A couple of years ago, I was saying to my brother who visited from US, "NDTV to India's is like what BBC is to the British". But I sincerely regret saying so. Such is the drop in the Indian News channels standards over the last couple of years.
Journalism is a tricky art. One needs to report to the people whats happening around an interesting way but unfabricated. NDTV was doing great on those terms and their reporting techniques were spot on. But they faltered severely in the last one year or so. Why? I would say it was because of the much talked about CNN-IBN and the other one still in the good work they did. And . IBN started around a year and half ago with Rajdeep Sardesai as the cheif editor. To top the TRP ratings immediately, they stuck to one mantra 'Entertain'. NDTV followed path, but not entirely. They stuck one foot in the path of IBN and the other one still in the good work they did. And that's the only reason that the Indian TV screen awards still choose them as the best Indian news channel. I don't want to say about 'Headlines Today';it's the worst news channels I've ever seen and could probably change their name to 'Bollywood reporter'.
Over the last one month all I saw across then news channels was the analysis on why India failed in the world-cup. I can think of only one reason - "they didn't play well". Why would one need hours of experts' time to analyze this? And these channels have dug themselves deeper into a huge pile of garbage by providing full coverage to Abhi-Ash marriage! After a hectic day at the office, I sat at home to know about the days happening and all I saw was the coverage of the some celebs' marriage which I don't even care. I sincerely hope that this marriage doesn't end up in divorce or else people can't endure a live coverage outside the courtroom.
Everybody wants to make money and it holds true for the news channels too. I'm not saying that the news channels should do social service to the public, but all I want is them to do justice to their work, to what they are committed to. Currently they have only two things to look at - Bollywood and Cricket and nothing else. Are there any quiz programs or programs on opportunities in various fields? Are there any programs that give people some useful information? There are so many things that people need to know other than where Ash-Abhi are going for honeymoon.
Thanks to all the news (a.k.a. entertainment) channels. You have entertained us enough. Could you please start giving some news? I prefer not seeing headlines like "BREAKING NEWS - SAIF ALI KHAN HOSPITALISED" and then "BREAKING NEWS - SAIF ALI KHAN OUT OF DANGER". Till such times, I guess I will have to stick with DD-News which undoubtedly is the best in the current situation.
Journalism is a tricky art. One needs to report to the people whats happening around an interesting way but unfabricated. NDTV was doing great on those terms and their reporting techniques were spot on. But they faltered severely in the last one year or so. Why? I would say it was because of the much talked about CNN-IBN and the other one still in the good work they did. And . IBN started around a year and half ago with Rajdeep Sardesai as the cheif editor. To top the TRP ratings immediately, they stuck to one mantra 'Entertain'. NDTV followed path, but not entirely. They stuck one foot in the path of IBN and the other one still in the good work they did. And that's the only reason that the Indian TV screen awards still choose them as the best Indian news channel. I don't want to say about 'Headlines Today';it's the worst news channels I've ever seen and could probably change their name to 'Bollywood reporter'.
Over the last one month all I saw across then news channels was the analysis on why India failed in the world-cup. I can think of only one reason - "they didn't play well". Why would one need hours of experts' time to analyze this? And these channels have dug themselves deeper into a huge pile of garbage by providing full coverage to Abhi-Ash marriage! After a hectic day at the office, I sat at home to know about the days happening and all I saw was the coverage of the some celebs' marriage which I don't even care. I sincerely hope that this marriage doesn't end up in divorce or else people can't endure a live coverage outside the courtroom.
Everybody wants to make money and it holds true for the news channels too. I'm not saying that the news channels should do social service to the public, but all I want is them to do justice to their work, to what they are committed to. Currently they have only two things to look at - Bollywood and Cricket and nothing else. Are there any quiz programs or programs on opportunities in various fields? Are there any programs that give people some useful information? There are so many things that people need to know other than where Ash-Abhi are going for honeymoon.
Thanks to all the news (a.k.a. entertainment) channels. You have entertained us enough. Could you please start giving some news? I prefer not seeing headlines like "BREAKING NEWS - SAIF ALI KHAN HOSPITALISED" and then "BREAKING NEWS - SAIF ALI KHAN OUT OF DANGER". Till such times, I guess I will have to stick with DD-News which undoubtedly is the best in the current situation.
Though some of the points you mentioned hold gud abt the News channels in India.. I can't accept all..
ReplyDeleteThey are doing good work too.. NDTV is still my favourite.. I don't have any comments on Headlines today.. About IBNLive, i love to read the comments of some hot topic they put up in their website.. I love those.. :)
According to me, these news are doing far better and gud.. than the *so called* news thats being aired in our Tamil Channels :( Some body has to reach TN for rescue.. :( :(
I agree, I agree, I agree!
ReplyDeleteI have to say that..
I mean, honestly we need something more than a discussion on how long Indian men last in bed on primetime news!
The first rule of journalism is not to create a panic. But, these people are just doing that. They have reduced it to reality TV! Prince being rescued from a well was shown for 2 full days!
Ash-Abi wedding is the need of the hour! Do we even care if she wears a kancheepuram silk saree for her wedding!
Well, NDTV is the only saving grace, but that is because they are better than the others. In absolute standards, even they are bad. We are trying the ape the west. But the west do things in the right manner. They have entertainment news (or E! news) for the glamor obsessed society. They never adulterate the CNBC news (which still is amazing. I have to day).
Well, all this has just begun in India, I cant imagine how much worse it can become.
Dude, I never watched NDTV, but from your description of NDTV trust me, CNN in US is doing the same hastle. The VT massacre, oh God am sure the viewer would have felt more pain than the victims. Three continuous days of coverage on the same event, non-stop. The same witnesses kept on talking about their experiences again and again in different costumes and different time of the day. They don't want the world to know anything else. One good thing Cho did was, he gave the video tapes to NBC. Had he given to CNN, I bet they would have got topic for a month. No wonder how much they would have hyped on the 9/11 attack.
ReplyDelete@vignesh,
ReplyDeleteI think SUN TV is currently ok in reporting news. It is variegated.
@S,
Yeap. NDTV is certainly better than IBN.
@parthiban,
IBN is CNN's child in India and I guess they are trying out the same strategy in India too.
Great work.
ReplyDelete