Much fixing …

major players in the news TV game. I am a bit nervous. These are big players. But I stiffen my resolve by repeating to myself what CNN-IBN says: Whatever it takes. I will do whatever it takes to fix the problem.

Appropriately,the first team to meet me is from CNN-IBN. I take out some notes. Guys,I say,did you have to construct a grand thesis on Pakistan’s survival chances as a nation-state when talking to Rameez Raja on the spot-fixing story? You know I was stumped,I say. Why would a sports journalist talking to an ex-cricketer on a cricket story need to do that? Raja was justifiably miffed,I add.  

I feel I should explain more: Okay,if there’s a scandal in Indian cricket and a Pakistani news TV sports journalist asks,say,Maninder Singh,who was on CNN-IBN’s 9 o’ clock news recently,you know there’s this scandal,then you have the Maoist problem and your government is talking about ‘saffron terror’,what is happening to India,and you are a member of G-20 and all that. Do you think that would be okay journalism,I ask.

By the way — I take out more notes as I say this to the CNN-IBN team — I would like your views on that 9 o’clock news chat. I explain: The anchor said the problem is young Pakistani cricketers make too much money quickly,then a panelist said the problem is those boys feel they don’t make as much legit money as Indian boys do,the anchor then told another panelist the problem is Pakistani boys don’t make too much legit money. You see what I am getting at,I say,the anchor takes position X,then he takes the complete opposite of position X,we can’t do that in print,at least not in the same article.

We will think about all this,the CNN-IBN team says as it leaves. That’s so good of you,I say,adding,also will you think why that chat was headlined,“Should Pakistan be banned from cricket?”

Next team: Times Now. I start by saying this chat is not about Maoists,even though the Newshour debate on the story was headlined,“Hostage crisis enrages nation.” And although I am part of the nation,I want to ask,I tell the team,what are your views on these Newshour headlines on match fixing: “Pak ego before clean up”,“Pak defies the world”,“The rot is out”. By the way (I take out some notes here),the Newshour chat on foodgrain was called “Why let it rot?” So many ‘rots’,eh? Some may call Times Now the “Rottweiler” of news TV. I don’t get a laugh.

I try something else: those Newshour headlines,they were OTT,over the top,no,even if for something OTT on the television? OTT even for something OTT — that’s pretty cool,huh,I ask. But no laughs this time either. But I am grateful the team listened to me. As the team leaves,I say,you know guys,when analysing something,always be with the news,that’s the trick. But that’s our motto,they say,“Always be with the news.” Quite,I say.

I start my chat with the NDTV team by complimenting them on something I heard on We the People. It had nothing to do with cricket,guys,but I’m bringing it up because it impressed me so much. History is dynamic,the anchor had said. Future historians will ponder that one. And people who thought history is static now stand corrected.

Anyway,I tell the NDTV team,your show,The Lead,was headlined,“Should the Pakistani cricket team be suspended?” Strong stuff,and you say you talk to “leading editors” on that show on big news,but your panelist for the chat said,“I’m not a cricket fan.” Why that revelation was important was clear from the chat. Most water-cooler chatter has far more depth. Where did The Lead lead me to,I ask.

History,as you have told me,is dynamic,and thank you again for that,but guys,that show was like,you know,news TV is static.

Have I fixed the problem? Watch the next news shows carefully.