Drama in real life

They call it the news and then make it into fiction. We know this but somehow can never quite find the clinching evidence.

They call it the news and then make it into fiction. We know this but somehow can never quite find the clinching evidence. Well, here8217;s one example where first there was news and then there was a story.

Friday, CNN-IBN:nbsp; A report on a young girl named Shinjini, who had participated in a reality talent contest on a regional channel and was gravely ill with a debilitating condition that had robbed her of her voice and mobility. We see Shinjini lying helpless in a hospital bed. The father of the girl said the harsh words of the judges before she was eliminated had depressed her enormously, leading to her mysterious ailment. CNN-IBN quoted a doctor in Kolkata who said that depression cannot cause such a condition and that the responsibility lay elsewhere 8212; it is of chemical origin.

Five minutes later, Aaj Tak broadcast the same item. 8216;Judges scold Shinjini8217;, was the first headline the original Hindi 8216;daant maari8217; sounds more ominous and hard-hitting. We see Shinjini dancing during the show, lively, vibrant. Cut to the judges who look forbidding. Aaj Tak said that the judges were very harshnbsp;only to Shinjini?. The father was quoted saying roughly what he said on CNN-IBN 8212; that the judges had brought on the ailment. Then, Aaj Tak asked a rhetorical question: 8220;Judges ne Laxman rekha tho nahin paar kiya?8221;, thereby suggesting that they had but which 8216;rekha8217; is that?.

Ten minutes on, it was the turn of Star News. 8220;Reality show ne chheen li uski awaaz8221;, it cried out. It repeated Shinjini8217;s experience on the reality show, it showed Shinjini perform on stage, cut to the same grim judge and reached the same conclusion or should it be accusation? 8212; that the judges had done it to Shinjini.

We were then transported to her bedside where we saw a lady presumably her mother and were told by the anchor that Shinjini is being treated at Bangalore8217;s Nimhans Hospital. 8220;Awaaz ghoom ho gayi hai8221;, is the accompanying commentary, 8220;ek reality show ne 8230; kiya hai8221;.nbsp;

The angry father spoke: Shinjini was eliminated when in tenth position. She was very depressed. He excoriates the judges and the show 8212; programmes like this should be stopped if they cannot be conducted in the right manner. A friend or fellow contestant takes the stand and describes Shinjini8217;s hopes and dreams of an acting career. But, declares, Star News, the judges gave their verdict 8220;suna diya phaisla8221; and it proved very costlynbsp;8220;bhaari padi8221;. One judge named Ringo replied: it8217;s been two months since Shinjini was eliminated and now they are saying we are responsible8230; how is it possible or words to that effect.nbsp; Star News is not listening. It returned to the helpless Shinjini: 8220;khamosh hai Shinjininbsp;8212; her childhood has been snatched from her.nbsp;nbsp;

There you have it: a tweak here, a tweak there, and a straight report developed twists and turns.nbsp; In its report, CNN-IBN did not air the views of the judges and the Hindi channels chose to believe the father without any recourse to a second opinion from the medical profession.nbsp;

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Nobody told us what harsh words were used by the judges to Shinjini, nor did anyone question the advisability of parents allowing children to compete in reality shows or their pressure on the youngsters to excel. And what about the nature of the ailment?

A sad and saddening account of Shinjini8217;s condition became a sensational story about the judges8217; malevolent role. This happens to the news every day. Facts become fiction faster than a novelist could convert them.

That, possibly, explains why so many of us so often turn to sports for relief. Last week there was plenty of it 8212; Euro soccer, Asia Cup, New Zealand-England and West Indies-Australia ODIs, Wimbledon, etc. In sports we can take the news for what it is: Spain-1, Germany-0.