Sunday, November 1, 2009

The media triggers and the government fires

If Dr Abdul Kalam hopes to see positive media that helps in improve the society- I pray that there should be socially & ethically responsible news reporters who have the gift to discern between news and useless facts.

Similarly I hope that our legislators will fulfil their role as people’s representatives- not representatives of their own political aspirations.

Since March’09 the print and electronic media devoured on the protests made by parents associations of a few schools in the city and the victims of this media hunger are the schools that have nothing to do with all this fee controversy.

I always thought that the print media being the older cousin of the electronic media-will be discerning enough before printing news reports. My opinion is that we have educated, rational and discerning adults in newspapers who weigh the veracity of a situation before printing it as a report. In this case of DFRC acting as a watch-dog on schools-my opinion has changed.

The new TV channels-I cant blame as I think that their reporters are not trained into anything called social responsibility or ethical role of news.

If a few schools have raised their fee and the parents of those schools have protested –why did our government act hastily and punish all the schools in the state?

Hundreds of schools that are functioning with all norms in place are going to face the brunt of the babus now. Its a well known fact that where govt is concerned –files move at a snail’s pace.

When the DFRC called for all schools meet, it was heart warming to see the owners of schools from rural areas. Their list of woes was endless. Most of them started schools in their villages for a livelihood and generating employment locally as well as giving the best education they can within their means. They are frequently fleeced by the local politicians and goonda elements. With all this they are barely able to make both ends meet. And now they are bogged down with this GO that says DFRC is your boss.

I have nothing against DFRC. I am sure that the govt has done this with sincere intentions of preventing commercialization by schools. But the question is- 'is the govt so well manned and well equipped that it can check all private schools fee structure meticulously?'-

If they are so professional why are they not able to run their own govt schools effectively ? Why will people opt for private schools if govt schools are run so well? And it is no secret that anything that gets into the control of the govt has to face red tapism. God save all the private schools from henceforth.

Who is responsible for all this? I blame the media for overplaying the issue of a few schools and bringing wrath of the government on all schools.

I wish the govt had been judicious and checked only those schools that were complained about and spared their axe on the rest. Guess discerning people are few even in the govt.

Another story of ‘The media instigates and the government (over)reacts’ - the telugu pride.

A rural school punishes children with placards of no telugu and the news hungry reporter made an issue out of it. I am personally and professionally against any kind of punishments.

Parents demand schools that their children should speak in English and they even say that ‘punish or push but make my child speak in English’. In this case the poor teacher has done what she knows in her limited exposure.

Whether the parents are appalled at it or not I do not know but the special protection force of telugu pride have suddenly risen like the phoenix.

To ensure that this issue is not capitalised by the opposition the quick witted minister passed the verdict-‘sing ma telugu talliki’ in all schools- mandatorily.

Mother tongue is an inherent skill. It is neither learnt because of a GO nor ignored because of learning another language.

When will we have relief from these petty political masquerades and truly fight for a cause ?

If Telugu Bhasha parirakhsana samithi has noble intentions-they would fight for the disrespectful telugu used in movies, condemn the butchering of the language in the name of songs and stories-guess they would do it if it gets a political mileage.

The irony is that important issues like news reports on corruption, illegal occupations or crime, get no instant(or late) reaction from the govt but cases like fee regulation or telugu pride- a GO comes like a missile. Guess it has its own financial and political connotations to it !!!

I am an optimist-therefore I hope that balanced and thinking adults will get into media to ensure that the social fabric of the society is kept in tact.
I also hope that capable and concerned adults will assume the positions in the government.
Lastly I hope that voters will vote for a true leader and not a shammer
.

32 comments:

S Ramakrishna said...

Madam I feel that there should be a check on schools but I do understand that government's way of working is not the solution.There are some schools who charge high fee from parents for personal profits.How to keep a check on this? Media is helping in such problems getting the public and government attention.Ofcourse the issue on telugu pride is something that media has eggagerated.we all love our mother tongue and make sure that our children learn it.
After reading your blog I started thinking about the media role in public opinion.
Thanks for the sunday exercise you have given me.

Usha said...

