Untraceble Paparazzi

Have you ever wondered why pets-dressed-like-human contests and thousands-join-to-brush-in-public finds slot in headlines of our channels? And why people dying daily in countries like Iran or Africa news were not given much importance? Few months back, I was shocked to learn that media project mostly good news about developed countries. Even small happenings there are force fed to all of us. That’s why we watch the dog show happening in US/UK which doesn’t have any relevance or impact on us. What about under developed nations? Only the worst of worst news is projected and they don’t even receive the deserved attention.

So what makes news NEWS? You may find numerous answers to this question, but it can be mapped to single most powerful word - Impact! What’s the disaster? How many people died? How many affected? How much loss? The more the damage is, higher the Impact. Higher impact means more TRP. Why TRP is important? Because it’s what channels own and bid, to attract advertisers. When more people see the program, more demand happens from advertisers. More advertisement means more selling. That explains it, after all people are here to make money.

Media also makes sensational news out of nothing. Celebrities are always stalked by paparazzi. From every nail they cut to every step they take is open for everyone. Even if Obama hits a fly or an actress breaks up for nth time, it becomes the top most news. Forget about privacy, human values and social responsibility. It’s like the drug. Media teases, sensationalises such News until it becomes the topic of discussion for people. Employees discuss it in the pantry, students at the lunch hall and housewives in social gatherings. It becomes the vicious cycle. Media claims more TRP.

Today Media decides what we should and shouldn’t watch. The Media people decide the News to tell, how much of it to tell and in which angle to tell. Like this isn’t enough they find new ways of improving the TRP through reality shows. These shows, be it finding the best singer or the most truthful man, feeds either on ignorance, privacy, emotions and our basic moral values. The same values we learnt as kids, were put to better use (making money to say) by most intelligent and creative brains in Media.

So who gives them the vitamin M? “This program brought to you by” who? Isn’t our favourite drink, shirt and shoe company that sponsors it? After the Second World War, the American economy needed stimulating. The government and corporations decided to make consumption the priority. Victor LeBeau said and I quote: “Our enormously productive economy… demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfaction, our ego satisfaction, in consumption… We need things consumed, burned up, replaced and discarded at an ever-accelerating rate”. And After 9/11, President Bush told Americans to shop!

That's our priority for 21st century. It has got nothing to do with agriculture, conservation, education or finding medicines for killer diseases. It’s shopping! In a movie named "untraceable" the psycho character conducts violent and painful murders LIVE on the net. The more people who log on to the website, the quicker the victim die. We are living this story real. We are paying to watch our own shit and miseries. We shop for our own intellectual cannibalism!

Comments

//It’s like the drug//
Rightly said Sri.
A very good post...A flower bouquet!
sri said…
Thanks aruna :)
Anonymous said…
It really hard to express all this being this honest, this simple and elegant. Truthfully said! Kuds for that!! Media influences our thoughts and they are driven by their sponsors!!
Recently, as we all know, there were heavy floods in Mumbai. And as we all know, there are hundreds of slum dwellers in the very same Mumbai. But, what made news is water entering AB's house and office....Where have our hearts moved???
gils said…
???oru mass communications studenta ipdi postarathu :D :D
sri said…
@ Savitha

//It really hard to express all this being this honest, this simple and elegant. Truthfully said! Kuds for that!!//

Thanks friend!

//as we all know, there are hundreds of slum dwellers in the very same Mumbai. But, what made news is water entering AB's house and office....Where have our hearts moved???
//

:(( very sad to know this. Hope it will change for better.
sri said…
@ gils

//???oru mass communications studenta ipdi postarathu :D :D
//

Unmai dhaan , adhanala dhaan naan fieldkku ponumnu erkken , konjam maachun difference undakkalam ellai ?
gils said…
adhuku nee fieldku pona porathu..rupert mudroch mathiri tv kambeni aarambikanum...
sri said…
//adhuku nee fieldku pona porathu..rupert mudroch mathiri tv kambeni aarambikanum...//

adhayum seyyalamey :) makkal kitey oru nidhi thiratta vendiyadhudhaan
Eyomer said…
true. but media is part of this atrocity. and we all hold the responsibility. we encourage such shitty programs too. rather majority enjoys. and majarity always win.

there is a program with an actress selecting her bride groom. and that has high TRP rating.
sri said…
@ Eyomer

Oh yea that sexy dancer right?! and u know she did the vrat which usually kept for husband to for all the contestants!!!

kadaisila ennaum epdi aakitaangaley ....
Annam said…
romba standard englishaa iruku .....a very gud post
Annam said…
//Unmai dhaan , adhanala dhaan naan fieldkku ponumnu erkken , konjam maachun difference undakkalam ellai ?//
all the best
R-ambam said…
Mainly the News channel s and their breaking news ..
India scored this much , dont they really know its only a sports news?

One whole day before the ministry allocation , they did show mamta, sonia walk in and out of the house with updates like manmohan brushed his teeth , yes ! any moment now he will have his breakfast .

And other news will mainly focus on violence, absolutely unwanted stuff ,ruins ur day- does nothing to you, and ofcourse theres nothing you can do about it.

Only DD news does some justice.
sri said…
//And other news will mainly focus on violence, absolutely unwanted stuff ,ruins ur day- does nothing to you, and ofcourse theres nothing you can do about it.

Only DD news does some justice.//

Correcr R-ambam , dd does justice - till now in its own way
sri said…
@ Annam

//romba standard englishaa iruku .....a very gud post//

standard englishaa. aahaa ennoda thathu pithu english vachukittu ottitu erkken :))
Chan said…
You hit the nail on it's head mate! Nice post!!

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