June 5, 2008

The Big Rule!

If you are working in an Indian Television company; particularly Hindi channels, this write-up will not be surprising for you at all. It’s all about breaking news. – Yeah I know I have earlier too posted a similar article but... When I look back at my days in the Hindi channel bracket and my being a silent spectator yet a participant to this raging stupidity – it not only makes me sad but I also experience disgust, which leaves behind a feeling of despair. And it hurts, knowing that the people who allow such nonsense are well reputed and distinguished journalists.



Let me tell you; the quality and importance of ‘Breaking News’ on Hindi channels is based on – A BIG RULE – i.e. - There Is No Rule. From untimely to timely rainfall, from the cat spilling the beans to some biggie sneezing his heart out – All these and more can be sold as breaking news, the only criteria being the ‘incident’ needs to have occurred in big cities – to be precise the all important TRP centers.



I don’t want to go on harping about the lameness of the ‘Breaking News’ concept, which is adopted in India – primarily coz I was also a part of it and I seem to be still an important part of it.



Some video grabs sent to me by a television journalist and a good friend – speaks volumes about the standard of broadcast journalism and the ‘Breaking News’ phenomenon in India and mind you these are just a handful of the examples and not the entire picture. My only prayer - Good sense should prevail and hopefully soon. Amen!

15 comments:

Botchtti said...

Gawwd.....

I have stopped watching the news for precisely the same reason! The news has become pathetic... it is sometimes, no lemme correct that, its's embarassing to watch news almost all the time.

I really sympathise with you and similar people working in the industry!

ANJALI said...

Absolutely right .........The topics are somehow nuisance n makes no sence jus as if broadcasting for the sake of or as if theyve nothing to be aired .................at times I really think are they really JOURNALIST OR WORTH NEWS CHANNELS ..........GUD HERO U TAKE UP GOOD TOPICS ....GET GOIN

Unknown said...

Thanks mate for showing the video grabs as I have not watched Hindi news channels since a few years because thankfully there is not time when in India to watch this crap. And yes, thanks also for reminding me that I haven't missed anything but just funny topics being sold as breaking news.

Business risk India said...

lol.. its funny and sad at the same time Dinesh...good read though!

Journomuse said...

We are all in responsible positions in the broadcast sphere..We have to make a difference. But silently moving with the tide, we are as guilty as the others...the so called Hindiawallahs..

If the TRPs of good reportage increases, this degradation will right itself..perhaps?

prufrock said...

I THINK THE HINDI NEWS VIEWERS CAN'T TAKE HEAVIER THAN THIS...SO AS LONG AS RAHUL EATS "SABJI PURI" AND BIG B SNEEZES AWFULLY LOUD TRPS WILL GAIN MORE NUMBERS...COZ AFTER ALL TRP IS DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO OUR ANNUAL INCREMENTS...ISN'T IT...SO NEVER MIND IF THERE'S MORE STUPIDITY IN THE IDIOT BOX !

CHAYAN

Anil said...

Like HIndi Literature .. It seems they will bury the HINDI Journalism in same way.. it hurts and I feel to walk into studio and kick the channel owners...

mohit said...

this is sad as well as true..
bt it all happens becoz of growing no of channels and ..competetion..
as long as hovt. is maintaining distance frm this thing.. this will happen..there shud be code of conduct fr the nwz channel as well . no matter if it curb there indipendence..at least ppl will have quality of news.

mohit said...

this is funny bt sad and true.. this happens and there must be code of conduct fr them too..

westwind blowing said...

the sad reality of tv journalism, sometimes i feel like such a hypocrite. i'm so glad i quit from hindi news - it had become unbearable to work with without kicking myself everyday for what i was doing just to be independent

Alter Ego said...

Some one had to speak of this afterall..and its good that it has come from a journalist..

Alter Ego said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
geetika said...

the post is a lament and it really speaks about what unfortunately indian masses want to see...a country where saas bahu serials are winning the trp race isn't it natural to have this kind of breaking news

sad but true our people have developed this taste for macabre extremely dramatic rather melodramatic presentation and thats become a habit with masses..subtlity and sensitive handling has become passe

The Yellow Brick Road said...

..and then? What happens? Where do we take it from here? The same old rut??!!

charvaka said...

The funny fact here is that 'aajtak' and 'starnews', the channels shown in these pictures will be in the top five trp rated channels almost all the time.This is a testimony to the people's taste in news channels.