BREAKING NEWS!
I am sure many of you would have been compelled to see what this article is really about, when you'd have come across the heading. 'Breaking news'-who isn't the least bit curious when they come across these two words? They scream out loud for your attention, you can't ignore them even if you wished to. They have a great power, don't you think? And Spidey's uncle taught me, with great power, comes great responsibility. The power of the written media influences people far and wide. So, isn't it a huge responsibility on their part to ensure that proper attention is given to the right news?
Today, I speak with great cynicism which generally doesn't outweigh my positive attitude.
But years of seeing little improvement in attempts to highlight important issues has made me angry and skeptical. I mean is some big shot wedding more important than a mindless honour killing? I know it is essential for newspapers to show their gratitude for sponsors by means of advertisements, but is it really necessary to devote a whole page for an upcoming movie?
I know many of us, especially females may be interested in the tag line, 'Alia Bhatt gets a new manicure' or 'George Clooney has been bewitched by Amal Alamuddin into marrying her', but its highly frivolous and I dare anyone to prove otherwise. I am sure 90 percent of Indians wouldn't have known in detail about the accomplishments of Kailash Satyarthi before he was nominated as the Nobel laureate for the Nobel Peace Prize. And this includes me. Anybody who says otherwise is either a hypocrite or one in a million, and if that is so, I salute you. The point is, we never knew much about him because frankly, I have never seen an entire page devoted to people who have sacrificed their lives for the benefit of others. Such adulations have been seen associated with Salman Khan's 'Being Human' organization. I do not trivialize the work done by that organization, but at the same time, dude..... He earns more than an IIT graduate by doing films like 'Kick' and 'Bodyguard'.
Recently I was at a friend's place and we were discussing about the sensation that had gripped the whole country regarding Sunanda Pushkar's alleged murder. Very cool, I must say, with Polonium 210 and all. Of course she deserves justice. Of course the killer shouldn't get away with it. But how can no news channel have even a single debate about the 2,000 people killed by Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria? And what about the staggering 30,000 people who have been displaced and are now meandering like lost sheep? What has happened to humanity? Just because its in Africa, and it doesn't affect us much, should we overlook the fact that an entire village has been annihilated?
Our generation has forgotten the value of freedom. We are more interested in who is dating whom, than who is getting killed or raped. Why care as long as it doesn't involve you? Statistically, half of India's youth wouldn't even know the cabinet ministers governing our country. And I am not saying this. I am merely quoting what I have read. I think time has come to think about higher things than Deepika Padukone's depression.
It is my sincere appeal to all newspapers to publish news that has relevance. News that can motivate our nation. News that reaches out to the heart of each and every Indian. You have the power to influence an entire country. And not push the accolades earned by an eminent scientist to some godforsaken corner,or diminish the value of human life. Media plays a very important role,as most of us are glued to the 'idiot-box'. Its time you realize that. Change is necessary.....
I am sure many of you would have been compelled to see what this article is really about, when you'd have come across the heading. 'Breaking news'-who isn't the least bit curious when they come across these two words? They scream out loud for your attention, you can't ignore them even if you wished to. They have a great power, don't you think? And Spidey's uncle taught me, with great power, comes great responsibility. The power of the written media influences people far and wide. So, isn't it a huge responsibility on their part to ensure that proper attention is given to the right news?
Today, I speak with great cynicism which generally doesn't outweigh my positive attitude.
But years of seeing little improvement in attempts to highlight important issues has made me angry and skeptical. I mean is some big shot wedding more important than a mindless honour killing? I know it is essential for newspapers to show their gratitude for sponsors by means of advertisements, but is it really necessary to devote a whole page for an upcoming movie?
I know many of us, especially females may be interested in the tag line, 'Alia Bhatt gets a new manicure' or 'George Clooney has been bewitched by Amal Alamuddin into marrying her', but its highly frivolous and I dare anyone to prove otherwise. I am sure 90 percent of Indians wouldn't have known in detail about the accomplishments of Kailash Satyarthi before he was nominated as the Nobel laureate for the Nobel Peace Prize. And this includes me. Anybody who says otherwise is either a hypocrite or one in a million, and if that is so, I salute you. The point is, we never knew much about him because frankly, I have never seen an entire page devoted to people who have sacrificed their lives for the benefit of others. Such adulations have been seen associated with Salman Khan's 'Being Human' organization. I do not trivialize the work done by that organization, but at the same time, dude..... He earns more than an IIT graduate by doing films like 'Kick' and 'Bodyguard'.
Recently I was at a friend's place and we were discussing about the sensation that had gripped the whole country regarding Sunanda Pushkar's alleged murder. Very cool, I must say, with Polonium 210 and all. Of course she deserves justice. Of course the killer shouldn't get away with it. But how can no news channel have even a single debate about the 2,000 people killed by Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria? And what about the staggering 30,000 people who have been displaced and are now meandering like lost sheep? What has happened to humanity? Just because its in Africa, and it doesn't affect us much, should we overlook the fact that an entire village has been annihilated?
Our generation has forgotten the value of freedom. We are more interested in who is dating whom, than who is getting killed or raped. Why care as long as it doesn't involve you? Statistically, half of India's youth wouldn't even know the cabinet ministers governing our country. And I am not saying this. I am merely quoting what I have read. I think time has come to think about higher things than Deepika Padukone's depression.
It is my sincere appeal to all newspapers to publish news that has relevance. News that can motivate our nation. News that reaches out to the heart of each and every Indian. You have the power to influence an entire country. And not push the accolades earned by an eminent scientist to some godforsaken corner,or diminish the value of human life. Media plays a very important role,as most of us are glued to the 'idiot-box'. Its time you realize that. Change is necessary.....
