Why politicians are now complaining

I was at the seminar in Delhi on March 13^th when politicians complained vociferously about corruption in the media. It struck me that this is the first time the corruption of media has pinched the political parties' interests. Before this paid news existed (there were even rate cards in states like Gujarat in earlier elections) but it was not institutionalised so it could be  managed by parties  in their interest. The money involved was also petty in comparison to what it is now---going up to Rs 1crore per candidate, per constituency, according to Sushma Swaraj who said that is what was demanded from her. Earlier political parties were paying a few hundreds or a few thousands to individual journalists unlike the current situation where they have to pay their media house owners.  The leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said as much at the seminar.

Media corruption seems to have become a point of concern for them only when they have to pay a hefty amount to media houses and in return they are seeing that both the opposition & ruling parties depicted as winners in the same edition of the newspaper, on  in the same pages.  The irony of  the current situation is that the media houses are taking money from both leading candidates and praising  and maligning both. So it is hurting the parties’ interests. The exercise is not helping the political parties to create an environment in their favour although they are paying more than before.

It is not that they were not aware of the dishonesty of media houses earlier. They were very much aware of the media houses’ malpractices toward their employees either in terms of paying them less, making them working late, or throwing their story in dustbin if it harmed the interest of owners. But no politician was interested in raising these issues because it did not hurt their interests. If ethics is the point of debate, then under which ethics did individual politicians  call the owners of media houses to sack a journalist  if he or she filed a story against them? If they want that media should be ethical in their practices then they should also restrain themselves from unethical  practices.

Earlier also these sorts of payments were made to journalists for positive and favourable coverage of any one party but the amount involved was small enough not to hurt. But now when they are paying up to a crore, and the  same positive coverage is given to rival candidates, our leaders are indignant. This time politicians are raising the paid news issue because the  media’s marketing managers are making fools out of them. They are feeling victimized.

The media baron has become smart. He feels that till now politicians have used the country to make money and serve their own purpose, but now it is time to turn the tables on them.

Madhavi Shree,
New Delhi
March 14, 2010