A mail received by me has been reproduced below. Although, the contents are old but still very much relevant as the writer has pointed out some serious concerns on the part of media in handling defence stories. The obsession of feeding write ups based on negative psychology has long been the topic of debates. The media says, it publishes stories which arouse people's attention and negativity is another point of view. Although, they agree on their national responsibilities but, money also has the priority. And rightly so, you can not built even the temples without money. Another point of view, how the leads are informed to you and how the follow up is done.
Now, the media also follow certain ethics. It can not take the authenticity of a story on face value. It does many checks and counter checks and also consider the vertical versions. Timings of a story is paramount. So, where does our armed forces fits into it?
Our services have a system of media interaction through select outlets, wherein, a common version is generally communicated to all formats of mass media. As the stories are based in far flung areas, it becomes too difficult to counter check or record the opposite versions. At times, security is another reason to get the access.
Monetary concerns as well as the accessibility are two major factors.The media also accept the fact that services are full of stories.
Probable solution : I feel the services needs to open up a bit more. Rather than hunting for outlets, they can become the news makers themselves. In this regard, they should seriously consider revamping their entire PR machinery recruiting only the professionals from media. This inter-services PR body should be based on Territorial Army as part-time soldiers. An equal partnership of outside media can also be considered.
In the era of information warfare, the services not only have to fight on battle fronts but lay equal or rather more imphasis on gaining people's support. This is paramount for any democratic institution. More so for the armed forces, as their existence is based on people's aspirations only.
"A MUST READ......... Dear Editors of HT, TOI, IndianExpress and TheHindu,NDTV, CNN-IBN, I got the mail below from a friend of mine and following the unwritten code of conduct, I am forwarding it to my friends but all efforts of people who have been forwarding this mail would go waste if this mail doesn't reach YOU......
Something to think about..!! Shame on Indian Media??? Really what a shame...
By the time u guys read this news, the body of Major Manish Pitambare, who was shot dead at Anantnag, would have been cremated with full military honors.
On Tuesday, this news swept across all the news channels 'Sanjay Dutt relieved by court'. 'Sirf Munna not a bhai' '13 saal ka vanvaas khatam' 'although found guilty for possession of armory, Sanjay can breath sigh of relief as all the TADA charges against him are withdrawn' Then many personalities like Salman Khan said 'He is a good person. We knew he will come out clean'. Mr Big B said "Dutt's family and our family have relations for years he's a good kid. He is like elder brother to Abhishek". His sister Priya Dutt said "we can sleep well tonight. It's a great relief"
In other news, Parliament was mad at Indian team for performing bad; Greg Chappell said something; Shah Rukh Khan replaces Amitabh in KBC and other such stuff. But most of the emphasis was given on Sanjay Dutt's "phoenix like" comeback from the ashes of terrorist charges.
Surfing through the channels, one news on BBC startled me. It read "Hisbul Mujahidin's most wanted terrorist 'Sohel Faisal' killed in A nantnag , India .. Indian Major leading the operation lost his life in the process. Four others are injured.
It was past midnight , I started visiting the stupid Indian channels, but Sanjay Dutt was still ruling. They were telling how Sanjay pleaded to the court saying 'I'm the sole bread earner for my family', 'I have a daughter who is studying in US' and so on. Then they showed how Sanjay was not wearing his lucky blue shirt while he was hearing the verdict and also how he went to every temple and prayed for the last few months. A suspect in Mumbai bomb blasts, convicted under armory act...was being transformed into a hero.
Sure Sanjay Dutt has a daughter; Sure he did not do any terrorist activity. Possessing an AK47 is considered too elementary in terrorist community and also one who possesses an AK47 has a right to possess a pistol so that again is not such a big crime; Sure Sanjay Dutt went to all the temples;
Sure he did a lot of Gandhigiri but then.......... ..
Major Manish H Pitambare got the information from his sources about the terrorists' whereabouts. Wasting no time he attacked the camp, killed Hisbul Mujahidin's supremo and in the process lost his life to the bullets fired from an AK47. He is survived by a wife and daughter (just like Sanjay Dutt) who's only 18 months old.
Major Manish never said 'I have a daughter' before he took the decision to attack the terrorists in the darkest of nights. He never thought about having a family and he being the bread earner.
No news channel covered this since they were too busy hyping a former drug addict, a suspect who's linked to bomb blasts which killed hundreds. Their aim was to show how he defied the TADA charges and they were so successful that his conviction in possession of armory had no meaning. They also concluded that his parents in heaven must be happy and proud of him.
Parents of Major Manish are still living and they have to live rest of their lives without their beloved son. His daughter won't ever see her daddy again.
So guys, please forward this message around so that the media knows which news to give importance, as it is a shame for us since this Army Major's death news was given by a foreign TV channel!!!
If you believe in it, don't feel shy in forwarding it."
(Photo: google)
