I am watching Rajdeep Sardesai asking questions to the CNN IBN team out on the streets in Mumbai, reporting live from the scene of the attacks. Asking the questions, and suggesting the answers himself, quickly before the reporter has had a chance to open her mouth.
And Barkha Dutt, on the other side, that is, on the street, has remained breathlessly loud all day. Pulling people waiting for news of their friends and relatives and asking penetrating questions. How are you coping with this tragic situation? You seem to be very calm, how are you dealing with this? Or is it that you are not feeling calm inside… Have you given thought to the possibility that some of the hostages are injured? And on and on and on – to a man waiting for his father who is trapped inside one of the hotels.
It is not RS or BD alone, someone else on NDTV is asking an expert from the UK about the future of foreign investment in India. Asking – so do you think investors would hesitate before investing in India? Or do you think that they would realize terrorism is not about India but is a global crisis?
And the expert answers,yes you are right, terrorism is a global issue. The important thing is to not give in, terrorism cannot be allowed to destroy capitalism. Now that answered the question in many minds, what do the terrorists want?
What is with the TV channels? Someone else is gushing about dramatic footagefrom the scene of terror brought to you exclusively by… And last night, just after one, the CNN IBN reporter in front of one of the hospitals, reporting about gunshots going off right next to her, her voice pleading to the one safely reporting from the studio – can you hear the shots? He says, go and find a safe place for yourself before you report further, and fires further questions at her, effectively not letting her move… Media ethics, someone mentioned?
As I am about to click on publish, Sardesai is asking someone – Mr. So and So, how does this leave you feeling? Shaken and worried about the future of Mumbai? Stop already.
Absolutely agree CNN-IBN was not being responsible media org.
Anchor Sagarika was asking irrlevent and provoking questions to the guests.
One was hurt was bleeding CNN_IBN shows the shots again and again the painful person with out helping them.
I have never liked Sardesai’s form of journalism. Since the time of his 2002 coverage of Gujarat riots, I have stopped trusting the guy. He thinks he is smarter than the average person or probably the smartest alec in town.
In their hunger for TRP ratings Indian media has become inhuman and insane.
totally agree. this needed to be said.
i find even the phrase ‘war on mumbai’
rather strange and unnecessary.
Not to undermine the gravity of the attacks
but this sort of terminology does nothing.
Sardesai and counterparts are so irresponsible
when they — raucously– argue over whether
the prime minister should’ve left for mumbai as
soon as he heard about the attacks.
why would they divert attention to themselves
and divert security to themselves?
To make it worse, they add Hollywood style music to
the images. (The same image btw that they keep replaying)
it’s hard enough for all of us — this sort of dramatizing
does not add ANYTHING. It’s just a lot of noise.
Agreed.
NDTV’s Vikram Chandra, on the other hand, moderated the Big Fight debate rather maturely, though he was a little preachy at times, but acceptable
I agree. So true. Politicians are unworthy in India, but the media is worse. Will we ever be able to expose the “exposers” themselves?
Being in the media, I must admit on some occasions it did go overboard. But the good that has come out is the Indian’s deep awareness about what terrorism is all about. The non-stop coverage almost the terror into the Indian’s bedroom. All the anger is the result of the media coverage. I am just trying to look at the positive side. Of course, this is has been an educative experience for the media as well.
I work for CNN’s parent company in the US and was appalled at the coverage that went on in Mumbai. The reporting was so amateur and unpolished, literally screaming at you in a high-pitched squeal. Thankfully, CNN brought on a level-headed reporter later. Our TV anchors and reporters in India still have a long way to go in how they ask questions, how they report and that voice-modulation. Some of those reporters were more painful to hear than the gunshots at the hotels.