Journalists or Fire-Fighters?

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The debate over media ethics has never been stronger (and shriller) than it is at the moment. As the "media" becomes a gigantic beast, there has been a growing tendency to blame the media (and especially 24-hour news channels) for all contemporary problems. If Gujarat burns, it's because the media chose to show images of the violence and "inflame" passions. If the Agra summit fails, it's because a pesky media chooses to turn diplomacy into a news "event". If hijackers are released in Kandahar, it's because television channels focus on the families of the hostages. And if a sting operation exposes corruption in politics, then question the bona fides of the journalist and the hidden camera. Bottom line: if you can't shoot the message, at least make sure you shoot the messenger. The latest debate on media ethics though is a little more complex. It's been sparked off by a....

A News Channel with a Difference?

10

Ever since we set off on our journey of discovery on CNN_IBN exactly a month ago, we have received a fair response, the good, the bad and, of course, the ugly. Fortunately, or perhaps because its only wishful thinking, the positive responses have far outweighed the negatives so far (maybe people tend to be kind to a new kid on the block). Critics (and there will never be a shortage of those in the world, especially within the deeply insecure world of journalism) sometimes turn around and say: whats so different about you, you guys are just like NDTV. I don't quite see that as criticism since as someone who has been emotionally and professionally attached to NDTV (and the emotions will never go), I take such a response as a positive. After all, NDTV has been a benchmark of excellence in journalism for so long, so if in the....

Breaking the big story

10

A recent survey in the United States suggested that the credibility of journalists was at an all-time low. Its just possible that a survey in this country would throw up similar results. Its a paradox: you've never had more media in the history of India, but the more media you have, the less the viewer/reader seems to trust you. Let me give you an example. We'd just broken what I thought was a big story: the law ministry's attempt to give Bofors middleman a clean chit in a British court that would result in the defreezing of his accounts . Just as we were feeling great at "breaking" a big story (there is no bigger buzz in this profession) that I got a call from an old colleague. "Is it true that you actually had a bigger story in mind, but scuttled it because you didn't want to get on....

what a weekend

10

At CNN-IBN, we have all the enthusiasm that anyone would if they were dealing with a new born baby. Every day, for us is a new day, a day full of excitement and unexpected surprises. For now, we are young and free of the cynicism that sets in after years in the business. Thats why we've enjoyed this weekend so much. here we are a two week old channel, and we've had interviews done with the two most powerful persons in the sub-continent: Sonia Gandhi and now Pervez Musharraf. You can't get two more diverse personalities than Sonia and the general. Sonia is a reluctant politician, Musharraf is a consummate general-politician.Sonia is a woman of very few words, Musharraf loves the sound of his own voice. Sonia is a reluctant interviewee, Musharraf loves giving interviews. Sonia prefers to be a private person, Musharraf loves being in the public eye. To....