Ranjona Banerji​: Times Now ko gussa kyun aata hai?

By Ranjona Banerji​

Has social media domination over the news cycle been detrimental? I’m taking a small example here of Mani Shankar Aiyar’s comments to journalists on the ​P​rime ​Minister and Narendra Modi going to town over them while campaigning in Gujarat. This episode ran like wildfire through social media, especially Twitter, with comments, jokes, outrage, counter-name calling and the usual hysterics that is common these days.

The other big social media event of the day was a horrific video of a man being hacked to death and the burned and the perpetrator issuing a warning that this is what will happen to all those who are involved in “love jihad”.

Which of these two needed more mainstream media time?

I will be fair and say that the video did get air time. Almost as much as the Mani-Modi squabble. In my opinion, the video was worse, the squabble was an aside. However, sensationalism must win at all times over more serious news. But that’s television for you and let’s leave it at that.

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajasthan-labour-hacked-burnt-alive-as-accused-killed-and-burnt-his-teen-nephew-filmed-hate-murder-say-cops-4973263/lite/?__twitter_impression=true

On another note, it was very amusing to see a tweet from Times Now full of anger about a clip of a BJP politician making a hate speech against Muslims. Why Times Now was so outraged is hard to fathom. The channel has been doing somersaults to outdo Republic TV in its communal anti-Muslim pro-Hindu stance. Every bit of news is manipulated in the light of religion. Rahul Gandhi must tell us if he is Hindu or not. Is Mamata Banerjee against Hindus. Kapil Sibal has let Hindus down. Hindutva forces on the other hand are often projected as “patriotic”.

Having built itself up as a “Hindu” channel and thus presented the Muslim as “The Other”, why on earth is it surprised that a BJP politician should be anti-Muslim? Methinks the Old Lady’s children doth protest too much.

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Much as US president Donald Trump hates all media except Fox News and claims everyone else is biased against him, CNN International, for instance, was no less tough on Democrat Senator Al Franken’s resignation speech on sexual harassment charges against him than it has been on Republicans. On Quest last night, Franken’s attempts to deflect and duck were called out. That the conversation was only between Richard Quest and a political correspondent of course made life much easier for the viewer.

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All props to Time Magazine for its Person of the Year 2017. The magazine has called them the “Silence Breakers” – all those who spoke out on sexual assaults made on them by famous people. It started with Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein and the #MeToo campaign has now spread speedily across the world. It is a long time before there is any resolution to this but at least the more the media brings it out rather than covers it up, there is hope.

The more shameful story is that there have been cover-ups as they always are when the rich, famous and influential are involved. You can see it in the way Indian celebrities are covered. If you are old enough, you will remember how film magazines like Stardust were far more courageous than today’s film journalists. You might even remember that stars like Amitabh Bachchan refused to speak to film magazines because he did not like the way he was written about. Imagine any media outlet today celebrating such a boycott and doing well nonetheless!

I cannot end better than using Time’s own words on the current situation:

“We’re still at the bomb-throwing point of this revolution, a reactive stage at which nuance can go into hiding. But while anger can start a revolution, in its most raw and feral form it can’t negotiate the more delicate dance steps needed for true social change. Private conversations, which can’t be legislated or enforced, are essential.

“Norms evolve, and it’s long past time for any culture to view harassment as acceptable. But there’s a great deal at stake in how we assess these new boundaries—for women and men together. We can and should police criminal acts and discourage inappropriate, destructive behavior.

“At least we’ve started asking the right questions. Ones that seem alarmingly basic in hindsight: “What if we did complain?” proposes Megyn Kelly. “What if we didn’t whine, but we spoke our truth in our strongest voices and insisted that those around us did better? What if that worked to change reality right now?” Kelly acknowledges that this still feels more like a promise than a certainty. But for the moment, the world is listening.”

http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2017-silence-breakers/