Opinion Tele scope: Follow the PM Narendra Modi
Otherwise, TV news is insular, uninterested in the world.
In the real world of broadcast news, Narendra Modi has been making power, not fashion, statements.
There’s a spanking swell mansion on the top of a hillock. Our intrepid investigative team comprising Ananya and Sunny Singh scrambles up the steep climb to find itself before the porch. Thoughtfully, the bad guys waited to carry out their wickedness until the two arrived (and hid behind a bush). Then they force a young woman, sold by her materialistic dad, to marry an elderly, thoroughly corrupt minister.
The weeping damsel is dragged to the mandap; the investigative team follows, hiding in the shadows (of what?) and as the pandit formalises the union, it flashes its weapon — and videotapes the crime. Welcome to the TV journalist as private detective.
At the “Dilli Kranti” newspaper, Kabir Sharma, who has the same story, is all set to publish it on the front page. TV reporter Ananya’s story, unfortunately, never sees the light of a TV news screen as the owner of the channel, Chaturvedi, succumbs to political pressure not to air it. The inner intrigues of a TV newsroom surface as we discover that news anchor Manav alerted the minister. He harbours hopes of becoming editor-in-chief of the news channel with a little help from Chaturvedi’s daughter, Disha. But chatur Chaturvedi has his eye on Kabir for the job. Welcome to a peek at the dirty linen of broadcast news.
And to a celebration of the TV journalist as NGO activist. Bespectacled reporter Ananya climbs onto the reception table at a hospital and demands that an old woman be given the medical treatment she has been promised, while cameraman Sunny Singh relays the footage live.
The hospital authorities cave in immediately and Ananya is the star and saviour of the moment.
If this isn’t your idea or memory of TV news, then apologies. What you see is what you get. And what you see in this instance is Reporters (Sony), a new series, starring Rajiv Khandelwal as smooth, ace journalist Kabir Sharma, who delivers puzzling homilies like: “News is an intoxicant; selling intoxicants is no easy job; it never has been and never will be.” Huh?
It’s unfair to judge a TV show after two episodes, but let’s be unfair. Comparisons with foreign shows such as The Newsroom or House of Cards (Zee Cafe) are odious, but from what we’ve seen, Reporters will delve into the power politics of news TV led by crusading journalists like Kabir and Ananya.
They must immediately launch a crusade against serials like Gangaa (&TV), which portrays a young girl as a widowed child bride. Shows like this explore the dark world of such girls, but that isn’t reason enough to broadcast them. Why must we explore this world? It’s not as if it is a deterrent or anything.
In the real world of broadcast news, Narendra Modi has been making power, not fashion, statements. He has been sober in his sartorial choices and flamboyant in selling India as a business destination. Interestingly, while DD News has followed the prime minister through France and Germany and channels like News Nation have set the stage for his visit to Canada, other news channels have been less enthusiastic. When the PM travelled to the US, we had non-stop live coverage. Now we catch mere snatches of his travels. The French, Germans and Canadians will not be amused.
TV news at least follows the PM wherever he goes. Otherwise, it isn’t interested in global affairs. It is insular, uninterested in events beyond our borders. How much of the violence in Nigeria have you seen? It was one year ago that the terrorist group Boko Haram kidnapped over 200 girls there — have we seen any in-depth report on the tragic story of these missing children? Why not?
Arun Jaitley has admitted that “irresponsible” statements have been made by “lesser”, “insignificant” members of the government/ party and by “habitual offenders”. It is “a problem” and he does not “subscribe” to any such views (Townhall, NDTV 24×7). Still, he found ways to defend the beef ban and attacks on churches and blamed the media for poor reporting.
Perhaps we do need a Kabir Sharma and Ananya to restore his faith, and ours, in broadcast news.
shailaja.bajpai@expressindia.com
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