The media’s ‘Rang De Basanti’ act

2006 was a year of rebellion, or that’s what the media industry feels. The way both the print and television media campaigned for justice in high profile cases such as the Jessica Lall and Priyadarshini Mattoo murders has sparked off a new trend in the country and in journalism

The Indian media has often been accused of sensationalising news. This could be held to be true on many occasions, but the media’s efforts to highlight two high profile cases – the killing of Jessica Lal and the rape and murder of Priyadarshini Mattoo’s – is commendable.

Be it the television news channels or the print media, campaigns, talk shows and constant follow-ups put these cases on the national agenda. This to the extent that the accused felt powerless and the judiciary was put on alert.

Ranjan Roy, editor, Times News Network, feels that the media’s major contribution was that it never let the issues die. “With regular reportage from various perspectives, the issues were kept alive in the public mind.”

Arnab Goswami

The constant vigilance of the media on these cases certainly kept the police and the government on their toes and thus maintained constant pressure on them. As Arnab Goswami, editor-in-chief, Times Now, says, “The media, especially the electronic media, stuck its neck out persistently on these issues.”

“At some point, the attention had moved away from Jessica Lal. That’s when the media acted to re-direct the attention of the police and the judiciary,” he adds.

Shekhar Gupta

Shekhar Gupta, group chief executive officer, The Indian Express Group, is of the opinion that the media indirectly pressurised the judiciary into a speedy trial of these cases. He says, “The media certainly aroused a collective consensus and brought urgency to the issue, besides ensuring that the verdict wasn’t delayed.”

“The media also helped to create public opinion during the trials,” he adds.

Sonia Singh

Sonia Singh, managing editor, NDTV 24x7, says, “The media brought to light things that were ignored by the investigation team and highlighted loopholes in the prosecution’s points, which, in turn, exerted pressure on the system.”

Uday Shankar, CEO and editor, STAR News, says, “We even exposed the nexus between the police, the prosecution and the culprits and their wrong doings, which compelled them to clean up their act.”

Uday Shankar

But there are a few mediapersons who try to be modest or, in some cases, even diplomatic, about the role they played in ensuring justice.

“I wouldn’t like to take the credit for the outcome of the battle, though the media did play a big role,” says Shankar of STAR News.

All said and done, the media has also had allegations levelled at it. First, it is alleged to have influenced or rather inspired the judiciary. Second, it is accused of having delivered its own verdict even before the judiciary did.

There are strong reactions to these allegations. “The media doesn’t influence intentionally,” says Goswami of Times Now

Gupta of ‘The Indian Express’ clarifies, “The judges are seasoned and professional enough to not be influenced by the media.”

He compares the role of the media with that of the five protagonists in this year’s Hindi blockbuster, ‘Rang De Basanti’, which set the national mood to rebel against injustice.

Shankar of STAR News says, “We have not influenced the court, rather we have helped the court.”

Reacting to the second allegation, Shankar says, “It’s our duty to do it.” He agrees that the media has made villains out of Vikas Yadav and Manu Sharma so that such crimes do not recur.

Goswami concludes with the observation that 2006 has been remarkable in terms of questioning people in power for their misdeeds. And increasingly, the masses expect the media to have a point of view on basic issues and lend a voice to ordinary people in their quest for justice.

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