Click to play videoWhen they said 24x7 media nobody imagined it like this. News channels and newspapers never let the world seem remote; the Internet never lets you lose connection with the world and there is a world of entertainment for you to choose from.
Media's growth in India has been phenomenal over the last two decades, but along with the growth has come criticism of sensationalism, voyeurism and a total lack of responsibility. From the coverage of terror attacks in November to reality TV shows, the debate on the impact of media is now growing.
Is the media keeping us informed or is its information trivial? How is media influencing our values? Bhupendra Chaubey asked this on a show to debate CNN-IBN-Hindustan Times State of the Nation survey on changing values in the country on the occasion of 63rd Independence Day celebrations.
The guests on the show were Suhel Seth, social commentator and managing partner at Counselage, actress Payal Rohatgi, and P N Vasanti, director of Centre for Media Studies.
As many 90 percent respondents in the survey felt vulgarity and obscenity have increased in television and films. Only 10 percent said it hadn’t.
As many as 79 percent respondents felt TV and Internet are spreading immoral values. Only 21 percent said TV and Internet were not spreading immoral values.
But a sharp majority of respondents--94 percent--believed access to media has made children more aware and knowledgeable. Only 6 percent disagreed.
How does one explain these contradictions about the media? “As societies begin to achieve their aspiration mode, there is greed and avarice (for) knowledge and information. Is our media wholly responsible for vulgarity? No,” said Seth. “A lot of people who believe the media is corrupting their children must look inwards, rather than outwards.
“Vulgar shows will nestle alongside shows which talk about development. We, as a nation, are voyeuristic. We delight in other people’s pain; we love to see our idols knocked down. If the media caters to that, too, we are helped by that,” he said.
Indian media is just feeding the nation’s hunger for information and entertainment. “And that is nothing wrong,” said Vasanti.
Ditto said, Rohatgi. “We are in a hypocritical society in which we like to police something and love to watch something else,” she said. “The spiciest stuff is shown on reality TV…but there is double standard.”
The danger is not in the increasing popularity of reality TV shows but in the new acceptance for brazenness, said Seth.
“We are slowly moving into societal norms which want brazenness to be the new denominator of liberal thought. That is where danger is,” he said.
Seth advised media to have a sense of self-regulation. “You can have a Jerry Springer (show) but you can also have a show which talks about the drought.”
The media needs to draw the line for itself, or else the Government would push the envelope, said Vasanthi. “With independence comes great responsibility and with great popularity comes accountability”. But accountability is missing in the media, particularly in TV, she said.
The Internet
TV, newspapers and cinema might sometimes shock Indians, but the Internet seems to bewilder them. According to the survey, 65 percent Indians hadn’t heard about social networking sites.
As many as 44 percent parents said their child interacts on social networking sites. As many as 45 percent parents said their child doesn't interact on social networking sites and 11 percent parents didn’t know if their child used such websites.
As many as 62 percent parents were worried about their child's interaction on social networking sites and 38 percent parents were not.
“Abuse and use depends entirely upon the user. Internet is a great vehicle to expand one’s knowledge base, but you can’t prevent the young from dating, chatting or being voyeuristic,” said Seth.
Rohatgi agree. “The media is still evolving--every coin has a flip side. We are successful and sometimes not,” she said.
Is the glass half empty or half full for the media?
“I see a rather full glass,” said Seth. “I think the media has done an admirable job. It has potholes, but don’t kill the messenger if you can’t get the message right,” he said.
Media is enjoying a lot of freedom. It now needs accountability, said Vasanthi.
Survey methodology
The CNN-IBN-Hindustan Times Poll was conducted by GFK Mode in street corners and homes in 16 metros, large towns and small towns. A total of 3,506 people were interviewed between July 19 and July 23 for the survey.
Has easy access to media made our children more aware and knowledgeable? |
94% feel that easy access to the media has made children more aware and knowledgeable |
6% don't feel that easy access to the media has made children more aware and knowledgeable |
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Is vulgarity and obscenity increasing in television and films? |
90% feel vulgarity and obscenity have increased in television and films |
10% don't agree that vulgarity and obscenity have increased in television and films |
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Are television and internet spreading immoral values that are against the Indian culture? |
79% or 8 out of 10 feel television and internet are spreading immoral values |
21% say TV/internet are not spreading immoral values |
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Do you exercise controls and restrictions over your child’s TV, films or internet habits? |
71% or 7 out of 10 parents exercise controls and restrictions over their child’s TV, films or internet habits |
29% parents don't exercise controls and restrictions over their child’s TV, films or internet habits |
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Are you aware of Social Networking sites? |
35% are aware of social networking sites |
65% have not heard about social networking sites |
47% in the West and 43% in the South aware of social networking sites |
28% in the North and 20% in the East aware of social networking sites |
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Does your son/daughter interact on social networking sites? |
44% parents say their child interacts on social networking sites |
45% parents say their child doesn't interact on social networking sites |
11% parents don't know if their child is using social networking sites |
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Are you worried about your son’s or daughter’s interactions on the social networking sites? |
62% parents are worried about their child's interaction on social networking sites |
38% parents are not worried about their children using social networking sites |
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Do you keep track of your son’s or daughter’s activities on social networking sites? |
66% parents keep track of their child's activities on social networking sites |
34% parents don't keep track of their child's activities on social networking sites |
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