Four Pillars of the Fourth Pillar Author: Shashank Chowdhury
There have been three Media Incidents in the past week that has been bitterly contested and criticised in the Social Media as well as by some Political Parties.
The Article in the Caravan Magazine stating that Aseemanand had given an interview to the author of the article in which he had disclosed that he was pressurised by Mohan Bhagwat to commit the crime and also to keep RSS away from getting linked to the crime.
The news item in The Indian Express which portrayed Varun Gandhi having said that the Brigade Rally of NaMo in Kolkata attracted only about 50,000 people.
Punya Prasun Bajpai presented the Nationwide Projections of 2014 polls based on the responses of a sample size of 1500 respondents.
These are only a very small portion of the elaborate formation and analysis that is being thrust on the readers and viewers for decades now. There have been cases of Media trial in the past which persuaded the viewers and readers to believe that the accused are actually criminals who do not have any recourse to law.
The Media. The Fourth Estate. The Pillar of Democracy that has been accorded this status without the Constitution having named it as such. This Media, when seen as a commentator on the state of affairs in the country is expected to be impartial, truthful, credible and sensible. However, whether the media tends to consider these as true objectives of journalism or not, the readers and viewers of their perennial production of Information and Analysis believe that they adhere to these objectives.
Coming to the three incidents.
First Case: The whole world had seen the immeasurable crowd that had gathered to hear Shri Narendra Modi at Kolkata. Sneakily, an Indian Express journalist finds a convenient opportunity to ask Shri Varun Gandhi a few questions about the Rally. As explained later by Shri Varun Gandhi himself, the question was whether he thinks the crowd was more than 50,000? Now that is an insensible question to ask. Any sensible person after having seen the Rally either being there or on TV would have known that there was a huge crowd. 
Trying to peg the numbers to 50,000 was a suggestion of the journalist and not the interviewee. Why was this question asked to Sri Varun Gandhi? The reasons are for anyone to guess. Create a suspicion within the party and also among the readers. If at all such a question needs to be asked it should be directed to Shri Sinha and not Shri Gandhi. A pre-meditated manoeuvre to create controversies and thrive on that. Fortunately, the interviewee chose to come clean through Social Media and the damage could not be done as intended. This is a perfect example of diluting Journalistic Values for multifarious gains. Cheap Popularity, Easy Money and recognition by the Vested Interests for future assignments. This is why journalism attracts opprobrium that it does.
Second Case: The Incident of Aseemanand interview is another example of journalistic treachery with the Nation. The interview and its underlying objective are questionable. When the Investigative Agencies have already denied any such confession, why would a journalist break law and interview someone to start with? Subsequent clarifications of Aseemanand through his lawyer has established the untruth that was dished out by the Journalist and the Editorial conspirators. The impact of such a publication would not have been unknown to the both the journalist and the editor. But this was a deliberate attempt to spread Lies with an ulterior motive of creating communal tension and destabilise the Nation at such a volatile moment where electoral politics is leaving the Nation wounded as it is. There cannot be a greater disservice than to belie the belief of the society that Journalist would be Impartial, Truthful, Credible and Sensible. People have rightly questioned the timing of the article as this was reportedly written long before its publication.
Third Case: The third incident of Punya Prasun Bajpayi showing a survey result is one step beyond the abysmal depth touched by the earlier two incidents. It has become a favourite tool for the News Channels to constantly engage in ‘Opinion Shaping’ rather than ‘Information Dissemination’. One of the major methods is to conduct surveys and present the Results to show as ‘Truth Undeniable’. These results depend entirely on small sample sizes and extrapolation which is, more often than not, extremely misleading. Without attributing Bias to him, this presentation was not Credible, Truthful and Sensible.
Any institution needs four Pillars to be stable. Democracy itself would be incomplete without Media as the Fourth Pillar. And Media, in its Turn must have ‘Impartiality, Truthfulness, Credibility and Sensibility’ as four Pillars. Any departure from these objectives and weakening any of the Pillars would not only weaken but also destroy the entire Democratic Fabric of the Nation. Manipulative Dispensations must stop as this can spread the fire that would not spare its progenitors even if they have any false sense of security and comfort by engaging in these practices.
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Sir,Media has lost its credibility nd no one believe the media. Kudoos to Author who has given recent examples of Fourth State in a very impartial manner. Media has become on family servant.
Each pillar in its proper place is the secret of a strong edifice . Ethics and morality important in recruitment of journalists ,editorial team no exception. Enlightenment rather than incitement ought to be the refrain of media.
Case 1: – Manipulative intent taken by the media to harm the person prospects. This is not the first time.
Case 2: – Fixing Allegations which is utterly false by nature. Media is working maliciously on behalf of the Powerful organisations/governments as Pimps to deliver slanderous allegations against people/organisations. They’re making too much money out of this approach. Since past 66 years Congress targeting their subject through this type of approach. They also destroyed careers of their own people like for Eg: – K.D.Malviya.
Case 3: – In this approach, manufacturing news which is doing more harm than good. It has become a regular feature on their network to make money and TRPs.
The author has reported valid Cases which is deemed fit enough to subject Media under heavy scrutiny. If not then, India will end up burning someday. Thank You.
Media have not been playing a positive role in as much as it has been rediculing and suppressing what should have been truthfully presented to the people.The so called Seculer Media at times is out to destroy which ought to have been a true presentation. to the people.All this is indicative of failure of strong citizenery responsibilities lest would not dare to misrpresent the facts.Media lacks truthfulness and honesty.