| Actor Sachin Sharma, former journalist and anchor for a business channel voices his angst on the latest trends seen in the paparazzi industry. Sachin has CID, Vaidehi and the latest Kulvaddhu to his credit. Currently the actor is on a well deserved vacation in Delhi. We spoke to him as it would be interesting to know his take on the celebrity journalism today, when he is on the other side of the fence.
Sachin avers, "There is a rat race in the filed of journalism as well ! Today everybody is behind 'the breaking news' irrespective of whether they have the complete knowledge of it or not. Just because one channel is covering it, the rest want to do the same." He further adds, "Being from the field, few of years ago, it was mandatory to do our homework and not assume things. Today anchors speak with too much confidence over very little content they provide."
"Remember a kid named Prince well in a 50 feet hole? There was another kid, and then another...one Prince got a channel TRP's doesn't mean the channels should keep showcasing the same kind of news. It has become a joke! News should never become a joke, if the story hasn't a soul to it, it can't be news. The Abhi -Ash wedding was splashed all over the channels and papers. Yes, it's the wedding of the year, everybody wants to know. But why lose your self respect in the same; I saw how the reporters were treated. The principal is that you keep their respect and don't lose yours", he adds.
What does he have to comment on the seriousness of the news? "Young reporters need to apply their mind to how news should be presented. I don't say that every media is the same, there are people doing good work even under pressure and I respect that. There are sections of media who refrain from any seriousness to the news, when we had the blasts; a channel was reporting that 'x' number of people died, then the changed the figure at least four times. Compare it with BBC covering 9/11; they clearly stated that they did not have the facts and were in the process of gathering them."
So, who is to be blamed for the sorry state of affairs? Is it the reporters who run after a story or editors who want an exclusive at any cost? "Its both, today's journalists are good and very talented but they are not given a free hand, the choice of stories and level of importance. Also the reporters need to stand up and face the truth, if you are right about it, then you will be heard. The editors should guide them not rule them."
He chuckles calming himself over the sensitive issue insisting that with time things improve. We pray it does for both the Indian TV circuit and the media industry.
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