Rewind 2008

This year, perhaps more than others, the media was the message, the media was the massage...

This year, perhaps more than others, the media was the message, the media was the massage; sometimes it created a mess, sometimes, it reflected a mass response or aroused mass resentment.

TV news got locked into a three-way tug-of-war with the public and the establishment, each pulling in a different direction, round and round. Mumbai 26/11 epitomises this: live TV coverage misinforms us, the government reins it in while its officials/officers aired their views; public complaints then join the media in a TV air-strike against terror, the establishment and Pakistan.

Whereupon an infuriated establishment hits back with criticism and regulations for TV, which then cries foul and rushes into its own self-regulation before launching a furious verbal fusillade against Pakistan, which may or may not have pleased the government, but certainly left the public thoroughly bemused.nbsp;

Apply the same formula to TV in general during 2008. English news channels are becoming more like their Hindi counterparts in noise and hyperbole; Hindi news channels are becoming more like spiritual channels as they chase spirits, Ram, Ravana across the universe and air serials on Sai Baba; spiritual channels are becoming a cross between lifestyle channels broadcasting health shows and news channels with star fortunes and Ramdev dividing his time equally between the two. This turns news channels into two segments: cricket channels and entertainment channels replete with reality shows and Bollywood buzz. That leaves the entertainment channels to become Fashion TV see what they wear on talent shows and Fashion TV to contemplate its navel, easily done given what the models don8217;t wear8230;

No wonder the TV screen is flat.

HIGH FIVES AND LOWS OF 2008nbsp;

THE HIGHS

American presidential elections: CNN8217;s state-of-the-art coverage of the campaign. The undisputed star? The 8220;magic screen8221; that gave us the entire picture literally of the elections within 60 seconds. nbsp;

Cricket: From the Sydney 8220;satyagraha8221; after Harbhajan8217;s monkey business and the Perth victory, once Ishant locked transfixed Ponting, through the IPL marriage of ball, bat and foreign cheerleaders, Sachin8217;s 11,000 runs, Ganguly8217;s going, Dhoni8217;s run of victories 8212; what a year for the couch cricketer. nbsp;

Olympics: Or the 8216;Olumpics8217; as Doordarshan anchors called it. And that early morning Bindra gold medal did bring a lump to our throats. For a change, we watched the Games for Indian victories as the boxers landed bronze and silver. Spectacular opening and closing ceremonies and a certain amphibious gentleman by the name of Mr Phelps dispelled the China fog.

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Colors: Launched mid-year, it has ten shows in the top 100. Colors has ushered in a throwback new era to DD8217;s golden age Buniyaad, etc: more realistic, outdoor shoots, fine acting with less melodrama or special effects. That it took Balika Vadhu8217;s child bride 8212; Anandi 8212; to rescue us from the daughters-cum-mothers-in-laws is a fitting obituary for the 8220;K8221; serials. A comeback year for mythos 8212; Ramayana, Mahabharat, Jai Shri Krishna, Shani Maharaj. nbsp;

Movies: More recent Bollywood releases and good international cinema from World Cinema and NDTV Lumiere.nbsp;

News: Times Now has brought news back into focus, with quick updated news 24215;7. CNN-IBN8217;s 8220;cash-for-votes8221; sting nearly caught high-level corruption. Coverage of the Bihar floods and the Kandhamal atrocities touched our conscience. Am told the financial slump was an eye-opener for those who understand subprime. Meanwhile, Zee News joined NDTV India in bucking Hindi masala news.nbsp;

THE lows

Crime: Scarlett Keeling, Arushi-Hemraj and many others have been victims of scurrilous character assassination, sleazy media voyeurism that stopped at no lengths to grab our attention. Scandalous! nbsp;

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Reality TV: Young Shinjini fell gravely ill with a debilitating condition apparently caused by the harsh judgments she received on a TV reality show. This highlighted arrogant judges, ambitious parents and driven children. Result? Renuka Chowdhury, Woman and Child Minister, on the warpath.

Poor performers: 9X, NDTV Imagine and News X. 9X and Imagine began well with middle-class dramas and reality shows but lacked the creativity to go beyond. News X was meant to have a sobering effect on news and current affairs hoorah! but it looks amateur, an unfinished work in progress.

Could someone please turn down the volume in 2009?

shailaja.bajpaiexpressindia.com