A week is a long time in politics; a quarter is a long time in journalism. Just a few months ago, Indian media organisations were pracing around in joy, launching new channels, new editions, new supplements, new “events”, as if there was no tomorrow.
Now, suddenly, media managers are acting as if there are ants in their pants which is on fire. Hundreds of media workers have been laid off, all plans are on hold. Cost-cutting, salary cuts, freeze on recruitment are in. The sizes of most newspapers has seen a decline, as advertisments see a sharp fall.
In the midst of all this, a delegation of three newspaper publishers and editors—Shobhana Bharatia of Hindustan Times, Shekhar Gupta of The Indian Express, T.N. Ninan of Business Standard—has met officiating information and broadcasting minister Anand Sharma to plead for a “bail out”.
Questions: Should the government bail out corporate media? Should the corporate media which has often ranted against subsidies for farmers, etc, be asking for artificial sustenance? Will a party/alliance about to face an election lend its hand without attaching strings? Can a media that depends on government help for support really be independent? Or does it not matter?
>>Can a media that depends on government help for support really be independent?
What an innocent question? Kind of like they are now really “independent”.
You don’t have to ask them to bend. Not only will they crawl, but they will crawl backwards too, on their backs.
The last option on the poll is best suited for most of the Blogs that have been posted on churmuri.
We get on to a issue talk about it and finally say who gives F***.
barkha Dutt to Advani…… Story never ends.
A BIG NO. Media is pro-BJP and biased. If BJP comes to power they will bail them out. So say not to NDA.
Options…
Yes, so that they can survive to tell the tale (Whose? those who awarded them?)
No, it completely compromises media? (Do not Kid us please, tell us another joke)
Why not, when everybody else is seeking a bailout? (Ya, You scratch my b***s i scratch yours! Well!)
Who gives a fuck?
Shovana Bhartiya: A Congress sponsored RS MP.
Shekhar Gupta : Recently decorated with Padma Bhushan ( Only wonder why Padam Shri Rajdeep Bhai and Padam Shri Barkhs Ben not included!)
Oh! So this time, decorated Print media wale will seek bail out from Sonia Ji and Media wale ‘Decorated ones’ will support, and shortly Press wale decorated ones will support ‘TV Media Wale’ for seeking Bail Out from ‘reverend Sonia Ji’. :)
It reminds me of Lionel Richie’s song- ‘That is what friends are for…’
Or it reminds me of PadamShri Rajdeep Ji too, what he used to say (since I have saved myself agony of watching him saying again by shutting off his ‘Esteemed’ channel from my list- I keep my fingers crossed I m not sued for saying this, after all these Madames and Sirs take might offense and sue poor bloogers these days! HUH!) HAMAM MEIN SAB NANGE HAIN! So, ‘who cares to give a fuck’ is what came to my mind and pressed this button, right or wrong, decide please but sue me not. I am too poor a man.
PI.
PS: Once again i humbly request these mighty media men/women not to take offense as i am scared of my wife and she would rather allow me to go to Jail than pay any compensatation for any hurt imaginary ego hurt.
Uff! These days even speaking mind is too risky a business!
No need of Government bailout for anyone, or any industry. Market forces will take care of everything.
@Vinay
“Market forces will take care of everything.”
1a) Did you just make that up
or
1b) did you just parrot something you heard someone say somewhere
or
1c) do you have evidence for it?
2) Your faith in “Market forces” is touching. But, just what are these “Market forces” and just what’s so reassuring about “Market forces” that you ask us to place our faith in it?
3) Is “Market forces” just ‘fashionable nonsense’ for “fate” by any chance?
If we were to leave everything to “Market forces”, we might just as well leave it to fate instead. Can’t we? At least, “fate” seems to be much better understood and also seems to be far more tried and tested. What say? Precisely, how is “Market forces” a more ‘scientific’ solution?
Watch your language! Why that four letter word in a public poll? More shocking than the four letter word is that 35% of the voters seem to care two hoots for media’s independence. If the government bails out media, the consequence will be that the media will become government media. It seeks that in UK, every time Government bails out an industry, it acquires some more shares in that company. This is referred to a creeping natinalisation! If the Government meddles in media, we might end up nationalising the media.
As it is, we get very, little input other than those in conformity with marxist ideology. If government pokes nose in the media, we end up swallowing large doses of government propaganda.
The posting under the name ‘Simple’ IS NOT MINE.
Some fraud is out to malign my name.
This is cheap below the belt tactics.
here is what i think
Media is pro BJP and Pro cong, dependig on the situation.
Media is anti BJP and anti cong depending on who is ruling.
What i sought to expose was the fact that media is NOT PRO CONG alone.
sisya:
Before I give you a fitting response, tell me where you stand:
1a) Do you stand on your left leg: “media should be bailed out”
1b) Do you stand on your right leg: “Bailout should not be bailed out by the Govt. maybe some other way, apart from ‘market forces’ “.
1c) Do you stand on your middle leg: “some obscure combination of the above two”
I have always believed in media regulation:
http://bigotblog.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/regulate-the-media-now/
Media should be bailed out by The GOvt. Otherwise, media Mohguls and Shehzadis will start suing public bloggers for compensating the loss or to cover the shortfall in their revenue targets!!!(hi Hi HA HAAAh)
What sir!!! do you think media is at loss and they need bailout. This is real bullshit. They also wants to have their share of cake in the present day of bailouts. In spite of recession they are making money by showing ugly gory events or some sting(Made out) operations or instigating foolish SriRamSena bandicoots to do something in live camera by inducing them national fame and getting something on which they can go on replaying the same video clips 1000s times.