మెజారిటీ చవటలు, సన్నాసులు, అవినీతిపరులు, బాజా భజంత్రీగాళ్లు జర్నలిస్టులుగా, ఎడిటర్లుగా చలామణీ అవుతున్నందు వల్ల పవిత్రమైన జర్నలిజం వృత్తి పరమార్ధం దెబ్బతింటున్నదని మనం చాలా రోజులుగా మొత్తుకుంటూనే ఉన్నాం. ప్రెస్ కౌన్సిల్ ఇండియా ఛైర్మన్ గా మొన్నీమధ్యన బాధ్యతలు స్వీకరించిన జస్టిస్ మార్కండేయ కట్జు మీడియా పై, జర్నలిస్టులపై ఇదే బాణిలో సంచలన వ్యాఖ్యలు చేశారు. నూటికి నూరు పాళ్లు నిజాలైన వ్యాఖ్యలే చేశారు ఆయన. సాధారణ జనాలు మీడియా గురించి అనుకుంటున్న మాటలనే ఆయన చెబుతున్నారు.అందుకు ఆయనకు ముందుగా అభినందనలు.
దేశాన్ని, లౌకిక భావనను నాశనం చేస్తూ, జనాలను సినిమా యావలో క్రికెట్ మత్తులో ముంచుతున్న మీడియా తోలుతీయడానికి చర్యలు తీసుకోవాలని ఆయన ప్రధానమంత్రిని కోరారు. సీఎన్ఎన్ ఐబీఎన్ ఛానల్ లో కరణ్ థాపర్ కు కట్జూ గారిచ్చిన ఇంటర్వ్వూను దిగువ ఇస్తున్నాను. ఉన్నది ఉన్నట్టు మాట్టాడినందుకు ఇప్పటికే కట్జూ గారి మీద వైరి వర్గాలు బాణాలు సంధించాయి. ఆయన్ను ఇబ్బందిపెట్టే పనులు మొదలయ్యాయి. అయినా...కట్జూ గారు బెదరకుండా మీడియా బూజు దులపాలని, తెలుగు పేపర్లు, ఛానళ్ల వైపూ దృష్టి పెట్టి పేద్ద ఎడిటర్లుగా చెలరేగిపోతూ పుకార్ల మీద, బూతుమీద బతుకుతున్న పుండాకోర్ల పీచమణచాలని ఆవేశంగా కోరుకుంటున్నాను.
సదాలోచనపరులు స్పందిచాల్సింది ఇప్పుడే. మీ మీ ప్రాంతాలలో మీడియా పెడ ధోరణుల మీద సెమినార్లు, సదస్సులు పెట్టి కట్జూ గారికి మద్దతు తెలపాలని ఈ బ్లాగు కోరుకుంటున్నది.
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Speaking to Karan Thapar, the new Chairman of the Press Council of India Markandey Katju slammed the media saying that he is very disappointed with the way in which the Indian media works. Katju also said that the media is not working for the interest of the people and sometimes divide the people of the country.
Karan Thapar: Hello and welcome to Devil's Advocate. How does the new chairman of the Press Council of India view the media? That's the key issue I shall discuss with Justice Markandey Katju. Justice Katju recently while discussing with some newspaper and television editors you said, 'The media have become irresponsible and wayward.' Then you added, 'The time has come when some introspection by the Indian media is required.' Are you disappointed by the media?
Justice Markandey Katju: Very disappointed.
Karan Thapar: And therefore, do you have a low opinion of the media?
Justice Markandey Katju: I have a poor opinion about the media.
Karan Thapar: And you really mean this?
Justice Markandey Katju: I mean this. They should be working for the interest of the people. They are not working for the interest of the people. And sometime they are positively working in an anti-people manner.
Karan Thapar: Now, in that same address to editors you said, 'One of the basic tasks of the media is to provide truthful and objective information, that will enable people to form rational opinions.' Is that not happening altogether, or is it not happening sufficiently and effectively.
Justice Markandey Katju: See you must first understand the historical context in which we are living. India is passing through a transitional period in our history -transition from feudal, agricultural society to modern industrial society. This is a very painful and agonising period in history. When Europe was going through this period the media played a great role, it was of great help in transforming the European society from feudalism to a modern society.
Karan Thapar: Is that not happening in India?
Justice Markandey Katju: No, just the reverse. In Europe, great writers like Rousseau, Thomas Paine and Diderot. Diderot said, 'Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.'
Karan Thapar: Compared to them, what is the role the Indian media is playing during this transition India is going through?
Justice Markandey Katju: Indian media is, very often, playing an anti-people role. Let me give you that in three respects. Number one, it often diverts the attention of the people from the real problems which are basically economic. 80 per cent of the people are living in horrible poverty, unemployment, facing price rise, healthcare etc. You divert attention from those problems and instead you project filmstars and fashion parades and cricket as if they are the problems of the people.
Karan Thapar: So the media uses fashion, film stars and cricket almost as an opium?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes. Cricket is an opium of the masses. The Roman emperors used to say 'if you cannot give the people bread, give them circuses'. In India, send them to cricket if you cannot give them bread. Many channels, day and night, are showing cricket as if that is the problem of the country.
Karan Thapar: You said there were three respects in which the media is being anti-people, to use your phrase. You've given me one, what are the other two?
Justice Markandey Katju: Second is, very often the media divides the people. You see, this is a country of great diversity because it is a country broadly of immigrants. We must, therefore, respect each other and we must remain united. Take for example, whenever a bomb blast takes place, in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, within a few hours almost every channels starts showing that an e-mail has come or a SMS has come that Indian Mujahideen have claimed responsibility or Jaish-e-Mohammad or Harkat-ul-Jihad, some Muslim name. You see e-mail or SMS any mischievous person can send, but by showing it on the TV channels and next day in print, you are in a subtle way conveying the message that all Muslims are terrorists and bomb throwers and you are demonising the Muslims. And, 99 per cent people of all communities, whether Hindu, Muslim, are good people.
Karan Thapar: Is this an instance of the media being careless or the media deliberately not using its guard and not using its intelligence to double check? Which is it?
