Indian Media Bash Blog

This post is “inspired” by the prevailing mess on the TV where “gospel news” is presented as “exclusive”; as mainstream.

We are all sick of the media and there seems to be no respite. These are all unavoidable since we need to be informed. Time and again, they seem to be harping on the same old themes without any let up. Either it’s Jessica here or Meher there; the Indian idol and “desh ki awaz” et al. We all know that the shows are rigged, the news set by an agenda and quick developments replace the old continual themes.

There could indeed be a rap on their knuckles; however, we as consumers don’t really have any choice. Each channel suffers from the same TRP mentality and seem to be catering to the lowest common denominator. Unfortunately for these frigging idiots, we are exposed to the best in the world at the same time which makes it easy to compare.

Read the article in Rediff where Mahesh Peri makes a succint case of the mess. To quote:

Most of the news anchors in India come off as duds who are trying to understand than explain. There is an air of arrogance coupled with stupidity in their questioning.

One of the English channels had the following ticker ‘Sourav scores 81 and still ends up on the losing side’. Let me finish the other half of the story that I got to read in the good old print product the next day. Sourav did score 81, off 146 balls. He had 91 dot balls. His other team members scored another 144 runs in as many balls. And yes, he bowled and gave away 29 runs in four overs. No wonder, his team members ended on the losing side.

One of the most endearing mysteries is the persistent desire to see Sourav Ganguly back in team. He even made appeals through the media, fell on his knees (almost) and got his daughter in the picture. An unworthy idiot who was good as long as he lasted. Why the hoopla? The existing players are doing good and winning matches.

Another instance Mahesh says:

I am reliably informed that some channels in India have revenue from SMS’s as a target set for their programme.

Now this is pure commerce. Of course. There are enough idiots waiting to be milked for what all it’s worth it and more the merrier. By the way, you are charged premium rates for the SMS’s. Which makes it lucrative for all to jump in the fray.

Interestingly, the icing on the cake was Aamir Khan’s interview on Tehelka. It was linked on Sushubh’s blog and our own Indian Media Bash.

You can read the entire interview onTehelka.

I was indeed surprised that Tehelka had allowed free access to their articles. I wouldnb’t mind any glaring advertisements or even text based Google ads, but the whole purpose of having an online paper is defeated. I strongly believe in Open Access and the way these people have put up access controls is deplorable. I wouldn’t comment on their overtly “secular credentials” or the people behind the same venture; it would out of place. However, read the interview which is pretty ham handed. He says a lot of things without conveying anything really.

By the way, Aamir Khan is one of the most over rated actors in Indian film industry. He might make “good movies” but give him the benefit of doubt. For example, Lagaan remained a gory spectacle of how to murder a film script with a cricket match. It is definitely my own personal opinion, but there are better actors out there. Much much better.

So well, this is media.