Our Manic Media

Oh, the media have had it good this week. There have been two horrific murders, speculation of fuel price hike, the UPA government's anniversary and what not. The homicides in particular have been the media's darling(s) of the week. First there was the gruesome murder of a 14 year old girl in Noida, a baffling case, with a whole lot of twists and turns. Then, there was the killer love triangle in Mumbai; hot starlet, her fiance and her male friend, Karan Grover, who ultimately paid with his life. The disposal of the body was even more blood-curdling, the body having been cut into 300 pieces, stuffed into bags, and then taken in a car a few hundred kilometers away where it was finally burnt.
No doubt these murders are quite shocking. But its the alacrity with which the media have turned these into sensational headlines that worries me. For instance, today, the Noida police at a press conference stated that they believe that the father of the victim is himself the murderer and are proceeding to chargesheet him. The television crews went wild at this "Breaking News" (how often have we heard that cliche) and began their "live and exclusive" coverage, never mind that ten other channels were doing the same thing, its still "exclusive" it seems. And it went on and on, with special dedicated shows, opinions of the neighbours, psychologists and what not. But just for once did they stop to think that this is just an accusation? The man isn't convicted yet! According to natural law, he is innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. There are still so many gaping holes in the police theory with so many unanswered questions. And wasn't it the same police who a few days ago said it was the domestic help who was the murderer, only to have egg on their face later, when he was found dead on the terrace, also a victim of the same crime. But the manner in which the whole story is being presented in the media will influence most leigh persons into beliveing that it is the father who undoubtedly killed them. This is a "trial by media", which is completly prejudiced to the accused, who has a right to a fair trial. The media must exercise restraint and responsiblity instead of looking only at viewership numbers and TRPs.
The other case in point comes from the Mumbai murder. One of Mumbai's most prominent tabloids ran a front page on the parents of the Mumbai victim and their grief, acrimony as well as desire to see the killer. The headline read "Just Let Us See His Face Once". A blatant case of using one man's grief for another man's gain. There is no logical connection between this story and the investigation into the murder. It is merely sensationalism. Following the victim's parents to the police station, observing their conduct and describing thier emotions. This is better placed in a reality television show. Just what is it doing on the front page of a newspaper? Such a practice simply defies common sense. Everyone knows the parents are inconsolable. That is rather obvious when someone's child dies naturally, leave alone being murdered. Why it must be showcased in this manner is a question that begs answer.
One of the great things about this country is the huge amount of freedom given to the media. It facilitates greater transparency and connectedness with issues concerning the public. Freedom of course, gives power. But with great power, comes even greater responsibilty. Our media would do well to remember that.