By Ranjona Banerji
“The mainstream media is unable to point fingers in Manipur. Not towards Chief Minister Biren Singh. Or Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who made one visit of little use. Or the Prime Minister himself, who has not said a word about Manipur yet,” writes Ranjona Banerji
The Indian media has concentrated with full attention on election-related violence in Bengal. At least 20 people were killed, as a bloody panchayat election was held across the state.
Several high decibel “debates” were held on TV, where the state government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was held responsible for being unable to control her party, which was accused of some of the violence. The party that may have been responsible for the rest of the violence shall remain unnamed.
Heck, even I was asked to answer for the violence by trolls on the payroll of the unnamed party, because all Bengalis are responsible for what happens in Bengal and also in my case, because I share a surname.
After Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress won with a “thumping” majority, the outrage died down in the media and only mutters remained, mainly in the corridors of the unnamed party.
Such understandable anger at poll-related violence and the consequent responsibility of the party in power remains absent in Manipur. Even though it’s been two months since the violence began. Observers and commentators have likened the situation to anarchy and civil war. Armed Forces munitions have been raided and stolen. Violence continues.
The mainstream media is unable to point fingers in Manipur. Not towards Chief Minister Biren Singh. Or Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who made one visit of little use. Or the Prime Minister himself, who has not said a word about Manipur yet
Which party is in power in Manipur?
It is the unnamed party in power at the Centre as well.
And hence, the silence. From the party and the media.
One prominent TV person was even upset that the European Parliament discussed the situation in Manipur. How dare they, when Indian TV doesn’t? The cheek!
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The devastating floods in North India have sadly also been reported party-wise. Although to be fair, there has been some universal condemnation of bad planning, Delhi (AAP) and Himachal Pradesh (Congress) have faced more media attention than the rest.
Am I being unfair? Just compare the level of anger and outrage in the Yelling Media, and you’ll get your answer.
The big concentration for our captive media is the Prime Minister’s visit to France. Enough said.
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And so to a curious case in the British media. And an abject lesson in how not to do journalism. Or, conversely what happens when gutter journalism is prominent over all other forms.
The Sun, not really known for any form of serious journalism, carried a story last week allegting that a “prominent” BBC presenter had paid 35000 pounds to a young man, starting when he was 17, to send the presenter explicit photos of himself. The story was given to the Sun by the man’s mother and stepfather, who claimed that the money was used to feed their son’s drug habit.
The BBC instantly suspended the presenter and began an internal investigation. Speculation went crazy over the identity of the presenter. And the police started an investigation.
From last Friday to today, the story has practically turned on its head. The so-called “victim” has stated that his parents’ allegation is rubbish. The police have ended their investigation saying that no crime has been committed. The Sun has said it will publish no more stories on this and will cooperate with the BBC’s internal investigation. The Sun also claimed that the parents had not done this for money – which is common in the British media. But there are allegations that The Sun has paid huge amounts for the couple to appear on Talk TV, a sister concern. The presenter is in hospital with mental health issues. His wife is the one who named him to stop the speculation.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/bbc-presenter-facing-sex-photo-claims-is-huw-edwards-bbc-says-citing-his-wife-2023-07-12/
All in all, a right royal mess.
Was there a story at all? Was The Sun just throwing muck around – not uncommon for the British tabloids – to target the BBC? And why was the BBC so quick to act against the presenter without ample evidence?
This episode reflects what is the worst of the British media.
As The New York Times says here, the BBC walked into The Sun’s trap.
And Huw Edwards was hung out to dry.
Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator. She writes on MxMIndia on Tuesdays and Fridays. Her views here are personal.