Justice Markandey Katju: I think it is even worse. I think it is deliberate action of the media to divide the people on religious lines and that is totally against the national interest.
Karan Thapar: You are saying the media is deliberately diving people?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, because what else is this? When you are demonising the Muslim community within a few hours of a bomb blast showing that SMS has come, e-mail has come from some Muslim organisation, what does it imply?
Karan Thapar: You said you had three examples of the media being anti-people. You've given me two, what's the third?
Justice Markandey Katju: Third is, as I said India is passing in a transitional period from feudal society to modern society. So the media must promote scientific ideas to help the country move forward, like the European media did in the period of transition in Europe. Here the media promotes superstition, astrology and so on. You know, 80 to 90 per cent of the people in the country are mentally very backward, steep in casteism, communalism, superstition and so on. Should the media uplift them and bring them up to a higher mental level and make them part of enlightened India or should the media go down to that level and continue and perpetuate their backwardness? The media through many TV channels show astrology which is pure humbug. Astrology is total superstition that if you wear this colour shirt today it will be very good for you, what is all this?
Karan Thapar: You began by saying that you had a very low opinion of the media, that you were deeply disappointed by the media. I get the impression that, in fact, you don't think very much of the media at all.
Justice Markandey Katju: There are some very respected media people I can tell. For example, Mr P Sainath, I have very high respect for him. He has written many articles showing the farmer suicides. In fact in The Hindu, that quarter million farmers have committed suicide.
Karan Thapar: You're talking about the front page article in Saturday's Hindu?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes.
Karan Thapar: But apart from naming a few individuals, of the media as a whole you don't think very much of them?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, the general run is very low and I have a poor opinion of most media people. Frankly, I don't think they have much knowledge of economic theory or political science or literature or philosophy. I don't think they have studied all this.
Karan Thapar: So the media, in effect, is not just living up to its expectations, you would say it is letting down India?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, absolutely because the media is very important in this transition period. As I said, the media deals with ideas. It's not an ordinary business dealing with commodities, it deals with ideas. Therefore, people need modern and scientific ideas.
Karan Thapar: And that's not happening?
Justice Markandey Katju: The reverse is happening.
Karan Thapar: The media is making India more superstitious, more casteist, more communal; you really mean that?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, absolutely. You see the TV channels, so many of them showing astrology 'yeh raashi hai, wo raashi hai', what is all this?
Karan Thapar: Alright. I've understood and heard your attitude and opinion of the media, let me now put to you one of the common complaints made of the media by ordinary people and ask to what extent as the Chairman of the Press Council you agree with those complaints and to what extent you disagree. People often say that the media is not always accurate, worse they say the media distorts facts; it twists people's opinions and quotations. Do you hold that view as well?
Justice Markandey Katju: Absolutely, if you've heard of the scandal of paid news in the year 2009 elections, you know what happened. You know earlier the journalist would go to the candidates in elections and ask for money, 'You give me Rs 10,000 and I will publish news in your favour'. Then it appears that the proprietors got a wise idea that why should these working journalists make money why should we not make money. Then they came forward saying 'you give me one crore and a package will be given to you, front page headline news will be in your favour'. And an astounding thing happened in 2009 elections. Candidate A in the front page of the newspapers says he's winning by a large number of votes, by a large majority; and the lower part of the front page paid for by the rival candidate says that candidate A is losing his security deposit. So you see on the same page he's winning by a thumping majority and he's also losing his security.
Karan Thapar: So what you're saying to me, whether we are talking about paid news, whether we are talking about your claim that the media distorts and twists facts ; you're saying the media can't be relied upon when they claim something to be true – it may not be true, it may just be false?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes absolutely because if you are paid to write something you are not writing something which you factually observed. You are being paid to write whatever you are told to write.
Karan Thapar: Now a second criticism made by ordinary people of the media is that it frequently damages the reputation of innocent people by either misrepresenting them or, worse, by suggesting or claiming or proclaiming that they are guilty without reason and without evidence. Again, is that a view you agree with?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes and may I give you an example? In one TV channel, which is a reputed TV channel so I will not name it, on two consecutive days the photograph of a high court judge, where I had been Chief Justice, had been shown next to the photograph of a notorious criminal. The allegation against the high court judge was that he had illegally grabbed some land. I made personal enquiries and I found it was totally false. He had brought land in a rural area, in the open market at the market price, I have all the documents, and this man was weeping when I went there. He said he was going to resign, I said, 'Please don't resign. I will try to do something'. Just see this, you condemn a corrupt judge, I am with you, but why should you condemn an honest judge when he is totally upright?
Karan Thapar: So you're saying the error in this instance was the publication of an honest judge's picture alongside that of a criminal and the suggestion that the two are similar?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, just see how demoralising it is for a judge who is honest. You condemn a corrupt judge, I am fully with you, I have done it myself. Why should you condemn an upright judge?
Karan Thapar: And you're saying that often the media, through carelessness or maybe deliberately damages the reputation of innocent people?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes. You want to sensationalise something you want to capture without proper investigation. You must do proper investigation and research before you publish all this.
Karan Thapar: So the media does no research, no investigation?
Justice Markandey Katju: Well sometimes it may be doing but sometimes it doesn't. in this case evidently they had not done.
Karan Thapar: Let's focus a little on news television. There is a lot of concern about the quality of debates on television channels. Are you an admirer of those debates or are you a critic?
Justice Markandey Katju: See very often I find those debates totally frivolous. First of all there is no discipline. If there are four people on the panel, all speaking at the same time, is this the way disciplined people should behave? When you speak, I will never interrupt you. But why should you interrupt me when I am speaking?
Karan Thapar: You think anchors are always interrupting rudely?
Justice Markandey Katju: Not anchors, the panellist, the four persons. One person is speaking, the other simultaneously starts speaking, whom are you to hear?
Karan Thapar: People often say that the big problem with debates on television is that they only generate heat, they don't shed light, yet their job is to shed light.
Justice Markandey Katju: That's quite often correct. You should shed light in this age, you should educate people, you should express rational opinions. It's not a shouting contest.
Karan Thapar: So all this criticism that the ordinary people have for the media, whether it's to do with accuracy, whether it's to do with damaging reputation, whether it's to do with the quality of debates, do you as Chairman of the Press Council agree with all of them?
