The Radia tapes were selectively leaked and published by OpenMag and Outlook about a week back. Many journalists came under the public glare due to their conversations as recorded. But on the day it broke, an outraged twitterati made Ms. Barkha Dutt of NDTV the face of the target and named the scandal as #barkhagate. This happened probably due to her glamour in the TV media. An indignant Ms Dutt tried to reply by tweeting her views, some of them contradicted later. Though there was a blackout initially by the Media of these Tapes being leaked, slowly newspapers started reporting on the same.
While the matter was slowly dying out, NDTV decided to hold a hybrid 45 mts program on prime time (10 P.M. 30/11/2010) - hybrid because it was neither a debate nor an inquisition of Ms. Barkha Dutt. A panel consisting of few eminent journalists (Mr.Padgaonkar, Mr. Baru, Mr. Swapan Dasgupta) along with Mr. Manu Joseph of OpenMag were present along with Ms. Dutt. The program was moderated by Ms Sonia Singh, Managing Editor,NDTV.
From the outset it was obvious that Ms. Dutt had no intention to be defensive and went on the aggression stating her indignation and leaving no opportunity to berate OpenMag. Though she agreed that there was an "error in judgment" looking back and that she should not have been talking to Ms. Radia. The way she hijacked the program leaving the panel not much opportunity to query her, was disappointing to say the least. As mention by Manu, an impression left after the debate was that she was obfuscating the issues.
To all those who have heard the tapes, the issue specific to Ms. Dutt was her leaving an impression that she was hobnobbing with the Congress and acting as an intermediary in the Government forming exercise. No one accused her of quid-pro quo or bribery. But she was trying to steer the discussion on those issues. The actual issues were, and they were rightly pointed by the panel :
a) Were journalistic ethics not violated when a prominent journalist discusses and promises to be a intermediary between the Congress and the DMK leaders ?
b) Knowing Ms. Radia's profession and her dealings, could one believe Ms. Dutt when she says that she was stringing Ms. Radia all along (promise to speak to Mr. Azad).
The tone of the voice on the recordings give the answer to the contrary.
Disappointingly Ms. Dutt by an over-aggressive approach did not allow the discussion to be concentrated on these issues. There was an instance where Mr. Baru had to mention that they were invited for the debate not to discuss Media ethics but the issues relating to the tape involving Ms. Dutt. But still the debate could not be veered in the proper direction. Ms. Sonia was too meek to control Ms. Dutt who was bent upon using the occassion to berate Mr. Manu Joseph. No wonder Mr. Vinod Mehta wisely kept away from the debate.
On a lighter note, a lingering suspicion is whether Ms. Dutt also calibrated her appearance for the debate. She had a de-glamourised look compared to her appearances in We the Nation and other programs !!
The netizens would not be wrong if they ask Ms. Dutt to appear on a neutral platform and conduct this debate.
To sum it up - a) it would be too naive and challenging the intelligence of the viewers, if Ms. Dutt feels that the tapes specific to her case are all about how she tried to fool Ms. Radia by false promises and that Ms. Radia was just another source for her to tap for news. The closeness in the interactions are too glaring to ignore. And then the mystery of RCR still remains.
b) the perception of the present day TV presenters about journalism is poles apart from those who have been schooled in the traditional way of journalism.
While the matter was slowly dying out, NDTV decided to hold a hybrid 45 mts program on prime time (10 P.M. 30/11/2010) - hybrid because it was neither a debate nor an inquisition of Ms. Barkha Dutt. A panel consisting of few eminent journalists (Mr.Padgaonkar, Mr. Baru, Mr. Swapan Dasgupta) along with Mr. Manu Joseph of OpenMag were present along with Ms. Dutt. The program was moderated by Ms Sonia Singh, Managing Editor,NDTV.
From the outset it was obvious that Ms. Dutt had no intention to be defensive and went on the aggression stating her indignation and leaving no opportunity to berate OpenMag. Though she agreed that there was an "error in judgment" looking back and that she should not have been talking to Ms. Radia. The way she hijacked the program leaving the panel not much opportunity to query her, was disappointing to say the least. As mention by Manu, an impression left after the debate was that she was obfuscating the issues.
To all those who have heard the tapes, the issue specific to Ms. Dutt was her leaving an impression that she was hobnobbing with the Congress and acting as an intermediary in the Government forming exercise. No one accused her of quid-pro quo or bribery. But she was trying to steer the discussion on those issues. The actual issues were, and they were rightly pointed by the panel :
a) Were journalistic ethics not violated when a prominent journalist discusses and promises to be a intermediary between the Congress and the DMK leaders ?
b) Knowing Ms. Radia's profession and her dealings, could one believe Ms. Dutt when she says that she was stringing Ms. Radia all along (promise to speak to Mr. Azad).
The tone of the voice on the recordings give the answer to the contrary.
Disappointingly Ms. Dutt by an over-aggressive approach did not allow the discussion to be concentrated on these issues. There was an instance where Mr. Baru had to mention that they were invited for the debate not to discuss Media ethics but the issues relating to the tape involving Ms. Dutt. But still the debate could not be veered in the proper direction. Ms. Sonia was too meek to control Ms. Dutt who was bent upon using the occassion to berate Mr. Manu Joseph. No wonder Mr. Vinod Mehta wisely kept away from the debate.
On a lighter note, a lingering suspicion is whether Ms. Dutt also calibrated her appearance for the debate. She had a de-glamourised look compared to her appearances in We the Nation and other programs !!
The netizens would not be wrong if they ask Ms. Dutt to appear on a neutral platform and conduct this debate.
To sum it up - a) it would be too naive and challenging the intelligence of the viewers, if Ms. Dutt feels that the tapes specific to her case are all about how she tried to fool Ms. Radia by false promises and that Ms. Radia was just another source for her to tap for news. The closeness in the interactions are too glaring to ignore. And then the mystery of RCR still remains.
b) the perception of the present day TV presenters about journalism is poles apart from those who have been schooled in the traditional way of journalism.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteLet me very emphatically state that I have not been watching NDTV now for over 18months. I even stopped watching 'Big Fight' and 'We the People' since last December.
Where as the fact is that we grew up watching this channel and all these newscasters who today claim to be journalists. This is where the first problem is. They are not journalists and that is why they did not follow the ethics.
These eloquently verbose individuals whose professional requirement is to face the camera with mike in hand. They grew too big for their boots.
The RED LINES have been crossed give it any name the fact is this not acceptable. Go away peacefully or be hounded out is her & her channel's choice.
http://www.ioretradingindia.blogspot.com/
“From The Dizzy Heights of Kargil to Despairing Depths of Oblivion”
“Vir Sanghvi's bad karma at play.”
“Is this personal or professional issue??”
Sincerely
Anil Kohli