Indian Media and its self-defeating attitude.

[ajinkya]

This post has nothing to do with audio (hence in General section). I was just reading about Indian's failed cryogenic launch and the media reports on it.
Particularly these two:

Disappointment. India's GSLV D3 mission fails
"It's the second major setback months after the failure of Chandrayaan-1 - India's maiden mission to the moon."

Launch of GSLV-D3, India's first cryogenic rocket, fails - India - The Times of India
"ISRO had invested Rs 330 crore for the prestigious mission whose succesful would have placed India in the elite club of space faring powers US, Russia, China, Japan, and Europe which possess the cryogenic technology. "

Since when did the Chandrayaan mission become branded as a failure? It completed all its mission objectives, was designed and executed at a cost comparable to creating a jet plan (I think it was 1/10 of NASA's cost for similar missions), it found conclusive evidence of water on the moon, it sent back hi-res images of the "dark side of the moon". The only thing it did not do was sustain the satellite for a long duration (like the Mars rovers did). But that was not part of its mission objective. How does the report brand this as a failure and club it in the same class as the cryogenic launch?

The second report talks about the huge investment in the program and names countries who were successful at it. What it does not do is talk about the fact that each of these countries had a failed first attempt at a cryogenic launch, since it is an extremely complex technology to master. It also does not give comparison costs with the other countries programs.

I've found this disgusting, self-deprecating attitude in most Indian news reports about science, technology and India in general. The Chandrayaan was hardly covered in the news beyond its launch date. When the Mars mission was launched, CNN had daily pictures, updates, news for a long, long time, as long as the rovers were operational. In India, it seems we look forward to our failures. Instead of analysing what went wrong and trying to correct it, it seems the media likes to gloat on the failures of the scientists, Army, etc. every time. I am sick of this attitude and just wanted to bring to the notice of fellow forum members.

-Ajinkya.

 

[gobble]

Indian English Media needs to be crapped upon!! Daily many articles published are downright malicious and untrue and dishonest with a ulterior agenda.
This started with foreign investment in the 1990s and also with Marxist invasion of media houses and think tanks. While most media people put on a glamorous facade to their existence, I maintain the same distance from them as a I would if I encountered a sanitation worker in an office setting. Whether it is TOI, Outlook, The Hindu or Express - all of these outlets are infiltrated by Marxist and other vested interests at the editorial level, favoring ugly intellectualism and thought patterns borrowed from the west of India .

I do not subscribe to any newspaper or magazine for this reason and do not own a TV my dish cable subscription is lying unused since 4 years.


The reporting when the HAL Dhruv crashed in Ecuador was also downright malicious.

Regards

 

[iaudio]

Ajinkya, when I first started reading the post, I also went like,"What happened to the Chandrayaan mission, did I miss some news, when did it fail?"
As you have pointed out, its an extremely biased report.
Well, you cant blame them for not covering these missions from start like CNN did. The Indian media( be it the tabloids or the hardcore news channels!) have a far more important responsibility of keeping up with what Rakhi Sawant is wearing for her Swayamwar, what color is Priyankas bikini, how much time Ranbir spend with Katrina and Dhonis superbikes!
God help us!

 

[corElement]

Indian media is nothing but a swimming pool of money. The corruption never ceases to amaze me

 

[ajinkya]

Sadly, it's all true. If the media really did its job well, many things would become right. Or at least, would be exposed and public indignation would set them right. For example, if the media had really focussed on Chandrayaan and had nightly interviews with the scientists involved, the technology created, and how it might be used for other useful things as well, so many Indian children would have been inspired to study science, and maybe become part of ISRO one day. This is how the US inspires its young citizens.

Seems like for Indians, the people to look up to are film stars, cricketers, models, and politicians. At least, that's what it seems like from reading news reports. I wish for once, there would be a newscast which showed science and engineering as interesting, rewarding, exciting and 'cool' to be in.

 

[mnhegde]

Indian media is nothing but a swimming pool of money.