Justice Markandey Katju: Not all of them. As I told you there are some very upright media people. I named Mr P Sainath and there are many other names.
Karan Thapar: But the generality of the media you believe is falling?
Justice Markandey Katju: The majority, I'm sorry to say, are of a very poor intellectual level, media people, I doubt whether they have any idea of economic theory or political science, philosophy, literature, I have grave doubts whether they are well read in all this, which they should be.
Karan Thapar: More often than not, media people are of a very ordinary level.
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, that's right.
Karan Thapar: Justice Katju, let's talk about steps that you believe are necessary to improve news television. Primarily you believe news television and the electronic media as a whole must be brought under the ambit of the Press Council. Why do you think the media's attempt at self regulation by the News Broadcasters' Association headed by Justice Verma is not good enough?
Justice Markandey Katju: I don't see any effect of that move. The media has to be educated They must be told that you are living in a poor country where you have to address the problems of the poor people. What do you show? Lady gaga has come. Yesterday I saw it on TV, read it in papers. Is this the problem of the country? Kareena Kapoor has seen her Madam Tussauds statue and she says she loves it. This is what is on TV and in the headlines.
Karan Thapar: So you're saying that the News Brodcasters' Association's attempt to self regulate under Justice Verma simply isn't working?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, it is not working at all. One of the reasons is there must be some fear in the media.
Karan Thapar: Absence of a stick means the media gets away with it?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, absolutely. As I said in many interviews, stick will be used only in some extreme situations.
Karan Thapar: But the need for the stick is there?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, the fear must be there. Bin bhay hot na preet, Swami Tulsidas has said in Ramcharitmanas.
Karan Thapar: So in other words, there must always be a sanction the media fears. Otherwise the media will not fulfil its role and act, in your eyes, properly?
Justice Markandey Katju: Absolutely.
Karan Thapar: Now, so far what steps have you taken or what steps do you propose to take to bring news television or the electronic media as a whole under the ambit of the Press Council?
Justice Markandey Katju: Well, I have written to the Prime Minister that electronic media should be brought under the Press Council. It should be called the media council and also should be given more teeth. Those teeth will be used in an extreme situation. I met Mrs Ambika Soni, the minister of Information and Broadcasting, to whom I gave the letter addressed to the Prime Minister and I have received a reply from the Prime Minister that they are considering it. On Friday, I met Mrs Sushma Swaraj, the leader of the Opposition, and I gave her the copy of the letter and I said unless there is consensus between both the national parties, the bill will not go through.
Karan Thapar: What response did you get from Mrs Swaraj?
Justice Markandey Katju: She said in this case, probably there will be a consensus.
Karan Thapar: Now, you said that you've received a response from the Prime Minister. What did he indicate in his response? Is he open to your idea?
Justice Markandey Katju: No, he just wrote that we are considering it. I got a written letter, I haven't met him. I have sought an appointment with him.
Karan Thapar: But the Prime Minister has said that he's considering it?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, he's considering it and Mrs Sushma Swaraj, in fact, when I met her yesterday, I told her that look, this was your suggestion in Parliament. She said, 'Yes it was my suggestion that electronic media should be brought under Press Council.'
Karan Thapar: So the position is as follows: the Prime Minister is considering your suggestion, which suggests, that perhaps he's open to the idea.
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes.
Karan Thapar: Mrs Swaraj has in a sense endorsed it, which suggests that the BJP supports it. Have I summed it up correctly?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, that's right.
Karan Thapar: Now you've also asked for greater teeth for the Press Council. You think it needs to be able to bite more effectively. I know you are going to use it only in extreme situations, but what sort of additional powers do you want?
Justice Markandey Katju: I want powers to stop government advertisements, I want powers to suspend the license of that media for a certain period if it behaves in a very obnoxious manner. I want powers to impose fines, all this in extreme situations. Normally, if a media commits a mistake, I'll call them, I'll discuss with them that this is not proper and 80 per cent people can be reformed by persuasion.
Karan Thapar: But this is to be used if the media proves to be, to use your phrase, 'incorrigible'?
Justice Markandey Katju: That's right.
Karan Thapar: Now in fact your exact phrase was if the media proves to be incorrigible, harsh measures may be required, some people think that's a threat to the Freedom of Press.
Justice Markandey Katju: Listen, everybody is accountable in a democracy. No freedom is absolute. Every freedom is subject to reasonable restrictions. I'm accountable, you are accountable. We are accountable to the people.
Karan Thapar: And the media must be accountable as well?
Justice Markandey Katju: Absolutely.
Karan Thapar: And that means the media must accept and respect restrictions?
Justice Markandey Katju: That's right.
Karan Thapar: Justice Katju, a pleasure talking to you.
Justice Markandey Katju: Thank You.
(కర్టసీ-CNN IBN)
దేశాన్ని, లౌకిక భావనను నాశనం చేస్తూ, జనాలను సినిమా యావలో క్రికెట్ మత్తులో ముంచుతున్న మీడియా తోలుతీయడానికి చర్యలు తీసుకోవాలని ఆయన ప్రధానమంత్రిని కోరారు. సీఎన్ఎన్ ఐబీఎన్ ఛానల్ లో కరణ్ థాపర్ కు కట్జూ గారిచ్చిన ఇంటర్వ్వూను దిగువ ఇస్తున్నాను. ఉన్నది ఉన్నట్టు మాట్టాడినందుకు ఇప్పటికే కట్జూ గారి మీద వైరి వర్గాలు బాణాలు సంధించాయి. ఆయన్ను ఇబ్బందిపెట్టే పనులు మొదలయ్యాయి. అయినా...కట్జూ గారు బెదరకుండా మీడియా బూజు దులపాలని, తెలుగు పేపర్లు, ఛానళ్ల వైపూ దృష్టి పెట్టి పేద్ద ఎడిటర్లుగా చెలరేగిపోతూ పుకార్ల మీద, బూతుమీద బతుకుతున్న పుండాకోర్ల పీచమణచాలని ఆవేశంగా కోరుకుంటున్నాను.
