Television overkill

In asking the Indian media to go home, Nepal’s Twitterati may have expressed themselves in very harsh tones, but there is more than a modicum of truth to the insensitivity of saturation television coverage of the aftermath of the earthquake that destroyed life and property in the capital of the Himalayan nation and near the roof of the world at Mt Everest. Television’s way of thrusting the microphone in the face is never likely to make this news medium popular. However, it is not only the insensitivity of the coverage that has upset the Nepalis in their hour of distress. The constant harping on India being Nepal’s friend in need and making the coverage a grand public relations exercise for the government of India and the Indian Army has not gone down too well across the border.

The tabloidisation of television has been commented upon by a pioneer of Indian private news channels, who warns that a tsunami of tabloid- like presentation of news will sound the death knell of good journalism. In search of commercial success, channels seem even more determined to take the same eyeball- gathering route. In beating their breast about being the first on the spot, and how brave they are in going along with the Indian Army, they have actually done a disservice to the invaluable bravery of our troops who have rendered yeoman service in relief and rescue. Our Army rendered the same selfless service in bringing relief to the flood- hit in the Kashmir Valley, but there too the television overkill saw a hardening of opinion against this habit of stressing where the charity is coming from.