Media, unbiased?

Media is considered as fourth pillar of representative democracy. It is also known as bulwark of it. But in recent days, while surfing social Media (Twitter to be precise) I found that a connotation is interchangeably used for it and that is #Presstitute. I searched in dictionary yet even Oxford did not come to my rescue.

Then I researched a bit and found out the whole matter. It is a pejorative term used by netizens to denounce Media. According to them Media has forgotten its responsibility to be impartial and now is sold out to some ideologies or to corporates.  That is the reason, it derives it’s name.

I did not like this connotation given to them. I have a strong view that free, bold and impartial Media is for the benefit of the General Mass.

 I recollected the role of Media Played during the Indian National Movement. During those days every popular leader used Media as a tool to denounce government. Kesari, Nav Jivan, Anand Bazar Patrika etc. to name a few. In those days Media was not meant for profit, but public service was their goal. Hence, I never saw portrayal of Journalist as rich, but only one generalized image of journalist wearing Kurta Payjama and having a hanging bag on their shoulder comes to my mind whenever I think about journalists of those days.This was valid even early post independent India.

Time has changed. Social service has taken a back seat for media enterprises. Profit is the sole driver. Gaining advertisement is their sole motive. Building narrative and perception is their favourite task. By spending 10 minutes on any news channel or reading couple of articles in any tabloid, you will get to know the political side which that particular Media House is taking.

I don’t have any problem even in that case, because they are entitled to free speech and expression by our constitution. But I feel the pqin when I see the below tweet by one particular media house, when it compares my religious belief and practices to unemployment. Look at the below tweet by a reputed Media House?

I will not write anything on this subject. But, will request you all to have your say on this. Are you okay with this narrative?
Is this secularism?

35 thoughts on “Media, unbiased?”

    1. Yes you rightly pointed out but in democracy onus is also on its people.
      If they will raise voice against biased media persons, then who knows things might get changed on ground.

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  4. The term presstitute is used as an extension to term prostitute. One sells body for money another sells mind and may be soul to earn a living. I think comparing current media to that of Pre independence era is far fetched. Like everyone else, media persons also need to earn good living, drive good car, travel abroad. Good editors are assessed by the business they bring through their show. Now can this come by being neutral? I think not. Many channels are funded or promoted by businessmen and politicians. So an editor may peddle the facts that are favorable to the organization. An editor may have his own view. Normally birds of same feather will flock together. While I will not deny choice of an editor to look at a news through his own eyes, that is his freedom of expression, but there should not be any misrepresentation.

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    1. Yes Sir, very nicely you described the crux of my article. I know every one craves for material luxury. I don’t denounce it. But not other profesion is called fourth pillar of democracy.
      Press person has high responsibility than so to say a software engineer or a farmer.
      Hence they should act more responsibly.

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  5. No doubt that media is biased. Every news channel is inclined to a particular party and these media houses are paid by these political parties to say for them. Whichever party rules media is with them and once they go out of power then these media persons change color and bootlick the ruling party or opposition. Twitter is full of politics and fake news. I tend to read less of those.

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  8. Its an unfortunate truth that media is biased and sold. There is no integrity anymore. It just about profit and money. And, this is very true for well known media houses too. The least they can do is refrain from providing their opinion in religion unless it is affecting the lives and doing harm to other people.

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  12. Media houses in India have now developed into a well sought out business. I don’t know if you’ve seen the CobraPost sting operation on the media houses, but it showed clearly just how biased media men are. If you look at the people who fund these media houses you’ll know which media house would support which ideology. It is indeed tragic that our fourth pillar is falling apart and people don’t seem concerned (apparently the number of hair on UP’s CM is far more important that security issues). However, on the bright side we have online forums like The Wire, Scroll.in, First Post…they are perhaps the only hope of an unbiased reporting instead of long narratives.

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    1. Hey Rida thanks for your detailed response.
      I completely agree with you that Media outlets are open for sale, but the name which mentioned in ur later part are also sold out.
      The Wire is Congressi stooge, leftist propaganda machine.

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      1. I would have to disagree on that note, Abhay. The Wire is funded by the FIJ which is a non profit organization and is mostly funded from donations and the founders. However, a media platform is made from the content it publishes and the Wire reports, never narrates. I would have to disagree on it being a propaganda machine.

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        1. You are entitled to disagree, as I am free to have my own opinion. I have read several of its articles and always found they write against current establishment and are pro Congress.
          They try to project specific narrative which is always biased!

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