Doing the nation a disservice

BY VikasJeet Puri| IN Opinion | 26/11/2007

Comparisons are odious only for those who fear comparative results, so I  feel no compunction in saying that compared to the British and American news organizations the Indian Press lacks intelligence, integrity, research and analytical skills.

Hounding of Narendra Modi with Godhra without mentioning his track record in speeding justice and giving basic human rights to his constituents like water and electricity is a witch hunt; everyone is  trying to outdo the Tehelka sting with their own vitriol.

Were the press balanced they would equally hound Mulayam Singh because, and this is not condoning carnage, he has a personal criminal record, Modi doesn¿t, and Mulayam¿s performance is comparatively dismal. It could focus on things Modi has done to raise the bar of performance of his government therefore also raised the bar of expectation of the electorate, as a model to be followed across the country.

India needs water, power, education, health and justice for all, period. The key word is NEEDS. The majority of Indians lack basic necessities, so the press needs to focus attention to those who can get India from needy to satisfied status, and hold those politicians¿ feet to fire who fail to deliver those basics.

Instead the Indian Press makes a race, nation, pride issue out of a  personal scuffle between two TV show contestants making Shilpa Shetty a national hero. That¿s a pretty low bar for heroism - to start it wasn¿t a celebrity Big Brother with other major Stars, she was squabbling with a nobody, so to say she¿s made India proud is lowering the bar of pride.

Being proud of little things keeps us from reaching higher because  we¿ve lowered our thresholds, and the Indian Press does it daily.

It reveres Gurus and Socialites, while being dismissive of Biyani, Modi and other heavy hitters who are taking India places. It mostly is a cult of sycophancy and a platform from where to launch attacks based on personal whim and wish, not real issues. Page 3 is a national shame as most of that crowd hasn¿t done a thing to earn an independent living.

Many will jump to say comparing Indian press with foreign press is wrong because India is a poor, growing nation. That¿s ridiculous because India¿s  Media is owned by deep pocketed organizations and families. They will also say there¿s trash in UK and USA. I agree. But there¿s also The New Yorker, L.A Times, The Independent - the Pulitzer Prize.

It is for every journalist - who isn¿t into yellow - to raise the level of intelligence of his/ her reader, not dumb it down. Movie reviews don¿t talk about direction, set, acting, script, location, music, but preachingly promote or dismiss films. False stories like Mukesh Ambani is the richest man in the world and an Indian Wins Nobel Peace Prize are routinely circulated.

Seems to me the idea is to keep an average Indian agitated - with false fear or pride. Godhra is done. It¿s time to move on and away from communal divides to unifying initiatives of growth and sustenance, because India needs real things for real people in real time, all the time. And what it needs from the press is - news based on empirical research and analysis.

Hope The Hoot will be a wake call for Indian Press¿ conscience.

VikasJeet Puri, CEO

gking, Vancouver

OrthoSys, Seattle

November 19, 2007