Spot On, Friend. Completely true.

 

[vinay]

I too have not watched television for a year or so because the way they present things and the number of advertisements, it is a waste of time, etc.

I prefer reading news paper, that way i can filter what i want to read and what not, without the advertisements and importantly i can choose my time of the day when i want to read, etc. I can not do away with news paper or magazines because then how do i know what is happening around.

V.

 

[doors666]

Most of our media is Anti National, worst is times of india and hindu, HT and indian express are relatively better by a small margin. On tv, aaj tak, ndtv, and times are the biggest culprits. Most of these guys print news that is downright there to hurt the morale of the country. Its a commie strategy, is intentional and has got nothing to do with corruption. I dont think they are making more money by anti national news.

Our education has gone the same way due to commie control. Most of the history books being taught in schools are a good testament to this.

 

[deba]

Our Media is one of the most corrupt........no doubt about it.........make fool of people and make money.......

 

[Hiten]

India Media Bash Blog

 

[dinyaar]

Hi
Was really sad that GSLV 3 totally deviated from its course. Years and years of work will have to probably wait another year and another attempt.

Well the media IMO was at its amateurish best at the time of the 26/11 terrorist attacks. U had channels firing all kinds of half baked rubbish that only added to the citizens woes. I still wont say they are ANTI NATIONAL as thats too strong but they sometimes do compromise our nations security.

All that said I still rely heavily on the idiot box for most of my news!
Rgds

 

[kapvin]

Indian media is nothing but a swimming pool of money. The corruption never ceases to amaze me

this is a vicious cycle. it was in the mid 80s that suddenly media owners woke up and decided that burnishing the P/L was far more important that reporting news.

TOI led the transition, when the baton passed from Ashok jain to samir jain. the focus on p&l meant that the marketing guys got the mega salaries, while entry level journalists got pittances. Never a highly paid job, now sustenance became a challenge for the average sub-editor or reporter. this coupled with the rise of "sound bite" led electronic media meant that print journalism became the "ugly cousin" employment option, putting off all but the really desperate and the really motivated

Naturally, quality of reporting, of language, of analysis, all went down the tubes. it was gradual decline.. always catalysed by the exit of a high profile editor, to be replaced by someone more compliant not just on editorial perspective, but unfortunately also with syntax. One has to demand excellence to get excellence.. Consequently the next generation of greats such as Swaminathan Aiyer, Prabhu chawla, Dilip Padgaonkar and Arun Shourie have simply not emerged.

research has been substituted by gut feel and analysis by negativism. Well, whatever sells!

there are some newspapers that are yet less affected by this sprial.. the Hindu (though even in it's heydeys a very stuffy newspaper), the statesman, and recently DNA showed promise, (which for some trade cartellisation reason, my newspaperwala refuses to supply).. maybe we should exercise our choice & support in favour of more unbiased newspapers

 

[psychotropic]

The media is lazy and irresponsible, like it is almost everywhere else. We only get to see the very best of foreign media which is why we tend to think that they have it a lot better in the west. Yes India still doesn't have a BBC or a Guardian, but i think it will happen, English is not our first language, and the opening up of the media sphere has also been a recent phenomenon. Accusations of "communism" are a bit odd....waht is "communist" about all this? To call this communist is to either misunderstand this phenomenon or to misunderstand communism. This is lazy, and often corrupt journalism, where money is paid for stories....it has nothing whatsoever to do with communism.

Again "anti-national" is a bit of an exaggerated accusation, the media's job is not to indulge in pumping up the nation's image....which anyway it does....their job is to report facts....if they get the faccts wrong, that's their mistake....this 'anti-national' thing is in the imagination of the readers i suspect.

