Letters to the Hoot:The Hindustan Times and Parveen Babi

What is the media trying to do? Add on the role of consultant psychiatrist to all its other activities?

HT and Parveen Babi

This refers to the interview "Parveen Babis private demons" (Sunday Hindustan Times, Delhi Edn. Dated August 25, 2002, p 15) by Sujata Anandan.

 Although the writer tries hard (albeit in an obvious sort of way) to differentiate herself from the rest of her ilk by making observations and going easy on the opinions, I am afraid that an accompanying box item negates the whole effect. This was an article entitled "Mental ailments may afflict one person out of four" by another reporter. What is the media trying to do? Add on the role of consultant psychiatrist to all its other activities? I thought that the sub-editor or whoever was in charge of the page layout could have been a bit more sensitive.  And if the author had
anything at all to do with the layout, she could have objected.  Frankly Ifound it quite revolting and saddening.  I think that this is a convenient and dangerous path to tread.

Regarding a different point,  I have been observing the little box that appears on the first page of HT which provides the HT.com poll on responses to various topical queries. I speak from the point of view of a reader and not a visitor to the website or participant of the poll.

a. Shouldn¿t a sample size of the respondents accompany the data since it is being quoted in the newspaper obviously for some purpose, especially since fewer people are able to visit the website and check on the sample size if it is mentioned there? Without the sample size, such polls are just abstract bits of information.

b. I am not a statistician or a psychologist, but I find that on occasion the questions asked in the poll can be termed as "leading questions".  There also appears to be no consistency in framing questions. Perhaps an expert on this topic can give his/her views. Sample (August 27, 2002) giving result of previous day¿s poll: Do you agree with the view that President Kalam acted against the spirit of the Constitution by returning the poll reforms Ordinance?

Thanks

Namitha Dipak

Delhi 

August27,2002