Media’s role during troubling times

Hi All,

Love them or hate them, you just can’t ignore them goes an adage. This couldn’t apply more to the media than anything else today. Print, electronic or any other form of media pervades every aspect of our life; informing us and determining, to a reasonable extent, the formation of views and our response to developing situations.

The ongoing Swine Flu Pandemic has highlighted the media’s role yet again in informing, educating, spreading information and awareness among the masses. In fact, I reckon, without the proactive media we have today in this country, the flu could have posed a much bigger threat than it currently does.

Having said this, there are proponents of the argument that media is primarily doing this for the sake of TRPs. Undoubtedly there is great public interest surrounding this flu and media outlets just want to cash in on this frenzy. They point out that we experience greater numbers of mortality just due to preventable diseases like malaria etc. So where was the media all this while, they ask. Fair argument by any measure!

So what are your thoughts on media’s role in this pandemic and in troubling times in general?

Comments

AMIT said…

Media just put masala's on all breaking good or bad news.

How to make a website

August 26, 2009 at 2:05 PM

Unknown said…

@amit...:)

August 28, 2009 at 3:17 PM

Ankita said…

hi

first tym on ur blog! u seem to be a man who loves wearing the thinking hat!

ya, i feel media has lost its quality. most of the time channels can be seen showing the news of a page 3 brawl,'serious' documentaries on celebs' divorces and all that bull****. and in case of swine flu, media over hyped the matter.

October 26, 2009 at 9:29 AM

An epidemic of loneliness: Why are we lonely in a world so full?

In the town of Havenwood, an unusual epidemic takes over—not one of physical illness, but an outbreak of loneliness. When Lina, a fiery yet secretly tender-hearted skeptic of romance, meets Quinn, a free-spirited artist questioning the same ideas, they are forced to confront whether real connection lies beyond romantic love or if they are truly doomed to solitude. It was a crisp day in Havenwood, and the sky was brooding—dark clouds laced with impatient energy before a thunderstorm, as if even the heavens felt the town’s growing melancholy. It was not the kind of town you would expect to be cloaked in loneliness. Stone cottages lined the narrow, winding roads, and the trees had that sage-like stillness that you only see in stories and dreams. I hadn’t been here long when the problem struck me like a slap in the face: everyone was obsessed with finding The One, as if every single person was but half a person, wandering through life like a lost sock in search of its pair. How did a town ...

Epitome of Equality

First of all This is not to demean any religion.. I am a Hindu by birth, but yes I respect all religions .I offer my daily prayers , fast on holy days , but there was something that was disturbing me . God as per me was a Friend, someone who was by my side always , someone who was a dear friend , but this is not what everyone else thought , for others he was the Judge who gives his verdict always and punishes anyone and everyone . Walk into any temple and you would see , if you have money , you will be treated in a way as if you are the ONLY disciple of the God . I have had too many experiences where I was treated as a second class citizen in the temple . Why? Well I could not afford giving thousands as donation. This is not how it should be , God looks at each one of us with the same divinity .As I mentioned God for me is a friend, so tell me, do we chose friends based on their bank balances? Do we give our verdict on them ? then how can God do it? I know many of us would ...

When family hurts: A tale of love, loss, and liberation

In the shadow of the Jasmine tree: Breaking free from a toxic family In the decaying splendour of Eyrevale Manor, Elara battles toxic parents, rekindles forbidden love, and questions whether she can escape the chains of her upbringing. Under a canopy of jasmine, secrets are shared, hearts break, and truths unravel. Set in an enchanting town, this story examines love, loss, and the painful pursuit of self-discovery. What happens when home feels like a battleground? No one warns you how heavy a homecoming can feel when the word home means nothing to you. If there is one universal truth, it is this: not all homes are sanctuaries. For some, they are labyrinths of unspoken grudges, passive-aggressive remarks, and familial obligations wrapped in barbed wire. My story, dear reader, begins in the sweltering heat of Eyrevale—a coastal town so humid it could curdle your very thoughts. And for me, Eyrevale wasn’t just oppressive because of its climate. No, it was the family home that truly choke...

Tushar Mangl

Search This Blog