Andhra Pradesh Journalists and reporters- Can they take sides?

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ANDHRA PRADESH-Journalists – Can they take sides?

Firstly I will confine my present analysis to Journalism Standards in Andhra Pradesh, India

Journalists and reporters are expected to present news as it happens and report the news in an objective and unbiased fashion. They are central to any media be it News Papers or News Channels. Journalists work in public domain and there is no place for bias of any kind in reporting news or news analysis with a pre fixed bias.

However, many times we come across the TV News Channels as well as the press creating news out of non issues and making issue not out of news as it happens but on the basis of their political bias. These journalists and reporters attribute their own political leanings to the public and create storms in the minds of public. It is not to generalize the entire tribe of journalists and reporters but some of them are at it is undeniable fact.

To quote a specific instance, reporters and journalists from the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh developed vested interests in propagating the cause of separate Telangana State and are creating uneasy atmosphere in the state for the past so many months. It is true that they are entitled to their personal opinions on any issue but making their personal opinions appear as the opinion of general public needs to be condemned. The Journalist forum from the Telangana region is officially agitating for the separate Telangana cause in itself is morally wrong as they are in the noble profession of reporting news as it happens and nothing else.

Journalists and reporters are expected to report not only news as it happens but also avoid news that can create disharmony in the society. They need to temper the news outflow in such a way that it will not excite emotions and aggressive behavior among the readers and viewers.

Recently a Telugu News Channel, on the basis of a web site with a highly doubtful reputation went ahead with a story without any basis on the possible causes for the helicopter accident that killed the popular Chief Minister Dr. Y.S.R. and conducted a debate on the possible role of Ambani’s in the sad episode. Incensed by the false premises on which the item was broadcast, the public destroyed many business properties of that business group even while the program is still on the air.

The News Channels particularly are posing such questions to leaders to incite them into giving replies that please one region and cause disharmony and discontent in the other regions. The statements of the leaders aired on the News Channels some times provoke mobs to attack public and public and private properties.

Unless reporters and journalists return to unbiased and objective reporting in Andhra Pradesh, it is difficult to restore peace and calm in the society. Some Journalists and reporters are playing the role of changing the public opinion based on their own biased political opinions and putting words into the mouths of leaders.

If the journalists and reporters exceed their limits, they have to bear the responsibility for the unrest too.