruciating detail live on television. And they
in turn targeted him where he was unprotected. The brave officer
succumbed to bullets in the neck.*


Unquote

In this world where trust in corporates is reaching rock bottom, would it spread to other public institutions?

Surely, if a watch is not kept on the watchdog.

Comments

  1. Oh! Let me not start on what I have to say about Media coverage. I have a post dedicated to that. But I am well and truly appalled - senior Journalists like her ought to have had better judgement.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How reality loses to momentum?

Truth prevails is an old adage that seems to be losing its relevance in the current sentiments. Still I am confident that "Truth shall prevail". Hopefully, sooner than later. The case in point is the investor confidence in the stock market. Indian markets are aping the performance of the stock markets of developed world. In fact, the possible loss in indices is reasonably predictable in the last few weeks based on what happened on the previous day in Europe and US. Are the situations similar? Are Indian businesses facing the same situation as companies in western world? Are Indian corporate giants going bust like crackers in Diwali? Have companies of great repute and history in India have filed for bankruptcy? Has any company in India reported loss of sales (top line) in double digits and evaporation of profits? Slowdown yes. How bad is India? Is it comparable to West? It has baffled me as to how convenient has it been to be infected with "western sentiments" virus ...

Food court in a mall on Sunday

I had visitors from hills over the last few days and my better half has been coaxing me to take them out for a lunch and show the marvels of Gurgaon, The MALLS. I have been avoiding it like plague as going on a sight seeing trip to a mall is not my cup of (green) tea. She warned me, "tomorrow is the last day that guests are here and under no circumstances I am gonna cook sunday lunch. Enough is enough, move your heavy body and take them to the largest mall in India with 1 km of shopping on each floor". I am still not sure whether the objective was to avoid cooking, being a guide to guests at home or a clear signal to exercise to be in shape. Like a student preparing for the competitive exams, I had no choice but to listen to Ma'am. After the customary drive, wait at the security at The Mall for about 10 minutes, queue of 14 cars before me to the B2 parking, I landed at the prized mall grinning like a kid who has found a box of sweets. One went through explaining Lladro, N...

17,000 weddings over the weekend in Delhi

Marriages are made in heaven and celebrated on earth. The timings appear to be rather odd. It has been reported that Delhi celebrated 17,000 weddings over the 4th weekend of Nov, 2008. I had the (mis)fortune of having 7 invites. All mandatory to attend. So it was a game of musical chairs and hours spent on the chaotic jammed roads of Delhi. Delhi farm houses with more than 100 food stalls at one end and 20 food stalls with at least three cuisines at the other end were decorated to meet the stringent demands of discerning friends and relatives for whom food is a yardstick of how good the marriage celebration is. Look at the recession time: The minimum guest arrangements were for 400 people and max for 2,000 people. On a little more probing, the food cost per head ranged from Rs 700 to Rs 2000 per person. Averages can be misleading but for the simplicity sake doing some basic maths Marriages 17,000 Guests@ 800 Food @ 1,000 Decoration@ 5,00,000 Jewellery@ 1,00,0...