OUR MEDIA MONSTERS

A WIDE CANVAS

OUR MEDIA MONSTERS

 The educated middle class has  long been addicted to reading newspapers and magazines. Our world was made up of what we read there. We learned our facts from them. Our opinions were formed on what we read there- the editorials and other articles. Up to the sixties, they were mainly responsible for spreading nationalistic ideas among the common man. They were edited by responsible men and we could rely on them.

Three Tamil periodicals deserve special mention. Ananda Vikatan, Kalki and Kalaimagal.  Vikatan was a popular weekly, catering to varied tastes, was the first to use commercial techniques to boost sales. Over the years, it gave voice to many writers. It was nationalistic in a general way, but not overly so. Its editor SS Vasan took objection to the leading writer 'Kalki' taking part in the individual satyagraha. Kalki later came out and founded his own weekly in that very name. It used to cover art criticism, (including cinema) literary matters, fiction, political comments and other matters.Kalki's serialised novels were so popular, everyone at home would compete to read it first on arrival on Thursdays. Kalaimagal was a true cultural symbol-totally given to culture and literary matters. It had high standards. Its editor Ki.Va.Jagannathan was a great scholar and literary master. 

All the three magazines still appear. But for the name, they share none of the greatness of the originals. And now there are many more. They cover mainly cinema and politics and at a cheap level at that. The problem is this: the sociology of class has changed in Tamil Nad, the Tamil  magazines have nothing useful for the educated person (who relies on English souces) and they cater to only those sections which want cheap entertainment or titillation.

As for newspapers, we had three: Swadeshamitran and Dinamani in Tamil and The Hindu in English. They were all 'weighty' and bent on spreading knowledge, not just information. They had all been supporters of the national causes, but after Independece became independent in views. The Hindu was always pro-establishment. All three had a reputation for factual reporting and avoiding sensationalism.

Swadeshamitran ceased publication in the 50s. Dinamani has had problems after its great long-term editor A.N.Sivaraman. The Hindu is still there- but only the name is common with the old paper. After N.Ram took over as editor, it  become unabashedly leftist and pro-DMK in its approach.

Old readers continue to rely on old names. They hardly realise how things have changed, while the old names have been retained. The new management have no intention to continue with the old policies ( which is not wrong) but it is diabolic to continue with the old name. This just amounts to plain cheating- exploiting the good will attached to the old name. I throw a challenge to N.Ram: let him now start a new newspaper with a different name and show how people receive it!

The Times of India group and The Statesman of Calcutta were owned by Englishmen. Times of India was first acquired by Indians, but the way they conducted it was not liked by the original owners. So, The Statesman group took great care to transfer it to proper hands in the 60s. But it ran into problems due to the leftist interests and govt attitude.

 Recently I did a check on the ownership pattern of our media.  This is what I found on the Internet:

Times of India Group, including Times Now TV Channel:      Owned by Bennett, Coleman, and Co.                        But  World Christian Council does 80%                      of the funding.An Englishman and an                        Italian share the rest equally. The                            Italian Robertio Mindo is a close relative                    of Sonia Gandhi.

The Hindu:  125 years old. Recently taken over by                       Joshua Society, Berne, Switzerland. The                   wife of N.Ram, present publisher, is a                       Swiss national.

Indian Express:    ACTS Christian Ministers have                                  major stake. (New Indian Express,                            South  seems to be independent)

Hindustan Times: Owned by the Birlas but close to                               the Congress. Now working in                                   collaboration with TOI.

The Statesman:  controlled by Communist Party

Mathrubhumi:     Muslim league leaders and                                        communist leaders have major                                  stake.

Andhra Jyoti:      Purchased recently by the Muslim                              party MIM and a congress minister.

Asian Age and Deccan Chronicle:   Owned by Saudi                                      Arabian company, with                                         M.J.Akbar as  chief editor

NDTV :             Funded by Gospels of Charity in                                Spain.Has connections with                                     communists. Indian CEO Prannoy                             Roy's wife is the sister of Brinda                               Karat.

INDIA TODAY : Since bought by NDTV

CNN-IBN :       100% funded by Southern Baptist                              Church,  head quartered in USA.

STAR TV:         Supported by St.Peter's Pontifical                              Church, Melbourne.

KAIRALI TV:    Controlled by the CPM.

Now, such information is surrounded by lot of controversies. Who can authenticate or deny them?

However we know that the management of The Hindu newspaper has been subject to controversies/internal bickerings, some of which came into the open, in the recent years. I was a reader of The Hindu for over 50 years, but stopped buying/reading it 10 years ago when the leftist slant of N.Ram became intolerable. 

But there are other aspects. 

Almost all  our English newspapers and media channels are pronouncedly anti-Hindu in their news coverage and commens. Is this just by chance?When we write about their biases and point out even factual errors, these are not entertained or acknowledged. Even on on-line editions, they cut out hostile remarks, couched in polite language, in the name of 'moderation'. Those of us who still think of our newspapers as objective champions of freedom of expression and undistorted reporting should think again. At least those of us who are  Nationalists should immediately stop buying these newspapers and watching these news channels. This is in our hands. We don't need a Modi for this.