Opinion Writing on the Box

Let’s look at how a couple of different stories were presented to us. The news on the revocation of the CVC’s appointment was reported,for example,by Times Now with a giant banner saying “Times Now Impact” — which would,just possibly,startle the bench of the Supreme Court that handed down the verdict. Times Now also spared us any nuance about Thomas’ guilt or innocence,saying he was “Sacked in Infamy”,which makes him sound like late imperial Rome. The other crucial bits of news about Thomas,judging by the banners? “Times Now exposed Thomas’ involvement” (In what? The much-reported palmolein scam,first covered in 1992,when Times Now was not even a glitter in Arnab Goswami’s eye?); “5 months after Times Now’s first report”; “Thomas kept avoiding Times Now” — the last doesn’t surprise me at all,really.

NDTV,on the other hand,was far more bearable,using quotes from the judgment and the opposition,properly attributed,in their crawls. CNN-IBN,meanwhile,chose a profoundly irritating middle way. It used quotes,too — but also a weaselly question: “PM Responsible?” Another big banner in their coverage: “CVC Fired”,a somewhat un-nuanced choice. But hey,headlines and space,right? Except the crawl along the top says “SC quashes CVC’s appointment”,which is how the video is labelled on the website,too. CNN-IBN,make up your mind; are you being responsible or exciting?

That goes through to other stories,too. On the Indian sailors held hostage by pirates,NDTV was restrained. Times Now shouted loud enough that the banner “Times Now Appeal: National Chorus” seemed believable. They titled their coverage “Will India Look Away”,which would,once again,be an unsurprising reaction. Clearly they thought kidnapped sailors didn’t merit the “Burning Issue” graphic,which features more flames than should be on news channels that aren’t covering Icelandic volcanoes. (That graphic was reserved for really important life-or-death issues,such as whether Ian Bell was out,or as Times Now called it,“Bowden’s Bizzare decision.”)

CNN-IBN,again,couldn’t pick an approach. They went with the title “Nobody’s Indians”. Really? Why? The story didn’t explain how they were “nobody’s” either. Look,news TV: I’d prefer if you didn’t editorialise in your creepy-crawly text,but if you must,at least be over the top,so I know you’re not being subliminal or anything.

If you’re over the top,you’ll get unctuous respect,as Renuka Chowdhury provided during the sailors story. You’re “doing a great job”,she insisted to Times Now. “It’s very good that Times Now has taken up this issue and putting it out to the nation,you’re doing a great service” — but will you leave us alone now,please,O hungry deity,now we have propitiated you? Unleash them on Gaddafi,I say. It isn’t surprising Mubarak left after Times Now got there; it’s just surprising that it wasn’t reported as “Times Now Impact”.