Questions over media trial in Nashik case: Media groups published unverified information, went for witch-hunt!
Blame a person, based on hearsay or wild claims & even before trial, charge sheet or court’s verdict, conduct a media trial resembling witch-hunt, ignoring the basics and ethics of journalism?
Claims made citing ‘sources’ and ‘anonymous sources’, writing anything wild is not journalism. The mad race to get eyeballs and to get anything ‘sensational’ that leads to reports without due diligence, legwork & shoddy journalism, ends up hurting everyone in the society.
Misusing power of media, making unverified claims, not even aware about person’s role and post, using her photo as if already case is over and the person is a convicted criminal? Times of India, NDTV and India Today Group's Aaj Tak didn't double check or confirm the basics!
The level of irresponsible ‘journalism’ by media houses is an example of serious rot. No apology for false info and just sharing company’s response as ‘clarification’, without even admitting that they had no idea about the role or even duties of the person.
The Nashik case has shown how much media can be immoral and destroy lives, without an iota of shame or regret. Just anything you are told & your write it like a steno, without basics of journalism, not even confirmation.
This is the mockery of justice. Besides, extremely wild and hateful terms like 'corporate jihad' and claims of 'conversion racket' were thrown in, to make the story more sensational, without adhering to journalistic standards.
Media has power to publish and with power comes responsibility. Today anybody makes any allegation and you will publish photo, terming someone as almost a mastermind of a crime plot that is worse than pulp fiction.
It’s petty and cheap. If this is the way media functions, it will tear social fabric. Either mischievous reporting or a hurry to write without conformation and without knowing the basics, it affects lives and…
…the erosion of media’s trust affects the basic structure of a society where law and investigation ought to be fair and every person must get a fair trial, is at risk due to such careless media reporting.
If at all these media groups had any credibility, all has crumbled. It’s over. That’s the corpse of media, lying unattended. It’s over.
*False information published, no apology
*Unverified info, facts compromised
*Claim taken as ‘truth’ and ‘fact’
*Photo used as if a mastermind of crime involved
*Witch hunt & Targeting
*Campaign to prove a conspiracy
*What was spoon fed, reproduced, not cross-checked
*Immoral journalism
*Dirty ‘journalism’ destroys, damages lives
The media houses that have indulged in this cheap act, must be held accountable. It is as if you were already biased and prejudiced & without any proper check, you went out for the hit job.
Lot of people have questioned the role of media groups and certain ‘anchors’ who are not necessarily journalists but pass off as journos even if they might not have been schooled in basics of journalism.
The principle of innocent till proven guilty, doesn’t exist, if media sees a person with a prejudiced mindset. There is no scope as everyone copy-pasted and pushes same story with a manic urge to get more and more eyeballs.
There is a reason that respect for the profession has hit rock bottom. This is sad that media can go so wild and careless to such an extent. There is more to written about this case and it will in a way be remembered by people as an example of media’s worst possible sensational tendencies that can be witnessed in public space in this era.
[A shorter version of this piece has also been published on the Medium]
AltNews that fact-checks information, news and reports, has also published how media groups didn't confirm basic facts and didn't follow standards of journalism either. READ
Misinformation and inaccuracies in media reports in Nashik case. READ