Opinion Journalism as Candle

This week this column should obviously try to review news TV’s coverage of the Ruchika Girhotra case. But I wondered what’s there to say,really? Between Justice for Jessica and Justice for Ruchika,news TV hasn’t changed one bit. Obviously,news TV in campaign mode against an establishment big boy getting away with it is perfectly alright. Equally obviously,a news TV campaign can make its point,force the establishment to take notice without did-we-really-hear-that variety of melodrama (the rule of law is failing every year,every day,said CNN-IBN). Even more obviously,news TV disagrees with this. Would,say,a newspaper editorial call S.P.S. Rathore a scoundrel? You can make the point by not saying that; indeed,you are a very poor commentator if you need to say that to make your point. But news TV panellists use adjectives like this with righteousness,and news TV anchors agree with them with complete sincerity — so you inevitably get news TV editorial judgment calls like the “noose is tightening around Rathore” (Times Now) and “teen-molester cop” (NDTV); and from there to showing viewer tweets that ask for Rathore to be hanged (CNN-IBN) is but a small step.

News TV excesses can raise a laugh,and it’s a privilege and a pleasure for this column to share a chuckle or two with you the reader over something we saw on the box. Is the Ruchika case too serious an issue for even television journalism around it to be funny? Maybe. But more,and to be perfectly frank,it’s the tedium that got to me. So,forgive me,I will be somewhat tedious myself and ask a serious question this time: What are the consequences of television journalism that trashes the whole system in the name of civil society every time a story of terrible injustice breaks? News TV probably reckons this is a silly,irrelevant,naive question. Since I am being tedious,I don’t mind being silly,irrelevant and naive.

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There have actually been suggestions on news TV that broadcasters should not only,as they do now,organise people’s protests under their banner,but also lead protesters in petitioning those in authority. Television journalism as a de jure instrument of justice? Television journalists leading protesters to Union ministers or the chief justice?

Before contemplating that future,let’s contemplate what’s already current: why should news broadcasters organise protests? News TV thinks this is absolutely alright. But it absolutely isn’t. Does BBC organise protests under its banner? Does CNN? Are these broadcasters faint-hearted news organisations that don’t care about the media’s responsibility in questioning those in authority? There are terrible cases of citizens being victims of establishment callousness or worse in Britain and the United States. Should we pity Britons and Americans that their news TV channels never organise candle-lit marches?

Let’s,in this context,mention and dispose of the argument that news TV excesses in this country are a reflection of the fact that we the people in general are not as mature as they the people. The top end of India’s social system doesn’t have that excuse — and news TV,especially English-language news TV,firmly belongs to the top end.

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The other argument is that if those in TV studios don’t commit excesses,those in power won’t budge. I simply don’t believe that argument. And,forgive me for being presumptuous,I think most of you don’t believe that either.

I am prepared to say this: if I am wrong I will participate in the next TV channel-organised candle-lit march,I will hold up a banner,too,and that banner will demand that news TV be given full prosecutorial and judicial powers. Justice will always be done after that,live and exclusive,and you will hear it on breaking news.

saubhik.chakrabarti@expressindia.com