సదాలోచనపరులు స్పందిచాల్సింది ఇప్పుడే. మీ మీ ప్రాంతాలలో మీడియా పెడ ధోరణుల మీద సెమినార్లు, సదస్సులు పెట్టి కట్జూ గారికి మద్దతు తెలపాలని ఈ బ్లాగు కోరుకుంటున్నది.
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Speaking to Karan Thapar, the new Chairman of the Press Council of India Markandey Katju slammed the media saying that he is very disappointed with the way in which the Indian media works. Katju also said that the media is not working for the interest of the people and sometimes divide the people of the country.
Karan Thapar: Hello and welcome to Devil's Advocate. How does the new chairman of the Press Council of India view the media? That's the key issue I shall discuss with Justice Markandey Katju. Justice Katju recently while discussing with some newspaper and television editors you said, 'The media have become irresponsible and wayward.' Then you added, 'The time has come when some introspection by the Indian media is required.' Are you disappointed by the media?
Justice Markandey Katju: Very disappointed.
Karan Thapar: And therefore, do you have a low opinion of the media?
Justice Markandey Katju: I have a poor opinion about the media.
Karan Thapar: And you really mean this?
Justice Markandey Katju: I mean this. They should be working for the interest of the people. They are not working for the interest of the people. And sometime they are positively working in an anti-people manner.
Karan Thapar: Now, in that same address to editors you said, 'One of the basic tasks of the media is to provide truthful and objective information, that will enable people to form rational opinions.' Is that not happening altogether, or is it not happening sufficiently and effectively.
Justice Markandey Katju: See you must first understand the historical context in which we are living. India is passing through a transitional period in our history -transition from feudal, agricultural society to modern industrial society. This is a very painful and agonising period in history. When Europe was going through this period the media played a great role, it was of great help in transforming the European society from feudalism to a modern society.
Karan Thapar: Is that not happening in India?
Justice Markandey Katju: No, just the reverse. In Europe, great writers like Rousseau, Thomas Paine and Diderot. Diderot said, 'Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.'
Karan Thapar: Compared to them, what is the role the Indian media is playing during this transition India is going through?
Justice Markandey Katju: Indian media is, very often, playing an anti-people role. Let me give you that in three respects. Number one, it often diverts the attention of the people from the real problems which are basically economic. 80 per cent of the people are living in horrible poverty, unemployment, facing price rise, healthcare etc. You divert attention from those problems and instead you project filmstars and fashion parades and cricket as if they are the problems of the people.
Karan Thapar: So the media uses fashion, film stars and cricket almost as an opium?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes. Cricket is an opium of the masses. The Roman emperors used to say 'if you cannot give the people bread, give them circuses'. In India, send them to cricket if you cannot give them bread. Many channels, day and night, are showing cricket as if that is the problem of the country.
Karan Thapar: You said there were three respects in which the media is being anti-people, to use your phrase. You've given me one, what are the other two?
Justice Markandey Katju: Second is, very often the media divides the people. You see, this is a country of great diversity because it is a country broadly of immigrants. We must, therefore, respect each other and we must remain united. Take for example, whenever a bomb blast takes place, in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, within a few hours almost every channels starts showing that an e-mail has come or a SMS has come that Indian Mujahideen have claimed responsibility or Jaish-e-Mohammad or Harkat-ul-Jihad, some Muslim name. You see e-mail or SMS any mischievous person can send, but by showing it on the TV channels and next day in print, you are in a subtle way conveying the message that all Muslims are terrorists and bomb throwers and you are demonising the Muslims. And, 99 per cent people of all communities, whether Hindu, Muslim, are good people.
Karan Thapar: Is this an instance of the media being careless or the media deliberately not using its guard and not using its intelligence to double check? Which is it?
Justice Markandey Katju: I think it is even worse. I think it is deliberate action of the media to divide the people on religious lines and that is totally against the national interest.
Karan Thapar: You are saying the media is deliberately diving people?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, because what else is this? When you are demonising the Muslim community within a few hours of a bomb blast showing that SMS has come, e-mail has come from some Muslim organisation, what does it imply?
Karan Thapar: You said you had three examples of the media being anti-people. You've given me two, what's the third?
Justice Markandey Katju: Third is, as I said India is passing in a transitional period from feudal society to modern society. So the media must promote scientific ideas to help the country move forward, like the European media did in the period of transition in Europe. Here the media promotes superstition, astrology and so on. You know, 80 to 90 per cent of the people in the country are mentally very backward, steep in casteism, communalism, superstition and so on. Should the media uplift them and bring them up to a higher mental level and make them part of enlightened India or should the media go down to that level and continue and perpetuate their backwardness? The media through many TV channels show astrology which is pure humbug. Astrology is total superstition that if you wear this colour shirt today it will be very good for you, what is all this?
Karan Thapar: You began by saying that you had a very low opinion of the media, that you were deeply disappointed by the media. I get the impression that, in fact, you don't think very much of the media at all.
Justice Markandey Katju: There are some very respected media people I can tell. For example, Mr P Sainath, I have very high respect for him. He has written many articles showing the farmer suicides. In fact in The Hindu, that quarter million farmers have committed suicide.
Karan Thapar: You're talking about the front page article in Saturday's Hindu?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes.
Karan Thapar: But apart from naming a few individuals, of the media as a whole you don't think very much of them?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, the general run is very low and I have a poor opinion of most media people. Frankly, I don't think they have much knowledge of economic theory or political science or literature or philosophy. I don't think they have studied all this.
Karan Thapar: So the media, in effect, is not just living up to its expectations, you would say it is letting down India?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, absolutely because the media is very important in this transition period. As I said, the media deals with ideas. It's not an ordinary business dealing with commodities, it deals with ideas. Therefore, people need modern and scientific ideas.
Karan Thapar: And that's not happening?
Justice Markandey Katju: The reverse is happening.
Karan Thapar: The media is making India more superstitious, more casteist, more communal; you really mean that?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, absolutely. You see the TV channels, so many of them showing astrology 'yeh raashi hai, wo raashi hai', what is all this?
