When bad press is good news
THE WEEK|October 31, 2021
The media are as good or as bad today as they were 130 years ago, or even earlier
- R.PRASANNAN
When bad press is good news

The public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing. Journalism, conscious of this, and having tradesman-like habits, supplies their demands.”

Most people—those who read papers or watch TV news or scroll news portals, and those who think they are wiser by doing nothing of the kind—would agree. That today’s media are pandering to the base instincts of the public, dishing out what the masses ask for, and are being led by TRP ratings or circulation figures. That serious journalism is dead.

When did serious journalism die? Over that, there is no consensus. It was alive when some of the critics were in school, when some others were in college, when they were working, or before they retired. A few would say, it was alive during the freedom movement, till the end of the Nehru years, during and against the Emergency, post-Emergency, in the 1980s, when all the news was on DD, till the TV boom, before the corporates bought up papers and TV stations, before the internet age and so on.

The fact is, every generation has been saying this ever since news began to be printed on paper and sold to the public—that the media used to be good earlier, and that they are bad now. How else did Oscar Wilde write the line quoted above in an essay 130 years ago?

この蚘事は THE WEEK の October 31, 2021 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

この蚘事は THE WEEK の October 31, 2021 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

THE WEEKのその他の蚘事すべお衚瀺
Themes Of Choice
THE WEEK India

Themes Of Choice

As Savvy Investors Seek New Avenues, Thematic Mutual Funds Are Gaining Popularity

time-read
6 分  |
September 29, 2024
A golden girl
THE WEEK India

A golden girl

One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.

time-read
2 分  |
September 29, 2024
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
THE WEEK India

The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India

The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.

time-read
3 分  |
September 29, 2024
United in the states
THE WEEK India

United in the states

Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds

time-read
5 分  |
September 29, 2024
COVER DRIVE
THE WEEK India

COVER DRIVE

Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits

time-read
3 分  |
September 29, 2024
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
THE WEEK India

GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical

Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:

time-read
2 分  |
September 29, 2024
India is not a controlling big brother
THE WEEK India

India is not a controlling big brother

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.

time-read
10+ 分  |
September 29, 2024
Comrade with no foes
THE WEEK India

Comrade with no foes

Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!

time-read
2 分  |
September 29, 2024
Pinning down saffron
THE WEEK India

Pinning down saffron

In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana

time-read
4 分  |
September 29, 2024
MAKE IN MANIPUR
THE WEEK India

MAKE IN MANIPUR

Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict

time-read
5 分  |
September 29, 2024