Deafening silence of TV news channels about disruptions caused by rains in Mumbai
For the last couple of days it has been raining heavily. Till yesterday the news about the disruptions in Mumbai due to heavy rains was conspicuously absent. It seemed that everything was fine.
But in the morning, newspapers broke the façade of normalcy by disseminating the factual position about disruptions in train traffic which had been caused due to incessant rains. TV was switched on to gauge the latest position but again a façade of normalcy was being maintained by almost all the TV channels. Plethora of news about the havoc being wrought by rains in several parts of the country, but again a deafening silence about the situation in Mumbai. The only news was about the grim situation in faraway Kalyan, where water had entered as water was released from the Barvi dam, but nothing substantial about Mumbai proper.
It was only in the late afternoon when the news channels could wake up to face the reality square on, and to gather the courage to inform the Mumbaikars and Navi-Mumbaikars about the grimness of the situation.
My question is why the delay? Was the delay mandated by instructions coming from the Government? Or was there some kind of informal but internal censorship to avoid panic reactions amongst the lay public? Or was it plain incompetence of our venerable news channels?
Anyway, it seems that our esteemed news channels have taken a leaf out of “Drama In Real Life” featured in the Reader’s Digest – as was evident by their excellent coverage of the “Prince” episode – were busy looking for some other drama which they could milk to their advantage, without being pulled up by the Government. It goes without saying that intensive as well as extensive telecasting of such episodes leaves a feel good aftertaste for all concerned; it ensures that the Government, the TV channels as well as the rescued victims all come out shining.
So, why risk being removed from the good books of the Government and be deprived of all the spoils of patronage ( you scratch my back, I will scratch your back or you avoid slapping me and in return I will not slap you). Let the commuters suffer, it does not make any difference; just keep on announcing on the ticker - “heavy rains lash Mumbai but all schools, colleges and offices to remain open”.
But in the morning, newspapers broke the façade of normalcy by disseminating the factual position about disruptions in train traffic which had been caused due to incessant rains. TV was switched on to gauge the latest position but again a façade of normalcy was being maintained by almost all the TV channels. Plethora of news about the havoc being wrought by rains in several parts of the country, but again a deafening silence about the situation in Mumbai. The only news was about the grim situation in faraway Kalyan, where water had entered as water was released from the Barvi dam, but nothing substantial about Mumbai proper.
It was only in the late afternoon when the news channels could wake up to face the reality square on, and to gather the courage to inform the Mumbaikars and Navi-Mumbaikars about the grimness of the situation.
My question is why the delay? Was the delay mandated by instructions coming from the Government? Or was there some kind of informal but internal censorship to avoid panic reactions amongst the lay public? Or was it plain incompetence of our venerable news channels?
Anyway, it seems that our esteemed news channels have taken a leaf out of “Drama In Real Life” featured in the Reader’s Digest – as was evident by their excellent coverage of the “Prince” episode – were busy looking for some other drama which they could milk to their advantage, without being pulled up by the Government. It goes without saying that intensive as well as extensive telecasting of such episodes leaves a feel good aftertaste for all concerned; it ensures that the Government, the TV channels as well as the rescued victims all come out shining.
So, why risk being removed from the good books of the Government and be deprived of all the spoils of patronage ( you scratch my back, I will scratch your back or you avoid slapping me and in return I will not slap you). Let the commuters suffer, it does not make any difference; just keep on announcing on the ticker - “heavy rains lash Mumbai but all schools, colleges and offices to remain open”.
posted by Better Tomorrow For India @ 7:23 AM
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