Cobrapost’s sting operation sings the media’s tale of shame. The most alarming revelation of the sting operation is that the media companies are not hesitant to get involved in the dirtiest conspiracies when it comes to money, even when it’s against the democracy and the country!
The reporter openly asserts it to the leaders of media companies to communally polarize the country prior to the elections, and to distort the image of the opposition leaders. Why none of them realized that it’s against the interest of the nation? That their prime and fundamental duty is to expose such conspiracies and alert the country?
If an unknown man, during a sting operation, can lure media companies to the ‘dirty game’ so effortlessly, then one can guess how easily a government can enslave the media today, with both the power and funds in its hands!
Today the media dock in conversation, was also seen during the Emergency in 1975, when majority media companies had surrendered to the government. The only difference between now and then is nobody was sold in greed of money back then. It was the fear of power and imprisonment that made the people crawl. And as soon as the fear vanished, the ‘fair’ and ‘bold’ press made a comeback.
But this sting operation has given a clear indication that any party and its related media company can convey information however they want to, irrespective of the time and the government holding the office. If that’s so, how anyone could entrust the media reports? It’s clear that there had never been a crisis of credibility of media before.
Well, being a Hindutva of the media is also not new. When the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute was at its peak, a large section of the media, especially the Hindi media, had done extremely biased reporting. The press council had to send its team to various places to investigate. But after the demolition of Babri Masjid, as things turned back to normal, the communal uprising emerging in the media was suppressed.
Now such a problem appears again. But back then, it was not employed. It was self-inspiring. But now the probability of being employed has increased greatly.
Now, the matter is not just about media, it is the existence of democracy. Save the media if it is to save the democracy. How will all of this happen? The way goes long. But let’s first start thinking towards this direction!
Written By :- QAMAR WAHEED NAQVI, SENIOR JOURNALIST