There are many popular myths about Media.Like, it ensures the freedom of expression for the common man,it reflects the voice of the people,it brings to the attention of the masses what is going on,it gives information of things that affect their lives.....in short a service without which the am admi will be more miserable in their life on Terra firma It is supposed to be the guardian of the masses when other institutions fail.So the media is given a lot of privileges and patronage by the government.
With the fast track changes happening in all spheres of life,it is time for a critical review of this myths too.A stage has come when truths and myths have to be separated.Recent events have shown that some of the iconic personalities in the main stream media were indulging in questionable activities,joining hands with vested interests to get a Minister in a key portfolio in the Union Cabinet which was followed by the mother of all scams-the 2G spectrum Scam.No doubt the figure of 2,60,000crores is a notional figure,an estimate of what the exchequer of the nation lost for not allowing a free and fair bid for a major technological upgrade of telecom industry.But certainly one cannot believe that the powers that be were so naive to believe that the corporates who were licensed stood to gain unquantifiable money by getting 2G licences at throw away prices.So certainly there was an intention to allow certain vested interests to pocket the said unquantifiable amounts and it is common knowledge that nobody is allowed to profiteer without suitcase loads of money changing hands.(looking at the probable and possible quantum that might have changed hands,suitcases in any shape or size would have been grossly insufficient to transport it.Minimum of a Tata Ace LMV would have been required.)
Let us examine the role of the mainstream Media in this.Compare the noise level it created in comparison with some of the other major scams....Bofers,Coffin scam,Howitzer,to name a few.There was a systematic attempt to suppress the news,when it became unsuppressible,the attempt was to down play it,when even that became difficult,now the move is to play it down.So it becomes clear that it was not Veer Sanghvi and Burkha Dutta who only were the culprits from the media,it so happened that only they were caught with their pants down.As the saying goes,there is nothing wrong in committing a crime,as long as you are not caught.The mainstream media as a whole is a party to this loot of the exchequer.
So let us not be under any illusions.Media also has become as much vulnerable to corruption as any other.
If they are caught redhanded
Role of non mainstream media becomes more important now.Unconventional and non mainstream media needs to accept this challenge of suppression of facts by mainstream media.Let us hope some David with just a stone and a sling will emerge and make mighty Goliath with his awesome armour bite the dust.
