My India is proclaimed as a nation fraught with diversities in every field. But sometimes we observe “diversities” in some specific field, consigned to a given sector. Here I am talking about the sector of our “news channels.” With the advent of globalization and speedy modernization, our country owns a long list of “news channels” in different languages. My focus in this blog is about Hindi news channels.
In present time every news channel is blamed of being the mouth piece of some political party, with its adopted political ideology. Although, every news channel apparently claims to be an “impartial Operator”, when relaying its programs. Otherwise also, it’s a known fact, esteemed and big news channels are owned and run by “Industrial houses.” In most of the cases the top priority of every “business house” always remains to preserve and protect her own business interests and “news channels” imparts a good deal of handling in this. No one can run his or her business safely without safeguarding the interests of political parties.
Apparently it seems, Editor of the news channel is operating the channel but truth is, the “finance” to run and manage the channel is being provided by the “Business man owner” of the channel. Editor is bound to follow the instructions of the “Boss” in dealing with news management. It’s an arduous job to run and manage a news channel. It requires a good deal of “man power” and to manage this “man power” one needs money amply. Along with this, we are living in the era of ‘throat cut’ competition. Hence we notice, the tilt of most of news channels towards some specific political party. Main issue behind is protection of business interests.
Astonishingly, some news channels in our country also exist, who hardly care in relaying the news programs. They relay the political news in routine only. Meant, they simply air the news obtained from the platform of “Press Trust of India” only. They don’t feel a need to get inclined towards some political party. These are , in fact , independent news channels of its own kind. This doesn’t mean, they are sincere about raising the issues of social cause.
No, they adopt some “out of the way” planning in choosing the news to save the skin. For this, they are given to focus on the news related to International issues only. Their “news bucket” contains such sort of news, though they too have a target to gain T R P and set a narrative of their own kind. But their canvass is far distinct and wide from other news channels. No doubt, despite of all this, their news are also entertaining and sensational.
These news channels have got some peculiar features. This uniqueness confers them to put under the caption of “War-monger news channels.” Luckily, they are never short of news material regard this. In the present, advanced world when every day, new kind of inventions and successful launching of various types of lethal and amazing weapons is being projected, how can such news channels be in want of “news materials,” when these new lethal weapons are supposed to “under go” the trial in the war field.
In context to our Indian panorama, the ambiance of crisis on border lines with neighboring nations persist on continuously. I mean, since the day of our gaining independence, we have been in confliction with neighboring nations on border line. This suffices these news channels to project the news by framing them inside the arena of war. Never they suffer from the want of news stuff. Merely two neighboring countries i.e, Chine and Pakistan were enough to provide the sensational material, in between, another neighboring nation Bangladesh crisis too been helpful too get extra- war loaded news bits.
The news relayed by such news channels pertaining to escalating tension on the border lines are too helpful to the ruling regime in some aspects. It helps diverting public focus from internal important issues to external issues. The peculiar features, I mentioned about these channels need some expatiation. In the year of 2017, we witnessed the Doklam standoff with China. But prior to that standoff, such type of news channels had started relaying terrific news about China’s prospective aggression over the border lines. these were so tension raising. This made China to protect her business interests in Indian market and was forced to register a complaint through diplomatic channel to the government of India, about these hectic news. China’s standpoint was, such news channels helped creating a distrust about China and Chinese goods.
On being rebuked, these channels maintained a hush, but they already had news in hand related to Pakistan’s border line to air on. Then Doklam standoff with China popped up and news channels restored back. It took long months to cover this story. Then came Galwan valley crisis, that helped further these news channels. Not only this, god ever helped them on this drive. Emergence of ISIS on International level, followed by its abolition too helped to create a sensation. Even, Middle East is the region, that ever remains locked in war with one another. And if not that, Iran’s Nuclear facility program too was and is an everlasting Geo-strategic news source for these channels.
Apart from that, the war began between Russia and Ukraine. This opportunity put our these news channels to assume a “self magnanimous” Geo- strategic experts and offering of the expert services if needed. ( in all certitude, services were not needed by the parties concerned.) On every day, these news channels began to forecast about the beginning of Third world War. On the mean while, they had again a “handy opportunity” of Israel- Hamas conflict. I brightly remember about their news headlines of those days. It concluded from their debates and news analysis, as if, President Putin and Zelinskey were not preparing their “war plan” in their own “war theater,” but in the “news room” of these news channels with deep consultation with “news editor.”
Not only this, these news channels were airing the prospective date of “nuclear attack” with a precision. Though, the beginning pf Israel- Hamas war, sent the Russia and Ukraine in the back drop, but now premier Benjamin Netanyahu seemed to be in the news editor’s room and consulting with them. Such sort of vivid impression, these news channels happened to deliver to the audience. The coverage of wars by these channels were so fraught with contents, as if, the war was being fought in the news room only.
With the help of graphics, they projected an animated scenario of the war field. To assist them, they always had had a team of some retired army officers as war-experts. These experts blustering in a thunder storm voice with flexing of muscles, when producing the opinion. The final conclusion, I drew out about these channels; it seemed neither they had desire to survive nor they intended that this world should keep on surviving. They cherished only one wish, some how, this entire world should be evaporated by dropping nuclear missiles from this corner to that end of the earth. Penned by — Vinay Pharasi —–