On this day of AP avatarana dinotsavam I wish you madam. There was a time when I thought you were anti-telugu with your insistence on speaking in english during school hours.After meeting you so many times I understood your though process.Mother tongue will come inherently and no pressure needs to be applied to learn it.Just by learning other languages we do not forget our mother tongue.I apprecaite the way you keep stressing on speaking telugu with correct mathraas and be perfect in it.whether language or anything I understood from you that perfection is more important than just doing things.Our love for our mother tongue comes naturally to us. Just by singing ma telugu talliki everyday we need not get it. if that was the case there are tlakhs of us andhrites who have been learning telugu since our school days. By now we should be having lakhs of people speaking perfect telugu. even the ministers who pass such orders cannot speak proper telugu. Telugu bhasha parirakhsana samithi will not ask them questions.Hypocrisy has no end.

Kishore Reddy said...

Intrestng post.Luks like You are peeved with the media and the govt.you got guts maam. Keep it up. We need more pepl like you

Anonymous said...

The positive impact of printed media or the electronic media on the public nowadays is negligible compared to the gloomy picture of the society it highlights. Recently I have stopped insisting my children to read the newspaper because of the crime story it contents. Early in the morning we see only the negative side when they can high light many achievements achieved by our people.Unless and until they get get another sensational news they keep on repeating with no sense in it.They should know the responsibility they have on their shoulder and act acccordingly than just doing something.

Chaitanya Murty said...

Government always tries to find a way to control the private sector.Wherever possible they want to show their strength and make more money.In the issue of private schools and high fees they should have left it to the schools and parents to settle the issue between them instead of interfereing like this.If parents have problems they can go to court.DFRC is not the solution.

Parthasarathi Dasari said...

Many times in the past also we have seen such incidents.whenever there is media hype govt tries to do some work and never carry it forward after that.Media also is not bothered once they publish a news. They dont believe in looking back. Just print and forget.

John Verghese said...

The behaviour of TV reporters is simply deplorable.I was attending a function in Rajbhavan. The way cameramen were falling on the governor was so disrespectable.But no one says anything to them.We respectable guests are told to follow so many norms but these reporters need not follow basic etiquettes also.They were clicking the photographs of the Governor continuously as if he will look different in each photograph.people like us who went to attend the function with special invitation were actually seeing the backs of the cameramen with their wires hanging over our heads and crammed into a corner to facilitate their cameras.

Mahesh said...

Very well written article.I also felt that the govt had been over reactive in the telugu issue.There are hundreds of incidents that happen like this in schools,colleges and society.This incdent had the media attention and a sensitive topic like language or caste or region will get immediate attention because any political party can make use of the situation.

Sridhar Chowdhary said...

well written.Interesting to read.

Paritosh Kapoor from Chandigarh said...

I heard a lot about your blog and today for the first time I logged in and read a few from the archives also.Each one is unique in its own way.Your thinking has a large canvas.And your expression is very interesting.I appreciate your posts Ms Murty.I will get in touch with you in the next week when I am in Hyd.

Vijayalakshmi said...

Media should play a more responsible role.Because they influence the public opinion.Most of the time what they write may be their opinion. But people will take it as a fact and then they form opinion.Therefore it is essential that media acts with responsibility.

Prashanti said...

Your statement,mother tongue will come naturally and no GO can teach it and that by learning another language we do not forget it. Terrfic maam.Very precise and fully loaded.

Shankar Yedavalli said...

This news of punishment to children for speaking in telugu has been hyped only because it involves some political sensitivity.What about all thos epunishments children get for not doing maths,science or homework? Minister reacted only because it is telugu pride??? He will ot react if the same placard has I will always do my homework or I will forever study science? Because science and maths have no political parties or vote banks.Democracy thy name is hypocricy!

Anonymous said...

There should be proper check on private schools otherwise poor parents are taken for a ride.I thank media for highlighting this news and forcing the government to pass a GO.DFRC is needed to keep these private schools under check.

Ashok said...

I understand that GO cannot be the basis for learning one's mother tongue and u r bang on mnoting this. But I dont understand what is this obsession with banging the media - as if the media is responsible for every problem in society and that it hypes everything.

jayaprada said...

