No one is a holy cow here

19/11 is a day that has changed the face of Indian Media, forever. The so called last bastion of Indian Republic is under sever fire after the expose by Open Magazine. I don't know whether the tapes are authentic or fabricated but the boycott of this news by entire English media fraternity raises a lot of unanswered questions. I am a regular viewer of NDTV and CNN-IBN and some times i really ponder about the immense power these guys have at their disposal. These guys can make any party, organization or person look silly if they wish. This power is very dangerous as there is no guarantee that these media houses and these journalists follow the standards of journalism. And by sheer virtue of this power they can intern dictate policies and terms. I always thought that the NDTV is bit inclined towards Congress and CNN-IBN is not to different. CNN-IBN top anchor has coined a term "Internet Hindus" to call those internet savy Indians who persistently attack CNN-IBN and NDTV for following double standards in their reporting and their shows.

                               I am not a member of BJP or CPI or Congress and neither  i vote (because i don't find any candidate worthy of my vote) but i was shocked to see the one sided coverage of CNN-IBN and NDTV during assembly election in Gujarat in 2007. These channels were openly campaigning with congress against Narendra Modi. This was totally against all the standards of journalism. The coverage of Ayodhya verdict by NDTV was highly biased although CNN-IBN did a balanced coverage. Media persons can have ideologies but that ideology should not in any way impact their job of fair and true journalism. NDTV and CNN-IBN are perfectly fine to have ideologies but they have no right whatsoever to impose them on their viewers.

The tape controversy is nothing but a tip of the iceberg and i won't be surprised if this controversy is skirted  in a day or two as these media houses in particular and all in general are very very powerful. 

P.S. I have tweeted to Sagarika Ghose, Vikram Chandra and Rajdeep Sardesai that why CNN-IBN is not reporting Barkha Dutt - Nira Radia tapes but so far got no reply. CNN-IBN and NDTV has lost be as a viewer, switch back to Doordarshan :)