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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.

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Comments

  1. Serendipity17 December 2008 at 15:28

    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

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