Madam I support your ghats!I hope such good writeups can open the mediea's eyes.I agree with you instead of hyping the news if they spread possitive news how good it will be.they just cannot play with the emotions for their name.these peoples representatives play cheap politics and they over react which they should not.I fully accept with you mothertounge is an inherent quality . singing maa telugu talliki will not develop the telugu talents in the students.
waiting for next punch.

Anonymous said...

very emotional posting ma'm.....
iam verymuch inspired with this writing....
waiting for next posting
good luck!!

Anonymous said...

its really vary intriesting and makes us think about the issue sincerely.

Hemanth X a
varun X b
srujan X a

x th graders said...

nowadays media is not acting like an asset but like a burden...it is not people friendly but government friendly..makes a big scene out of nothing...we must have something to control the right of the media right.???!!!

aishwarya,raeesah and sravani

x graders said...

intersting.happy to see atleast one person rising concernn for the social issues of the society.
Your statement,mother tongue will come naturally and no GO can teach it and that by learning another language we do not forget it. mind blowing maam.
really terrific questions........
rising a sense and feel for the society

varun said...

media really plays a very vital role..but these days it's hanging on every single issue in making it more complecated.

VARUN
XA

kranthi kiran said...

Who is responsible for all this? I blame the media for overplaying the issue of a few schools and bringing wrath of the government on all schools.
superb judgemnt

Unknown said...

Whatever you have written is the truth and we feel there should be some change in the society . I really feel the new media should take issues logically before they highlight it.

sushmitha ,vamshi said...

mam
the post was informative . it put forth the failure of the media to present an unbiased and ethical picture.

LEKHA ,SUDHA , INDRAJA said...

WE AGREE WITH U THAT MEDIA SHOULD WORK SOCIALLY ETHICALLY AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS IN SOCIETY . WE HOPE THIS ARTICLE MAY BRING CHANGE IN THE MEDIA .

siddharth akhil nag x C said...

mam,I totally agree with your piont but one thing ,you siad that reporters are not trained but i say that reporters are trained in a way to take advantage of the society." Its a well known fact that where govt is concerned –files move at a snail’s pace "this is a well known fact and i think this should be addae into guiness book of world records.

RUTVIK & AKHILESH X "C" said...

YES MA'AM IF A PERSON SUFFERS FROM CHICKEN POX IT SPREADS TO ALL BY CONTACT THROUG CERTAIN AILMENTS IN THE SAME WAY IF ONE SCHOOL MADE A MISTAKE ALL TSO I HE SCHOOLS SUFFER DUE TO THE MEDIA THESE DAYS NOT ONLY MEDIA BUT ALL OTHER INSTITUTIONS ALSO SUFFER THIS IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE SCHOOLS NEITHER THE MEDIA'S FAULT NOR THE GOVERNMENT'S FAULT BUT IT IS THE SYSTEM'S FAULT SO WE NEED TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM TO STOP ALL THESE
NEGATIVE TRAITS AND REINSTATE A PROPER SOCIETY..........
ACKNOWLEDGED ACORNS OF SILVER OAKS

Sruthi & Mayura said...

Mam...........
Yes,we agree with u that today's world really needs good journalists who can show us the real picture of today's world.We keep our fingers crossed for this to happen.

srilaxmi and manisha said...

mam the post is intersting and we agree that the private schools should be checked oterwise they will play with the poor parents. I think parents should not be that much cruel for their children telling the schools push or pull my child should speak english and severe punishments should be banned for this punishments

Unknown said...

VERY INTESRETING POST... U WERE VERY EXPRESSIVE IN UR THOUGHTS...


VERY GOOD BLOG.... N VERY MUCH KNOWLEDGABLE....

VARUN Xc,VINEETH Xa,NAVYA Xc

apoorva& kalyani said...

dear maam,
the header was very funny and catching.....thanx yet again for ur realistic views.. even we hope that the people vote for a leader and not a shammer neither a hammer..:)

Anonymous said...

mam
we agree that the news reporters think mostly in a negative way which is not good for the society ..which includes the educational institutions... the negative news attarcts the crowd and mostly students get influenced by it ... the media is supposed to be trained as to what should be told then only we can stop the unuseful strikes or bhands.....

Vamshi krishna

Abhinaya
Pooja