Media Ethics

Prime aim of media is updating people on diverse issues in social, environmental and economic arenas. Right to freedom of expression and opinion largely enjoy by multiple media members. Keeping ethics in reporting is the fundamental principle of media activities. Beyond caste and creed, media should strive to work for the strengthening of democracy, human rights, anti corruption and related ‘impact factors’. Article 19(1)(A) is so wide in scope that Freedom of the Press is interpreted as included in Freedom of Speech and Expression. It includes the right of free propagation and free circulation without any restraint on publication.

But the real worrisome now is about the transparency, accountability and ethical reporting of media. It is evident that most of the media are in partnership with giant corporate lobbies and this lobbying gives way to crony capitalism and nepotism. The Neera Radia tapes, Vasiahanavi Communication and Burkha Duth, Kalinjar Televiosn etc. are some of the evidences of paid news syndrome and media – corporate evil nexus.  While a group of whistle blowers and civil society activists try to unravel corruption and illegal moves of politicians, a part of powerful people try to derail their objectives. The recent Zee TV— Mr. Jindal case (sting operation) was a black mark to the integrity and honesty of mediascape. It proves that a deal between corporate houses and media outlets is rampant and increasing in an alarming rate. Some channels/news papers blackmail corporate of come in to agreement with business people or otherwise publishes unfavorable truths. “Such illegal and unethical practices only serve to strengthen the voices that would like some control over the media in the form of external regulation” The Hindu speaks. A private member bill has been discussed in the Parliament  to regulate the working of the press and the electronic media. The controversial Leveson Inquiry in the U.K. was in the wake of a result of the phone hacking scandal that caused strong public disenchantment with the ethical standards in the British press (The Leveson Inquiry is a product of multiple failures: a few media organisations failing to adhere to acceptable norms of ethical journalism, certain arms of executive willing to play along the requirements of sensationalist publications, and the inability of the self-regulation mechanism as enshrined in the working of the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) to act as a deterrent against abhorrent journalistic practices. A.S. Panneerselvan.). The same issue was raised by the Press Trust of India Chairman Markandeya Jatju. “The media often diverts the attention of the people from the real issues to non issues. The real issues in India are socio-economic, the terrible poverty in which 80% of our people are living, the massive unemployment, the price rise, lack of medical care, education, and backward social practices like honour killing and caste oppression and religious fundamentalism etc. Instead of devoting most of its coverage to these issues the media focuses on non issues like film stars and their lives, fashion parades, pop music, disco dancing, astrology, cricket, reality shows, etc.” His second objection was: “The media often divides the people: Whenever a bomb blast takes place anywhere in India (whether in Bombay or Bangalore or Delhi or anywhere) within a few hours most T.V. channels starts showing that an e-mail or SMS has been received from Indian Mujahideen or Jaish-e-Muhammad or Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islam claiming responsibility. …The senders of such e-mails and SMS messages are therefore enemies of India, who wish to sow the seeds of discord among us on religious lines. Why should the media, wittingly or unwittingly, become abettors of this national crime?” His third objection was: “…the media should propagate rational and scientific ideas, but instead of doing so a large section of our media propagates superstitions of various kinds.” Also “self-regulation is no regulation and news organisations are private bodies whose activities have a large influence on the public and they also must be answerable to the public?” He cites his own domain, higher judiciary, as an example and says: “may I remind you that even judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts do not have that absolute right. They can be impeached by Parliament for misconduct.”

Ratan Tata was deeply worried about the secret operations of media and he called it as against the right for privacy. The sting operations to damage the integrity of persons and to black mail business tycoons and politicians will not make any positive impact if it is only for monitory gains and to make sensation. Recently President of India cautioned about the ‘sensational frenzy’ of media. The fall media King ‘News of the World’ was a result of focusing sensational rather than senses. It is better to terminate a good device if it delivers bad services. Certain control over media is very vital in this regard to keep the privacy and right for right information for citizens of India.

Paul V Mathew