Karan Thapar: Alright. I've understood and heard your attitude and opinion of the media, let me now put to you one of the common complaints made of the media by ordinary people and ask to what extent as the Chairman of the Press Council you agree with those complaints and to what extent you disagree. People often say that the media is not always accurate, worse they say the media distorts facts; it twists people's opinions and quotations. Do you hold that view as well?
Justice Markandey Katju: Absolutely, if you've heard of the scandal of paid news in the year 2009 elections, you know what happened. You know earlier the journalist would go to the candidates in elections and ask for money, 'You give me Rs 10,000 and I will publish news in your favour'. Then it appears that the proprietors got a wise idea that why should these working journalists make money why should we not make money. Then they came forward saying 'you give me one crore and a package will be given to you, front page headline news will be in your favour'. And an astounding thing happened in 2009 elections. Candidate A in the front page of the newspapers says he's winning by a large number of votes, by a large majority; and the lower part of the front page paid for by the rival candidate says that candidate A is losing his security deposit. So you see on the same page he's winning by a thumping majority and he's also losing his security.
Karan Thapar: So what you're saying to me, whether we are talking about paid news, whether we are talking about your claim that the media distorts and twists facts ; you're saying the media can't be relied upon when they claim something to be true – it may not be true, it may just be false?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes absolutely because if you are paid to write something you are not writing something which you factually observed. You are being paid to write whatever you are told to write.
Karan Thapar: Now a second criticism made by ordinary people of the media is that it frequently damages the reputation of innocent people by either misrepresenting them or, worse, by suggesting or claiming or proclaiming that they are guilty without reason and without evidence. Again, is that a view you agree with?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes and may I give you an example? In one TV channel, which is a reputed TV channel so I will not name it, on two consecutive days the photograph of a high court judge, where I had been Chief Justice, had been shown next to the photograph of a notorious criminal. The allegation against the high court judge was that he had illegally grabbed some land. I made personal enquiries and I found it was totally false. He had brought land in a rural area, in the open market at the market price, I have all the documents, and this man was weeping when I went there. He said he was going to resign, I said, 'Please don't resign. I will try to do something'. Just see this, you condemn a corrupt judge, I am with you, but why should you condemn an honest judge when he is totally upright?
Karan Thapar: So you're saying the error in this instance was the publication of an honest judge's picture alongside that of a criminal and the suggestion that the two are similar?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, just see how demoralising it is for a judge who is honest. You condemn a corrupt judge, I am fully with you, I have done it myself. Why should you condemn an upright judge?
Karan Thapar: And you're saying that often the media, through carelessness or maybe deliberately damages the reputation of innocent people?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes. You want to sensationalise something you want to capture without proper investigation. You must do proper investigation and research before you publish all this.
Karan Thapar: So the media does no research, no investigation?
Justice Markandey Katju: Well sometimes it may be doing but sometimes it doesn't. in this case evidently they had not done.
Karan Thapar: Let's focus a little on news television. There is a lot of concern about the quality of debates on television channels. Are you an admirer of those debates or are you a critic?
Justice Markandey Katju: See very often I find those debates totally frivolous. First of all there is no discipline. If there are four people on the panel, all speaking at the same time, is this the way disciplined people should behave? When you speak, I will never interrupt you. But why should you interrupt me when I am speaking?
Karan Thapar: You think anchors are always interrupting rudely?
Justice Markandey Katju: Not anchors, the panellist, the four persons. One person is speaking, the other simultaneously starts speaking, whom are you to hear?
Karan Thapar: People often say that the big problem with debates on television is that they only generate heat, they don't shed light, yet their job is to shed light.
Justice Markandey Katju: That's quite often correct. You should shed light in this age, you should educate people, you should express rational opinions. It's not a shouting contest.
Karan Thapar: So all this criticism that the ordinary people have for the media, whether it's to do with accuracy, whether it's to do with damaging reputation, whether it's to do with the quality of debates, do you as Chairman of the Press Council agree with all of them?
Justice Markandey Katju: Not all of them. As I told you there are some very upright media people. I named Mr P Sainath and there are many other names.
Karan Thapar: But the generality of the media you believe is falling?
Justice Markandey Katju: The majority, I'm sorry to say, are of a very poor intellectual level, media people, I doubt whether they have any idea of economic theory or political science, philosophy, literature, I have grave doubts whether they are well read in all this, which they should be.
Karan Thapar: More often than not, media people are of a very ordinary level.
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, that's right.
Karan Thapar: Justice Katju, let's talk about steps that you believe are necessary to improve news television. Primarily you believe news television and the electronic media as a whole must be brought under the ambit of the Press Council. Why do you think the media's attempt at self regulation by the News Broadcasters' Association headed by Justice Verma is not good enough?
Justice Markandey Katju: I don't see any effect of that move. The media has to be educated They must be told that you are living in a poor country where you have to address the problems of the poor people. What do you show? Lady gaga has come. Yesterday I saw it on TV, read it in papers. Is this the problem of the country? Kareena Kapoor has seen her Madam Tussauds statue and she says she loves it. This is what is on TV and in the headlines.
Karan Thapar: So you're saying that the News Brodcasters' Association's attempt to self regulate under Justice Verma simply isn't working?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, it is not working at all. One of the reasons is there must be some fear in the media.
Karan Thapar: Absence of a stick means the media gets away with it?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, absolutely. As I said in many interviews, stick will be used only in some extreme situations.
Karan Thapar: But the need for the stick is there?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, the fear must be there. Bin bhay hot na preet, Swami Tulsidas has said in Ramcharitmanas.
Karan Thapar: So in other words, there must always be a sanction the media fears. Otherwise the media will not fulfil its role and act, in your eyes, properly?
Justice Markandey Katju: Absolutely.
Karan Thapar: Now, so far what steps have you taken or what steps do you propose to take to bring news television or the electronic media as a whole under the ambit of the Press Council?
Justice Markandey Katju: Well, I have written to the Prime Minister that electronic media should be brought under the Press Council. It should be called the media council and also should be given more teeth. Those teeth will be used in an extreme situation. I met Mrs Ambika Soni, the minister of Information and Broadcasting, to whom I gave the letter addressed to the Prime Minister and I have received a reply from the Prime Minister that they are considering it. On Friday, I met Mrs Sushma Swaraj, the leader of the Opposition, and I gave her the copy of the letter and I said unless there is consensus between both the national parties, the bill will not go through.
