All over the world, media is enabling instrument but Indian media is disabling instrument- lambasted the chief of Indian Navy Suresh Mehta after Mumbai terror attack on 26th November. He also objected to the live coverage of commando operation saying it had ‘tactical implications’. But correspondents of media channels have no qualms about it. They still think that b showing live they did a commendable job that should earn them praise.

The opening phase of breaking news (26th Nov, 08, 9-40 pm) alarmed the entire nation and the vicinity of the hit areas. But with the passage of time the character of media was unveiled by virtue of overzealous reporting and insertion of the drama element in story packaging at the news studios. The restraint was waning. Repetitive visuals were terrifying. Curse for the security and political personnel were nauseating. The coverage was not only inaccurate (both politically and journalistically) because of inaccessible officials (or otherwise?) but was based on pure conjecture of the correspondents. Whims and fancy of the news studio panel further diluted the objectivity.

Amateur Media in a Mature  Democracy

The fourth estate of democracy is still amateurish in the coverage of sensitive issues like terror attack. According to Prasad Kathe, a TV correspondent, who covered Mumbai live ‘their may a lapse here and there, otherwise the media behaved responsibly’. He disagrees that the live coverage could have impeded the rescue operation and sneers at the possibility that the terrorists inside could have got any advantage of the footages shown on channels. Anyways, the panel producers of the channels argue, it was deferred live. It was delayed by 2-3 minutes.

But then what could have prompted admiral Mehta to blast on media to ask whether it was really required to give intrusive coverage and minute by minute reporting?  Will media listen to this seasoned and anguished man who is reflecting the sentiments of India and take time to introspect at least?

Beyond the Code, above the law

One of the producers of a notorious TV channel agreed that limits were being crossed. Saying the all the responsible media personnel feel that there is need to design concrete guidelines for reporting such eventualities. While Sahara reporter Manoj Bhoyal shares that there were no guidelines, no restraint and we all reported as per our own discretions. He agrees though, that its always safe to have guidelines. Senior Correspondent of BBC in India Narain Barheth, analyzing the role of media in Mumbai coverage opines that media could have behaved more responsibly at this time. The job of media is to inform not to sensationalize and misguide. Barheth, who has also attended an intensive training session at BBC says that as the BBC regularly trains its correspondents to help them cover objectively the crisis, insurgency, terror attacks etc. the other media should follow suit. He confides that the Mumbai is a crucial market for TV channels hence this flagrant reporting.

I would personally appreciate though, the initiative taken by the Maharashtra TV Journalists’ Association. Prasad Kathe, General Secretary of the Association revels that they have demanded the navy, coastal, police and security agency officials to arrange a training for the reporters of both print and TV. This training will give them with the understanding of security perspective and dangers involved in reporting such carnage.

Shipra Mathur