Loud and unclear

Dr Kryptik Diascribe (real name Javed-Joseph-Bhaskaran) is a rather peculiar sort, even for a media analyst. Having spent the last decade on an alien craft (Starship Zen & How) in outer space, his worldview has been more macro than that of a soaring eagle or, for that matter, an F-16. But, fortunately for us, the good doctor’s look at Mother Earth has not been to unearth any unknown mores among reporters who inhabit obscure islands in the Pacific. Instead, he has been working within the ambit of the grant he got from Galaxies Unlimited (a spaced out NGO) to look specifically at emerging trends in the Indian media. His extensive study ‘2013 – A Space Odissi’ is scheduled to be released later this year in worlds unknown to man (publishers beyond Pluto are already queuing up) in three volumes. The peculiar title of the treatise apparently owes its origin to Dr Kryptik’s penchant for breaking into the classical form of dance from Orissa (aided by zero gravity) whenever seized by an idea or while jumping to a conclusion.

In his arduous effort, the doctor was ably assisted by Herr X, a resolute German scholar who felt that outer space – despite its cosmic debris – was cleaner than Munich and the satvik sausages served on Zen & How better than any in his homeland. Anyway, that apart, he and Dr Kryptik rarely speak (preferring to communicate through silence) but broke the routine to have a discussion. In fact, the two stepped out of the craft and did a unique Space Walk n’ Talk which was recorded and beamed to select targets on earth. Here are some excerpts.

Herr X: Dr Kryptik, where do you think the Indian print media is headed?

Dr K: Herr X, the last time we went into silent mode I think we discussed this at great length. But, for the record, the impact of television on the written word has become increasingly pronounced over the years. And, as I see it, the day is not far when papers will become like TV. Of course, I’m not suggesting that several flat, thin and lightweight screens will replace pages, but what will change for better or for worse will be content. I’m afraid it will become very shrill.

X: What makes you draw such a disturbing conclusion?

Dr K: Let me not go into pencil and canvasses running out, making drawing of conclusions rather difficult. But, to get to the larger point, I hope you noticed the coverage on the recent skirmish on the Indo-Pak border in which two soldiers from the Indian side were killed and their bodies mutilated. Well, the TV chaps went over the top – “Give Pakistan a bloody nose; freeze the dialogue (though such levels of refrigeration is only known to folks on Planetoid Chill); this is an emotional issue – If we can’t retaliate why do we have such a large army?; people of this country want the leadership to act (unfortunately several netas have tried drama school but didn’t make it in the movies and joined politics) ; break the rules – teach Pakistan a lesson; let’s stop all this people-to-people contact, trade and confidence-building measures; this is no time to turn the other cheek (even if you have the cheek!); the people of India don’t want to take this lying down…”

Now, when you compare all this to reportage in the print media, the news is far more measured and conservative. The difference is akin to what we see between rum and wine, landlines and mobiles, chalk and pens. In fact, so much so, that I am sure several newspaper managements will be toying (don’t they like playing games!) with the idea of taking a cue from TV and letting editorial comment dominate news coverage. Imagine the newspapers with those provocative “bash Pakistan” headlines! As far as newspaper owners see it, what is right and wrong is immaterial – the selling point is all about selling.

X: So, you feel comment will take over?

Dr K: It will. Think of any lead story – page one splashed with 12 zany opinions and one sensible counterview tucked away in a corner from the Mani Shankar Aiyars of the world. Reportage will be reduced to two paragraphs. Of course, this could be a dangerous trend and risk prone. But so is space walking, bungee jumping or being out on Delhi’s streets at night.

X: But can newspapers change overnight?

Dr K: Herr X, it takes no time! The headlines can be made shriller and jingoistic by simply calling upon the sports desk to contribute with their mite and bite. As it is, the chaps deal with deadly stuff on a daily basis. Not a day passes without somebody teaching someone a lesson, delivering a crushing defeat, pulverizing an opponent, breaking his back and what have you. Any staid narrative can get a zing with a cloudburst of a headline. So, Sonia Gandhi can be shown as delivering a sucker punch instead of saying she is revamping the CWC by reappointing existing members. And a story on how the BJP wants to be more sporting and sensible can be showcased with this headline: “No more bending backwards. They want to bend it or end it like Beckham!”

X: Hype, as you see it, will be the key?       

Dr K: Today, many see it as a four-letter word. But, I tell you, not newspaper managements. For them, one hyped up hoopla story is better than ten well-researched reports. News in the future will be like hot pakoras and not cold cupcakes or melted ice-cream. The idea will be to deliberately make much ado about nothing.

X: That, doctor, will be bad for journalism.

Dr K: It possibly will be, but will anybody care? As you know, truth is already the casualty and the trend of twisting it will continue. The day is not far when unbiased reporters who believe they must tell the news as it is will be declared an endangered, though irrelevant, species. In fact, journalists will possibly be known as hype-orters and editors, hype-maestros.

X: Let’s put aside all those grim thoughts and turn to the barbaric gangrape of a 23-year-old woman in a Delhi bus. She succumbed to her injuries after a 13-day struggle. Don’t you think the media took up the issue vociferously and in a sensitive manner?

Dr K: For once, the media did very well and reflected the public outrage. It created nationwide awareness about the incident and remained with the story for weeks on end. There was considerable focus on crimes against women and lots of suggestions were thrown up and discussed. All this must be applauded.

Now, I think it’s time that journalists and editors also address the problem of sexual discrimination at their own workplace. We have ourselves observed seniors eyeing juniors for favours and turning against them when their advances are spurned. Use of blatantly sexist language and crude jokes about the anatomy of colleagues is also fairly common. The male mindset, about which much has been written, lurks in the consciousness of some in the newsroom. Things have, of course. changed over the years but some more changes are welcome. Is it uncharitable to say that charity begins at home?

(For the complete transcript. go to yyy/stationzen.2ZNA19.space.org)