Narayana Murthy as Guest Editor of ‘The Times of India’
Posted : November 26, 2005 at 9:38 pm [IST]
The national newspaper has innovated this new marketing trick, and it works for persons like me. Mr.NR Narayana Murthy was the guest editor for its Saturday, November 26, 2005 issue. His special request to the editors was interesting. I wish the other newspapers could also follow that. He requested. “Only positive stories on the front Page, please. I want people to start the day on an upbeat note, not weighed down by negativism. For too long, we’ve had a deafitist outlook, may be because of all the years of slavery. I want readers to wake up and read about a nation on the move. They should have high aspirations, and feel a sense of confidence.” It is so true and desirable, particularly for a nation in building with free press that goes on following the western newspapers and tabloids and keep on sensalizing the stories of rapes and murders as main issues.
I may refer to Ted C. Fishman’s famous book-’China*Inc.‘ He writes about what the Chinese newspaper do. “All the gigantism is carefully documented each day on the front pages of the Shanghai Daily…. While the rest of the world’s press leads with war news, celebrity scandals, or political coverage, the Chinese press logs every effort, public or private, that is being made to push Chinato the top in every contest it publicly places itself…. Great personal achievements also fill the front page. There are, for instance, top stories about young winners of one of the nationwide English- speaking contests…. Smart children, after all, hold the key to China’s ascendancy. If they are diligent enough, they too may one day build the world’s biggest something or other. They will certainlyhelp build what is destined to be the world’s biggest economy, and if all goes as the Chiese expect, the most influential geopolitical force in Asia and perhaps the world.”
Perhaps Mr. Narayana Murthy wants the newspaper to carry on the task of building a positive society. Today, the whole situation is depressing, and the media is also responsible of this to a great extent. A reporter can make the same news positive as well as negative one. For example, Mr. Murthy’s edited issue itself has a headline about a cabinet minister of newly formed government of Bihar- ‘ Nitish team suffers its first casuality. Minister resigns on corruption charges.’ For a headline reader, the news will be negative. The same news in another national daily carries a headline-’Nitish sets example on the very first day by seeking the resignation of a tainted minister.’ Is it not positive?
We were discussing the other day what positive role the media can have for rural development. Some one came out with a proposition- ‘Let media must reserve at least 30% coverage for the rural India where 60% people live.’ Why can’t media cover the important work going on many projects of national importance, and many achievers in industry, schools, and other institutions of the country including those in rural fields- the rural innovators and their achievements that are making differences with all the odds against them? Let the media have a reservation for the positive reporting. Should it be mandatory?
- Indra
Category: Religious/Social issues |
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