Mansi

What is the USP for media firms? Looking across news channels, I reckon it's 'C'redibility.
Across all news Channels, more and more we see reporters and news readers trying their best to look earnest and Credible. A man who Caught on early to the sword of Credibility is none other than NDTV's Pranoy Roy.

I Caught him two nights in a row anChor the 9pm news this week. While he still wields the mighty 'C' sword, I think he's also lost his own reporting edge.. This evening he called Uddhav Bal Thakeray's nephew and Raj the latter's son! Yesterday he had trouble Choosing between the words livelihood and living.

His humor isn't as sharp or reflective either. Tonight and as always he thanked his weather anChor, telling her that viewers believe her more than we do the Met dept. And then he swung around and brandished us (any of us who aren't part of his Chosen 'Viewers') to 'pay Close attention'. Quite funny that - for we were listening when NDTV's weather report yesterday predicted rain today in Delhi and down here in the Capital as of 10:06 pm the day after, we're still listening!!

But that's not what got me irked on the mighty 'C' sword he weilds with such arrogant Charm.

The story - The assasination of Sri Lankan foreign minister.
Last night Prannoy Roy Came in informing us that his brave reporters, in the thick with the LTTE, had eliCited an exclusive denial. (Never mind that LTTE has denied just about any and every assassination and attempt of)
The LTTE Confessed to having no hand in the assassination. Of Course, while we waited to see just what our brave reporters were unravelling, we lost all footage.
Was Dr. Roy fazed? No, ( I do now suspeCt that this was a post-recording editing job) for not for a single second was Dr. Roy even aware of what had even happened.

Today the LTTE's political spokesperson was heard reassuring India that we do not have to 'fear', for the LTTE would not now or in the future use their arms against us or our leaders ( Yeah right! Like Rajiv was not plenty enough)
Next we were on the phone with the Sri Lankan milatary. EaCh word uttered by them was measured against NDTV's interview in the heartland (a la Chamba valley - no less) of LTTE.

The question remains: While the LTTE has denied a hand in the assassination, what is the evidence that the Govt of Sri Lanka possess?

Does NDTV care? NO! All the news channel does care about is promoting it's own bravado ( however hare-brained the motive of the project) and it's (in)accurate weather news (Dr. Roy: Thank you dear - News Anchor: You're welcome, Chacha Roy)

Is media Credible?
Why do media Companies repeat the same two bits of news over and over again, lest we suCCumb. Are our minds that fuddled?
What will it take for the media to admit that they fumble?
Why are most media professionals and a growing seCtion of eager bloggers smug about their perCeived swords of justice?

Let me leave you with a startling Connection between modern literary aesthetiCism and the Contemporary worlds' indifference to violence (read truth) - Courtesy, a Bosnian writer Dzevad Karahasan. He said " The decision to perceive literally everything as an aethetic phenomenon - completely sidestepping questions about goodness and truth - is an artistic decision. That decision started in the realm of art, and went on to become characteristic of the contemporary world.' ( further courtesy - Amitav Ghosh, Tehelka)