Media ki Sampardayikta (in Hindi)
Ed.: Anil Chamdia
Media Studies Group, A4/4,
Sector-18, Rohini, Delhi
ISBN 978-81-9268527-4
Reviewed by ER. SAIFUL ISLAM
It is the era in which media dominates the whole world. And no doubt it creates a lot of effect on us. The book presents an in-depth study of this effect. It is a compilation of some articles on the subject. This is an effort to show the involvement of media before and after communal incidents. The authors try to convey that the practice of media to decide our social issues must be controlled; otherwise it is a sign of danger for future.
Research articles in the book tell what the role of media should be in covering events and incidents and also how media is discharging its duties. For this, the authors focus on some communal riots that shook the nation in the past and expose the way the media presented them. They do not support any community; they are concerned with just to expose the role of media during and after riots. Many astonishing facts come across while going through the book. Some of the cases focused are Muzaffarnagar riots, Faizabad violence, Akot riots, water movie controversy and media, and Ayodhya (Babri Masjid demolition).
The authors have chosen content analysis method for the study of role of media in Muzaffarnagar and other communal riots. The subject of study is news published in newspapers related to riots. Paper cuttings of the newspapers like Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala, Awam-e-Hind and Dainik Prabhat are collected. Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala and Hindustan are most read Hindi newspapers.
These contents are analysed for various facets of news published in newspapers. “2010 Edition of Norms of Journalistic Conduct” issued by the Press Council of India is considered basis of content analysis criteria. These Norms serve as the interpretation guidelines for reporting in environment of community struggles. This study can be called the study of key characteristics of mainstream media during riots. Eye- opening facts are revealed after study. Though the system provides guidelines for media, it is revealed how media ignores and successfully achieves its communal intentions and how it controls people’s thoughts the way it wants. This action can be good but most of the times it proves harmful.
Discussing the role of media in Faizabad riots, the author mentions some of the incidents regarding media people, also some of famous words are mentioned that are often used to make news communally sound. In this case also, media hides truth and goes against guidelines, creating more tensed environment that involves publishing of rumours also. It clearly appears how much important sensational contents rather than news are for media. In most cases, no truth is found in media’s published material after investigation. Even media blames administration and police without giving proofs.
Some study done on atrocities happened in Akot (Akola) also reveals involvement of media in fuelling tension. The author very rationally explains media’s escalation on one side and that it follows its self-will. Contents of Hindi, English, Marathi and Urdu newspapers about Akot communal violence have been studied and analysed. The analysis gives straightforward conclusion that media speaks the language of one community rather than publishing news and doing its job of providing what is happening.
The potential of media can be experienced from the way it created turbulent environment before release of water movie. Whatever media spread to create a big issue, it was a totally different experience for those who watched the incidents in person. The approach of media in exaggerating issues can turn a stone into a hill and a hill into a stone. Statements of several personalities on water movie were mentioned. Most of them used media as their way to get prominence and come into limelight. The media is a major cause behind the fact that the reality of issue stays apart. Also, businesses and journalists seek to benefit from the media for monetary reasons.
The Ayodhya incident was rationally explained through Liberhan Ayodhya Commission of Inquiry to show how it was completely controlled. Organisers of Ayodhya incidents identified media in a form which presents matter in a distorted manner and gains economic benefit by creating sensation and excitement among people. It is taken into consideration because many times media goes out of control and attempts to control media also prove to be weakening many times.
Later studies in the book are on media contents regarding Ram birthplace and Babri Masjid controversy. The media coverage of communal riots shows their interest in picking up news to publish. Main newspapers focussed are The Indian Express, Jansatta, Navbharat Times, Veer Arjun (All Delhi edition). Reporting in newspapers, titles of news and editorial contents are analysed separately.
The approach of the authors is rational. The author first gives background of controversy and effect of media in the eighth decade then analyses newspaper contents which expose media’s ignorance in properly investigating critical issue that stands matter of big turbulence. One can conclude with this analysis that media disregarded real history and considered stories and figments of imagination for reporting. The study also proves that media keeps apart all basic principles and follows its self-will in a dangerous way which is a must read. It reveals that media can cross any limit.
Considering the outrageous behaviour of media, a memorandum is submitted to the Press Council along with the report of Times of India, India Express, Jansatta, Navbharat Times, Dainik Jagran, Aaj, Swatantra Bharat, UNI and PTI. A short study presented on pictures and cartoons in newspapers point certain issues.
A comparison of different newspapers regarding certain issues is discussed. Newspapers speak the language of some political party. They interrupt propagation of thoughts and prevent their readers from enjoying their right to know basic and true information. Some mind-boggling facts are mentioned in this regard.
This book explains how much harmful it is to accept every saying of media. Thus this book is worth reading for all, for it is a real eye-opening compilation that exposes the true face of media. There is a need to keep eyes and ears open regarding media and efforts should be taken to develop secular and democratic media.
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