Karan Thapar: What response did you get from Mrs Swaraj?
Justice Markandey Katju: She said in this case, probably there will be a consensus.
Karan Thapar: Now, you said that you've received a response from the Prime Minister. What did he indicate in his response? Is he open to your idea?
Justice Markandey Katju: No, he just wrote that we are considering it. I got a written letter, I haven't met him. I have sought an appointment with him.
Karan Thapar: But the Prime Minister has said that he's considering it?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, he's considering it and Mrs Sushma Swaraj, in fact, when I met her yesterday, I told her that look, this was your suggestion in Parliament. She said, 'Yes it was my suggestion that electronic media should be brought under Press Council.'
Karan Thapar: So the position is as follows: the Prime Minister is considering your suggestion, which suggests, that perhaps he's open to the idea.
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes.
Karan Thapar: Mrs Swaraj has in a sense endorsed it, which suggests that the BJP supports it. Have I summed it up correctly?
Justice Markandey Katju: Yes, that's right.
Karan Thapar: Now you've also asked for greater teeth for the Press Council. You think it needs to be able to bite more effectively. I know you are going to use it only in extreme situations, but what sort of additional powers do you want?
Justice Markandey Katju: I want powers to stop government advertisements, I want powers to suspend the license of that media for a certain period if it behaves in a very obnoxious manner. I want powers to impose fines, all this in extreme situations. Normally, if a media commits a mistake, I'll call them, I'll discuss with them that this is not proper and 80 per cent people can be reformed by persuasion.
Karan Thapar: But this is to be used if the media proves to be, to use your phrase, 'incorrigible'?
Justice Markandey Katju: That's right.
Karan Thapar: Now in fact your exact phrase was if the media proves to be incorrigible, harsh measures may be required, some people think that's a threat to the Freedom of Press.
Justice Markandey Katju: Listen, everybody is accountable in a democracy. No freedom is absolute. Every freedom is subject to reasonable restrictions. I'm accountable, you are accountable. We are accountable to the people.
Karan Thapar: And the media must be accountable as well?
Justice Markandey Katju: Absolutely.
Karan Thapar: And that means the media must accept and respect restrictions?
Justice Markandey Katju: That's right.
Karan Thapar: Justice Katju, a pleasure talking to you.
Justice Markandey Katju: Thank You.
(కర్టసీ-CNN IBN)
12 comments:
There was part 1 of his article in today,s Indian Express,which is more explanatory.
చాలా మంది మనసుల్లో ఉన్న విషయాలని కట్జూ గారు బయట పెట్టారు. ఇక జర్నలిస్టులు తమని తాము పరిశీలించుకోవడం అవసరం.
కట్జూ గారి వాదన సబబుగానే వుంది... మన రాష్ట్రం విషయాన్నే తీసుకొని చెప్పాలంటే తెలుగు జర్నలిజంలో చాలామంది తమను తాము మేధావులుగా భావించుకుంటారు. కంట్రిబ్యూటర్ నుంచి మొదలు పెడితే చీఫ్ ఎడిటర్ల వరకు ఇదే వరస. ప్రజాస్వామ్యయుతంగా ఆలోచించే ధోరణి ఏమాత్రం కనిపించదు. సమాజంలోనే కాదు ఆఫీసుల్లోను, ఇళ్లలోను ప్రజాస్వామ్యయుతంగా నిర్ణయాలు తీసుకోవడం అలవడినప్పుడే వారి వ్రుత్తిలోనూ ఆ మార్పు కనిపించేది. ఉదాహరణకు అణు విద్యుత్తు విషయాన్ని తీసుకుందాం... సాధారణ (డిగ్రీ చదివిన) రిపోర్టర్లు కూడా లీడ్/యాంకర్ మొదలు పెట్టడమే వ్యతిరేక భావంతో మొదలు పెట్టడం, అణు విద్యుత్తు శుద్ధ దండగ అని తీర్మాణించడం చూశాము. ప్రధాన మంత్రి మన్మోహన్ సింగ్ మనకంటే విద్యావంతుడు, ఆలోచనాపరుడు అనే స్ప్రుహ లేకుండా విశ్లేషణలు సాగించారు. ఎన్నో చర్చోపచర్చలు, సుదీర్ఘ మంతనాల తర్వాతే ఈ మైనార్టీ ప్రభుత్వం ఒక అవగాహనకు వచ్చి, తన నిర్ణయమేదో ప్రకటించి వుంటుంది. మన జర్నలిస్టులు మాత్రం ఒకే నిముషంలో ఒక అవగాహనకు వచ్చేసి విశ్లేషణలు సాగించారు. దానికి బదులు ఆయా రంగాల్లోని మేధావులతో విశ్లేషణలు రాయించి, చర్చా కార్యక్రమాలు నిర్వహిస్తే బాధ్యతాయుతంగా ఉండేది.
మన రాష్ట్రంలోని ప్రధాన మీడియా సంస్థలను తీసుకుందాం. ఈనాడు, సాక్షి, టీవీ9, ఆంధ్రజ్యోతి అనుకుందాం... వీటి యజమానులు రామోజీరావు, రాధాక్రిష్ణ, రవిప్రకాష్ దాదాపు అందరూ ఆయా అంశాలపై సుదీర్ఘ విశ్లేషణలు సాగిస్తారు లేదా రాత్రికి రాత్రే ఒక స్టాండ్ తీసుకుంటారు. విచిత్రమేంటంటే వీరంతా సాధారణ డిగ్రీలు లేదా జర్నలిజం కోర్సులు చదివిన వారు మాత్రమే. ఏ రంగంలోనూ నిష్ణాతులు కారు, వ్యాపారంలో తప్ప, అదీ అంతంత మాత్రమే. ఒక్క జగన్మోహన్ రెడ్డి మాత్రం విదేశాల్లో ఎంబీఏ చేసినట్టున్నాడు, అతను మాత్రం మేధావిలా కాకుండా సగటు రాజకీయ నాయకుడిలానే వెగటు పుట్టిస్తాడు పాపం. రామచంద్రమూర్తి, కొమ్మినేని చేసే విశ్లేషణలు మాత్రం పర్వాలేదనుకోవచ్చు. వీళ్లే కాకుండా మరికొందరు మంచి విశ్లేషకులు లేకపోలేదు. కేవలం వార్తా ప్రసారమే మా బాధ్యత అనుకున్నప్పుడు విశ్లేషణలు మానుకోవాలి.