One shining exception though is Tehelka.....they still haven't gotten everything right, and they do every so often get things wrong, but they've gone a much greater distance towards quality unbiased news reporting than almost anyone else in the English media in India....and of course when they finaly succeed in their mission they will be showered with accusations of 'communism' and 'anti-nationalism'.....that should be their cue to pop the champagne corks

 

[goyal.sanchit]

I certainly dont hold the media (Specially channels like NDTV, CNN-IBN, and newspapers like ToI) in high regard and am happy to see the same about other people here.


I would like to say that till 1 year back I didnt have much of issues with the media and wasnt aware the reality behind the "news". But a lot has changed in past 1 year. With joing many forums related to current affairs on net you get detailed facts and not the "Breaking news" that media sensationalize to grab TRP'S and eyeballs.


I used to extensively watch news channels. But now forums are a much better option and I rarely watch any news channels. Below is link to 1 article I wrote on Media and another link to a youtube video which talks about the news standards of NDTV.

http://vu-point.blogspot.com/2010/01/who-is-controlling-you-are-you-trusting.html



http://vu-point.blogspot.com/2009/05/biased-news-channel-ndtv-exposed.html

 

[gobble]

Most of our media is Anti National, worst is times of india and hindu, HT and indian express are relatively better by a small margin. On tv, aaj tak, ndtv, and times are the biggest culprits. Most of these guys print news that is downright there to hurt the morale of the country. Its a commie strategy, is intentional and has got nothing to do with corruption. I dont think they are making more money by anti national news.

Our education has gone the same way due to commie control. Most of the history books being taught in schools are a good testament to this.

yep. NCERT books as well as state board history books esp in WB and Kerala are mangled beyond belief. Glad to hear there is widespread awareness of the issue.

Cheers

 

[gobble]

Dinyaar and Psycho

This is not a witch-hunt for commies and "anti-nationals" - do remember that we are only posting our opinions here. The real evidence to make the case for this will take a few years of personal follow-up and research, depending on your own investigative zeal.

Once I started traced differing perspectives and analysis on issues reported in Indian media and in comparison to the perspectives and slant given in Indian media - it was apparent to me.

until then it will only bewilder you why everyone is "out to get the commies" on this thread. That only indicates how big a problem it is in our country today, the fact that everybody wants to talk about it and is aware of it.

Then again I believe there is a triad of malicious players here, not just the Marxists.

Regards

 

[corElement]

I haven't sat and watched TV since 2002 lol. All on pc, no bullshit =)

 

[gobble]

I certainly dont hold the media (Specially channels like NDTV, CNN-IBN, and newspapers like ToI) in high regard and am happy to see the same about other people here.


I would like to say that till 1 year back I didnt have much of issues with the media and wasnt aware the reality behind the "news". But a lot has changed in past 1 year. With joing many forums related to current affairs on net you get detailed facts and not the "Breaking news" that media sensationalize to grab TRP'S and eyeballs.


I used to extensively watch news channels. But now forums are a much better option and I rarely watch any news channels. Below is link to 1 article I wrote on Media and another link to a youtube video which talks about the news standards of NDTV.

http://vu-point.blogspot.com/2010/01/who-is-controlling-you-are-you-trusting.html



http://vu-point.blogspot.com/2009/05/biased-news-channel-ndtv-exposed.html

Nice! Watching the NDTV bash right now

cheers

 

[square_wave]

The country will get the media it deserves !

Is everything else okay? Commies are badokay. Are the rest of them any good? Dont make me laugh !hyeah: ROTFL
News can get mangled and convoluted by any group with vested interests be it political, money or anything else. None is exempt from this depravity. All of them do it. Not just the intellectual commies !

WB and Kerala may have some mangled textbooks but they do not have kangaroo courts or Khap panchayats holding citizens fundamental rights to ransom ! They never had it even hundred years back.

Go figure !

 

[moktan]

to paint every leftist point of view with the pejorative of being a commie opinion would be as simplistic an exercise as that which the major media houses are being accused of .....a caricature trying to pick holes with another caricature..
anyways critiquing the media is definitely a leftist enterprise pioneered by the likes of Chomsky...