The commentariat in July Part II: DD ducks corruption issue

BY Shafaque Alam| IN Books | 21/08/2011
Student research on the Hoot: Journalists dominate the commentariat, politicians come next, but regional parties missing from the discourse,
says SHAFAQUE ALAM
As corruption dominated the discourse, all TV channels staged panel discussions at least once or twice on it, except Doordarshan. In its discussion programmes, Charcha Main, and Aamne-Saamne, Doordarshan took up issues like Film songs; Entertainment Vs indecency, Neeji aaspatalon ki manmani, Body Building and use of Medicines, FM Radio: Today and Tomorrow and Journalism Ethics. As far as discussion on current issues there were two programmes – Murder in Passion (Neeraj Grover Murder) and Indo-Pak Relations.
 
IBN-7 staged more programmes on 10 burning issues than other TV channels. On IBN-7, there were four discussion programmes on Mumbai Blast and three on Lokpal. Out of 10 issues, listed below, it had discussions on  nine – the issue not taken up was the Murdoch Case. Frequency of programmes on these issues on IBN-7 is 18, followed by NDTV India (13), NDTV 24x7 (13), CNN-IBN (10) Times Now (9), and Headlines Today (5). 
 
(Box below lists top 10 issues and their frequency on TV channels)    
 
Top 10 issues and channels

Issues
IBN 7
NDTV India
Doordarshan
NDTV 24x7
Times Now
CNN-IBN
Headlines Today
Corruption
2
1
 
2
2
2
1
Lokpal
3
2
 
2
1
 
 
Noida Extension
2
2
1
1
 1
1
1
Mumbai Blast
4
3
 
3
1
3
2
Black Money
1
 
 
1
 
1
 
2G scandal
1
1
 
1
2
1
 
Maran's Resignation
2
1
 
 
1
 
 
cabinet reshuffle
1
1
 
2
 
 
1
cash for vote
2

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