Corruption rules TV talk

BY Shafaque Alam| IN Books | 18/08/2011
Student research on the Hoot: Corruption dominated TV discourse in July, 2011. In addition to 8 shows on the Lokpal Bill, there were six on corruption in Karnataka, four on corruption in general, and 9 on Dayanidhi Maran and the 2G accused.
A scan of the panellists chosen on these shows reveals that those from the BJP have a definite edge over the Congress Party representation, finds SHAFAQU E ALAM.
Corruption dominated the discourse on television in the month of July, 2011. A Hoot monitoring of 115 TV discussion shows across seven TV news channels finds that in addition to 8 shows on the Lokpal Bill, there were six on corruption in Karnataka, four on corruption in general, four related to Dayanidhi Maran’s misuse of authority to help his family, and five on the 2G accused.  Then there were three discussions on cash for vote, which makes for a  total of 32, more than 25 per cent of the total number of TV programmes monitored on various topics. If the programmes on black money are included as relating to corruption, the total tally of corruption related programmes goes up to 35.
 Perhaps the frequency of raising the topic, by no means unjustified, was partly behind Information and Broadcasting minister Ambika Soni saying on August 16, when Anna Hazare was arrested, “Andolan to media ke dum par chal rahi hai.” (The media is keeping this agitation going.)
The second highest number of shows was 16 on the Mumbai Blasts. The third highest was nine on the Noida Extension standoff between farmers, builders and home owners. Thanks to the unfolding Murdoch Scandal there were six on the media.
A scan of the panellists chosen on these shows* reveals, interestingly, that in terms of presence, those from the BJP have a definite edge over the Congress Party representation. 
Where the commentariat is concerned, television’s panellists are very versatile people. The most durable member of the commentariat, available for commenting on a wide variety of subjects in the month of July, was Chandan Mitra, chief editor of the Pioneer, and BJP member of the Rajya Sabha. His expertise, as seen from the box below ranged across many realms of knowledge.

S. No
Topic
Programme
Channel
Chandan Mitra
 
 
1
Film songs; Entertainment Vs indecency
Charcha Main
Doordarshan
2
Youth and Politics (yuva aur rajniti)
Hamlog
NDTV India
3
CNN-IBN +HT poll on Corruption
Citizen Vs Corruption
CNN-IBN
4

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Chandan Mitra Suhel Seth
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