జర్నలిజం కోర్స్ చేయాలనుకునే ప్రతి ఒక్కరికి దేశవ్యాప్తంగా ఒక కామన్ ఎంట్రన్స్ టెస్ట్ నిర్వహిస్తే ఎలా వుంటుందో ఆలోచించండి... అందులో మాథ్స్, సైన్స్, హిస్టరీ వంటి సోషల్ సబ్జెక్ట్స్ తో పాటు మెంటల్ ఎబిలిటీ, అరిథమెటిక్ వంటివి పరీక్షిస్తే ఇంకా మంచిది.
తర్వత ఈ వ్రుత్తిలోకి రావాలనుకునే వారికి ప్రెస్ కౌన్సిల్ లేదా ఏదైన ప్రెస్ కి సంబందించిన సంస్థ ఆమోదం తప్పనిసరి చేయాలి. ఇక ఎడిటర్లు, పత్రిక యజమానులు కావాలనుకునే వారి విషయంలో ఇంకాస్త కఠిన నిబంధనలు పాటించడం మంచిది...
పద్మగారు మీడియాలో పెడదోరనుల గురించి అందరి ఆవేదనలో వాస్తవం ఉంది. కానీ మీ అభిప్రాయం అభ్యంతరం మన్మోహన్ సింగ్ మనకన్నా ఎంతో తెలివైన వారు కాబట్టి అనుఒప్పన్దన్ని వ్యతిరేకిన్చావద్దు అంటారు . ఇది సరైన వాదన కాదని నా అభిప్రాయం అలా అని నేను అను ఒప్పందాన్ని వ్యతిరేకించడం కాదు కానీ మీ అభిప్రాయాన్ని వ్యతిరేకిస్తున్నాను. అలా ఐతే 2g కుంభకోణంలో కూడా ఎవరూ మన్మోహన్ ను ఎమీ అనవద్దు ఎందుకంటే ఆయన మీరన్నట్టు మనకన్నా తెలివైనవారు కదా . ఏదో చానల్ లో చూశాను పెనుగొండ కాలేశ్వర స్వామి భక్తుడొకరు స్వామి చేతిలో మోసపోయాడు. టీవి ముందు మాట్లాడుతూ అతన్ని ఎలా నమ్మవు అని అడిగితే జిల్లా కలెక్టర్ లాంటి తెలివైన వారే స్వామి భక్తులు నేనెంతటి వాణ్ణి అని నమ్మను అన్నాడు. జిల్లాలో ఒక సాధారణ వ్యక్తి దృష్టిలో కలెక్టర్ అంటే ఎలా చూస్తారో మీకు తెలిసే ఉంటుంది . అను ఒప్పందం తప్పు అని తను గట్టిగ నమ్మితే దాన్ని చెప్పవచ్చు కానీ పలానా గొప్ప వ్యక్తి సమర్థించాడు కాబట్టి అనడం తాగడు. ఆమెరికా అధ్యక్షుడు లాంటి గొప్ప వ్యక్తికి బాబు పాలన తెగ నచ్చింది కానీ మన రహ్త్రం లోని సామాన్యుడికి నచ్చలేదు. రాధ కృష్ణ , రవిప్రకాష్ లాంటి వారు కొన్ని వందల కోట్ల ఆస్తులకు అధిపతులు. జర్నలిజం లో సాధారణ స్థితి నుంచి ఆ స్థాయికి ఎదిగారు కాబట్టి వారు మాట్లాడిన ప్రతి మాటను సమర్దిస్తామా . ఎవరి అభిప్రాయం వారిది. అయితే వాదనలో విషయం ఉండాలి
రాము గారు, మీ బ్లాగు వలన కట్జు గారి ఇంటర్వ్యూ చూడటం జరిగింది. పద్మ గారి వ్యాఖ్యలు చదివిన తరువాత మన రాష్ట్రం లోని ప్రధాన మీడీయా సమపాదకుల ఎడ్యుకేషన్ క్వాలిఫికేషన్ ఎమైన్ ఉంట్టుందా అని గూగుల్ లో సర్చ్ చేసేసాను. ఎక్కడా కూడా ఈనాడు, టి.వి.9 వారి గురించి ఎక్కడా వివరాలు దొరకలేదు. ఇదే ఇంత పెద్ద వ్యాపార సామ్రాజ్యాలు స్థాపించిన వారు, అమేరికా వారైతె ఈ పాటికి కనీశం రెండు మూడు పుస్తకాలు లిడర్షిప్ గురించి, తాము అభివృద్దిలోకి ఎలావచ్చామో అనేదాని మీద రాసి ఉండేవారనిపించింది.
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పద్మ గారు మీరు పత్రికల, టి వి మీడియా భవిషత్ ఎక్కువగా ఊహిస్తున్నట్లు అనిపిస్తున్నాది. రానున్న రోజులలో వీరు రాసే వాటిని నమ్మే వారు ఎవ్వరు ఉండరు. ప్రజలు కనీసం రెండు మూడు పత్రికలు చదివి, తమకు నచ్చిన బ్లాగులో ఎవరైనా నిష్పక్షపాతంగా రాసే వారి అభిప్రాయం చదివి మాత్రమే ఒక అవగాహనకు వస్తారు. ఇప్పుడు ఎలాగూ నెట్ ను మొబైల్ లో చూడవచ్చు కనుక అంతా ఒక్కొక్క రంగం లోని ప్రఖ్యాత బ్లాగర్లపై ఆధారపడుతారు. పేపర్ ఉపయోగం ఒక్కటే ఎక్కడ ఎంత డిస్కౌంట్ ఇస్తున్నారు మొదలైన యాడ్స్ కోసం కొనుక్కోంటారు. అంతకు మించి పెద్దగా పేపర్ పై ఆధారపడవలసిన అవసరం లేదు.
