Criminalization of the media in Bihar

BY ajay kumar| IN Media Practice | 16/09/2003

Ajay Kumar in Patna

Bihar is often quoted as an example of the unholy alliance of crime with politics. A vigilant media unmasks this alliance frequently.  But how should one react when individuals from the media  join the alliance? 

The recent revelation by a notorious criminal, Shyam Narain Singh alias Vineet Singh, an accused in kidnapping of more than a dozen persons, who also worked as a contract killer exclusively for some politicians in Bihar, UP and Jharkhand, has horrified  every one in media fraternity here. He confessed that he invested his ill-gotten money in a Patna based local electronic news channel.  The news channel is owned by a journalist working for a leading satellite news channel.

"I gave an amount of Rs 1 lakh during the launch of the channel. Srikantji asked me for money," Vineet Singh disclosed in front of  media persons and the police in Ranchi. Police also confirmed that this alleged criminal was using the cell phones of some journalists of the electronic channel to demand ransom from the family members of a kidnapped person.

Senior police officers of Ranchi narrated the whole story to media people but hardly any newspaper or electronic media gave any prominence to this revelation. No journalist even thought to do any follow up to know whose money was invested in the channel. Why does the media, which has never spared any politician,  however  powerful and influential, lack courage to expose one of its own?  Barring NDTV, no one thought that this incident deserved to become the subject of a news story.

  One senior journalist on the condition of anonymity said that some local journalists were playing the role of mediators in the release of  some kidnapped persons They are well known in the internal circle of politicians who often mastermind kidnappings in Bihar. (Recently two MLAs were arrested on the charge of kidnappings)

In Bihar, there is a  boom in the local electronic media. At least half a dozen local satellite channels are operating from Patna with a lot of investment. A whole fleet of new cars with press stickers pasted on the windscreen are seen moving on the roads of Patna sometimes carrying press reporters and cameramen, but quite often carrying  people who have nothing to do with media or press. The very word ‘press’ gives them special status, particularly on the road.

"You can’t expect a very high level of professional credibility from this new brand of journalists who are working in these set ups. Obviously they are not at all journalists rather under the garb of this profession, they want to facilitate their other interests like taking all sorts of favours from the people who are in power. They never take journalism as their professional career. In fact they are not at all journalists", commented a senior Patna based journalist P K Chaudhary. 

"A number of people crave association with media, just for the sake of the label. Of course, media identity gives immediate access to the corridors of power and finally enables many to become to become power brokers.  To become a TV journalist, you don’t have to go through the rigour endured  by journalists as in print media. So people become journalists overnight. They treat this profession like a private sector job. They are not at all concerned with the idealism or mission of journalism", said Nalin Verma, a special representative of the Statesman.

Technology has also made it possible to start a news channel at the local level with meagre investment. So even state-level politicians, on a large scale, are interested in investing in this venture to get some focus on themselves. In a state like Bihar, there are at least 50 legislators who are charge-sheeted criminals,  commanding a don status in their areas. Among them are Shahabuddin, Pappu Yadav, Surendra Yadav, and Surajbhan Singh, all sitting MLAs or MPs.

These don-turned-politicians often feel the need for media focus on themselves, which mainstream newspapers don’t accord them.  Sometimes they create some nuisance to get some space in newspapers and they do invite local journalists to make some news on it. Contrary to the general impression, all criminal turned politicians want to be in news, and they are not particular about whether it is good or bad publicity, having won elections largely due to their criminal antecedents.

The idea of having their own media house naturally appeals them and they get some journalists who need their financial support to start any new setup. The days for local newspapers are over in Bihar. Now hardly any local or even district level newspaper gets printed. So the only choice left to get any attention is to start own electronic channel with a very small investment. Even simple basic education without any professional training gives one a chance to work as a journalist in the new electronic channels. Despite their poor standard, these local channels have their viewers because they give enough coverage to local happenings. Almost all important cities of Bihar have their local news channels and in Patna at least half a dozen channels exist. It is amazing how very limited advertisement revenue keeps all these enterprises alive.

 Some local channels are  PTN, owned by Srikant,  the Zee TV correspondent in  Bihar, Bihar News,  KTN,  and Khabrain Aap Tak, all Patna based.  ETV Bihar is superior to these in news coverage, and is the only one employing known professional journalists.

On paper  no politician is the owner of a media house, but they control it indirectly and like many other enterprise of  Bihar, money is largely invested from their kitty.  Local cable operators carry most of these channels. In some areas they carry only two or three of them. This phenomenon is almost 2 years old.

The recent talk in  media circles here is that a woman journalist is starting a new channel largely funded by a north Bihar don who is facing a large number of criminal cases, and was recently lodged in jail. The criminalization of politics in Bihar is fast leading to criminalization of the media.

Contact: ajay@bihartimes.com