Dec 17, 2010

Every student of journalism is aware of the popular phrase ‘when a dog bites a man,  that is no news.  But when a man bites a dog, that is what becomes news”.  In a typical case of “man biting ……..”  some of the famed and highly acclaimed  journalists held on a high pedestal in Indian  media  circles,  are making news,  but for all wrong reasons.  The Niira Radia tapes have opened a can of worms much to the mortification  of celebrated journalists Barka Dutt and Vir Sanghvi, whose names have surfaced in Radia tapes for their attempts to exploit their proximity to politicians.  The public outcry against such professional misconduct, misjudgment or whatever  name one can call it, has been at its vehement best  and one can say Indian media is facing the biggest credibility crisis. 

Though there is no evidence of financial impropriety against these journalists as of now,  their credibility built on years of hard work lay shattered into pieces within no time. Nira Radia tapes has exposed that journalists who otherwise cry hoarse about corruption by politicians and bureaucrats,  have feet of clay when it comes to power brokerage by exerting their influence in the powers of corridors or reaping financial benefits for themselves.  The Radia tapes have uncovered Barka’s  role in influencing cabinet formation and Sanghvi trying to influencing public opinion on the dispute between Ambani brothers. It is not clear whether Barka  and Sanghvi acted on the ‘instructions’ of Radia  for money,  is not clear yet. But,  they have surely transgressed the borderline of ethical journalism by misusing their  proximity to people who matter,  both in politics and in the corporate world.  They have been a  party to the  ugly  business of vying for power witnessed during the formation of the government at the centre in 2009. The credibility of the media and that of the journalists is at its lowest ebb  in spite of the fact that  it is the two weekly magazines which have been responsible for bringing into the open the ‘Radiagate” scandal.  

The general public, who till now believed every word  uttered by these journalists are in a quandary not knowing whom to trust.  While the politicians have always betrayed the aspirations of the public, the industrialists, who, the people thought would take us in the right path of development, have only flattered to deceive(Ratan Tata one example). Of course, media’s role in providing and projecting unbiased news and views was always suspected and taken with a pinch of salt  in our country, especially in the recent decades where morality and values have been on the downslide.  The paid news controversy has blemished that image to a certain extent  and the recent  revelations have come as a shocker to the gullible people, who  always held journalists on a higher scale,  further denting the credibility of the media.  

But  now they feel cheated and  let down by the  very people whom they considered as their  role models and saviors. With their  image  tarnished and credibility dwindled,  with what face can these journalist point fingers at other wrong doers? Aren’t they doing a great disservice to their  profession, making all journalists look like clowns?   The judiciary is  no better either as it is already mired in its own scandals and rottenness, as remarked by the Supreme Court following the disclosure of the  association  between the judges of Allahabad High Court and their  advocate relatives.   With all the major pillars of democracy crumbling or failing to deliver, one wonders what is going to be the future of this great country, whom, many tout to be the future economic superpower?.  Where are we going to burry all the stench that emanates from the shameful acts of  the high, the mighty and the powerful?   

Now people talk only about Burkagate and Radiagate along with 2 G Spectrum,  the biggest scandal to surface in the history of this country.  How the corporate houses and a certain political  family were exerting their influence to ensure cabinet births to people who they thought would act according to their ‘instructions’ as a quid-pro-quo, has now come out in the open.  The second installment of tapes released by the weekly magazine “Outlook”  once again gives a peek into unholy  politicians-corporate lobbyist- journalist  alliance in addition to throwing light on the bizarre working of the government, the deals, the side deals, the sidekicks, speculation, gossip, corruption in different avatars and how the common public taken for a ride by the very people whom they entrust the security and well being of the nation.  One also wonders how a corporate lobbyist could wield  such  enormous powers with the who is who at corridors of power.  Doubts are also raised on  how Niira Radia could raise a business empire of over Rs. 300 crores within a short span of 10 years or the security risk she might have posed due to her proximity to corporate houses, politicians and journalists.
 
While the wider implications of the politician-journalist-lobbyist’s nexus becomes murkier, in Karnataka too there has been a storm of sort in Kannada journalism  following the resignation (forced) of the editor of one of the powerful newspapers, who is also said to be the richest editor in Kannada journalism and also that of its executive editor who is ‘famous’ for his weekly column,  in certain circles.  Their resignations and all the speculations surrounding their exit, along with the  stories of their (mis)adventures have  surfaced  in newspapers  and weeklies,  sending Kannada journalism into utter frenzy. It is said that this richest journalists had 3 bungalows, 3 cars (including a Mercedes) and other property worth crores.   It is also come to light that  the  columnist executive editor  of the  daily newspaper  has even grabbed a Rs  50 lakh site by projecting his physically challenged  future wife as  his sister, courtesy the present government.  Imagine, what moral right did this journalist have to criticize another journalist  Barka Dutt, when his own hands were muddy!  

“Tehelka” magazine has published an exclusive article on Karnataka giving a list of journalists who have been benefitted by the largesse of successive Chief Ministers in the state, thus further tarnishing whatever  remains of the reputation of the journalists.  One cannot forget the episode of Sidharaju of PTI who even stooped to the level of saying he had ‘“divorced’ his wife  and had given the site to her, when journalist Nagalaxmi took them to court for giving a false affidavit saying they did not have a site in their name.  These journalists eulogize about the virtues of journalism and talk about corruption in high places in their newspapers or magazines.  But when it comes  to self, they indulge in all sorts of tricks for filling their own coffers. It is now said that more skeletons  come out of the cupboards of journalism,  in the near future.

For long the misdemeanor of the journalists and the misuse of their proximity to the rich and the powerful  was known, there was no one to bell the cat. It is a matter of some solace that there are still journalists who are known for their simple life  and dedication to the profession.  Such journalists have become a rare breed, which is unfortunate. 

In this age when sting operations have become commonplace and publications/channels  defend them because people have a right to know, it is also true that public have a right to know whether journalists were involved in unethical journalistic practices namely in fixing deals, power brokerage, misusing their proximity to those in power  and bending or exploiting certain provisions for their own advantage.  When journalists point fingers at others,  it also demands that they have a clean conscience by not indulging in any unscrupulous actions and measure up to the standards it expects from  those in public life.   

The media,  like Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion, if at all it needs to regain its lost credibility and win back the trust of the people.  Considering the damage done to this watchdog of democracy following the spate of scandals involving jounralists, it calls for herculean task to wipe out clean the filth  clinging to their body.  Nonetheless it is not impossible.