రాము గారు, మీ బ్లాగు వలన కట్జు గారి ఇంటర్వ్యూ చూడటం జరిగింది. పద్మ గారి వ్యాఖ్యలు చదివిన తరువాత మన రాష్ట్రం లోని ప్రధాన మీడీయా సమపాదకుల ఎడ్యుకేషన్ క్వాలిఫికేషన్ ఎమైన్ ఉంట్టుందా అని గూగుల్ లో సర్చ్ చేసేసాను. ఎక్కడా కూడా ఈనాడు, టి.వి.9 వారి గురించి ఎక్కడా వివరాలు దొరకలేదు. ఇదే ఇంత పెద్ద వ్యాపార సామ్రాజ్యాలు స్థాపించిన వారు, అమేరికా వారైతె ఈ పాటికి కనీశం రెండు మూడు పుస్తకాలు లిడర్షిప్ గురించి, తాము అభివృద్దిలోకి ఎలావచ్చామో అనేదాని మీద రాసి ఉండేవారనిపించింది.
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పద్మ గారు మీరు పత్రికల, టి వి మీడియా భవిషత్ ఎక్కువగా ఊహిస్తున్నట్లు అనిపిస్తున్నాది. రానున్న రోజులలో వీరు రాసే వాటిని నమ్మే వారు ఎవ్వరు ఉండరు. ప్రజలు కనీసం రెండు మూడు పత్రికలు చదివి, తమకు నచ్చిన బ్లాగులో ఎవరైనా నిష్పక్షపాతంగా రాసే వారి అభిప్రాయం చదివి మాత్రమే ఒక అవగాహనకు వస్తారు. ఇప్పుడు ఎలాగూ నెట్ ను మొబైల్ లో చూడవచ్చు కనుక అంతా ఒక్కొక్క రంగం లోని ప్రఖ్యాత బ్లాగర్లపై ఆధారపడుతారు. పేపర్ ఉపయోగం ఒక్కటే ఎక్కడ ఎంత డిస్కౌంట్ ఇస్తున్నారు మొదలైన యాడ్స్ కోసం కొనుక్కోంటారు. అంతకు మించి పెద్దగా పేపర్ పై ఆధారపడవలసిన అవసరం లేదు.
జయహో గారు చెప్పిన విషయంతో ఏకీభవిస్తాను. మీరు చెప్పినట్టు జరిగే అవకాశం వుందనే నేను కూడా వూహిస్తున్నాను. అలా జరగాలనే కోరుకుంటున్నాను. ఇక బుద్దా మురళి గారి విషయానికి వస్తే... నేను మన్మోహన్ గారిని ఏమీ అనవద్దు అని చెప్పలేదు. ఆ విషయంపై నిష్ణాతులు లేదా మేధావుల అభిప్రాయాలు సేకరించాలి లేకపొతే వారితో చర్చా కార్యక్రమాలు నిర్వహించాలి అని చెప్పాను. దయచేసి గమనించగలరు.
రామూ గారికి ఒక విఙప్తి... పత్రికల్లో వాడే వాడుక భాషపై ఒక అభిప్రాయాన్ని పోస్ట్ చేయండి. ఈనాడు వల్ల పత్రికల్లో కేవలం వాడుక భాషను మాత్రమే వాడే పరిస్థితి వచ్చింది. ఇంగ్లీషులో లాగా మనము తెలుగులో పాసిటివ్ & నెగటివ్ టెన్స్ ను వాడే పరిస్థితి లేదు. దానికి తోడు కొన్ని పదాలను (వుదాహరణకు మరియు, బడు) పూర్తిగా తొలగించాము. దీనివలన మన మేధావులు చెప్పినట్టు తెలుగు భాష ఎలా అభివ్రుద్ధి చెందుతుందో నాకు అర్ధం కాలేదు. తెలుగులో కొత్త పదాలను చేర్చుకుంటే ఏమాత్రం నష్టం లేదు, కానీ పాత పదాలను వదిలించుకోవడం వల్ల లాభమేమిటో నాకు అర్ధం కాలేదు. ఇంగ్లీషులో లాగా మనం మాట్లాడే భాష రాసే భాష వేర్వేరుగా వుంటే నష్టమేమిటి?
రామూగారూ, నేను పద్మ గారివ్యాఖ్యతో ఏకీభవిస్తున్నాను. మన తెలుగు ఇప్పటి దుర్గతికి దుస్థితికి ఈనాడు ప్రధానకారణం కాదంటారా? సాక్షి రాకముందు ఈనాడు చెప్పిందే వేదం. గురివింద గింజకు గు* క్రింద నలుపు తెలియదంట. అలాగని సాక్షికి నలుపు ల్దని కాదు. ఈ నలుపు తెలుపులు రాజకీయాల్లో విడదీయరాదనీ తెలిసి తమనలుపును తెలుపని చెప్పుకోవడంలోనే ప్రతిభంతా :)
జస్టిస్ ఖట్జు గారి వ్యాఖ్యలతో వంద శాతం ఏకీభవిస్తాను.విలేఖరి అంటే ఒక నకారాత్మక వ్యక్తి.బ్లాక్ మైల్ వీరి వృత్తి.వ్యాపారస్తులను,ఉద్యోగస్తులను బెదిరించి డబ్బు గుంజటమే వీరి వ్యాపకం.విలేఖరి,పోలీసు,రాజకీయనాయకుడు,నక్సలైటు,ఆ నలుగురూ ఒకే ధ్యేయం తో పనిచేసే సహోదరులు.
Most people in our country seem to equate degrees with intelligece and knowledge(higher the degree or more the number of degrees a person has more intelligent he is),which is not always true particularly in a country like ours.
in india large number of degree holders dont know the fundamentals of what they 'studied' in their course,their english is poor and they dont even have the basic general knowledge.one must have seen on tv many students of well known colleges of big cities not being able to answer questions like "when india got independence?" which the anchor asked.
on the other hand there are intellectuals who dont have any formal degree.
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