Indian Media - Has it come a long way ?

It’s around a fortnight back, as I watched Prannoy Roy delivering a speech on the NDTV Indian of the year awards function with luminaries from industry, politics, art, culture, administration and bollywood present in the show.
He shared that how the first ever private news show was started by him on Doordarshan, some twenty years back and it was so much hard to convince the PM office during that period. He also discussed the technical constraints for creating live programs during that time as well as the government unwillingness to allow the live telecast of the news.
Now, when we have got almost 400 private channels with superior technical abilities and the resources to catch, everything live on TV, and reach a wider audience base with much deeper impact on the public, I would like to get opinion from the readers that, have we truly come a long way in Indian Media, and if yes then are we on the right track?
I am going to take a case of one of the popular private channel – NDTV group which boasts of Ace journalists like Prannoy Roy, Barkha Dutt, Vinod Dua and many others.
The last few days have been happening on the idiot box, with swayamvar season 2 – Rahul Dulhania le jayenge coming to an end on NDTV Imagine, the news about sex racket and scandals of Ichaadhari Bhimanand and Chamatkari Swami Nityanand and few more Swamis, and the less watched but socially responsible event of Greenathon.
Rahul Mahajan weeding tamasha might have earned good TRP for NDTV’s imagine (1.5, which was highest in 3rd week of Feb on NDTV Imagine), but it didn’t created the kind of interest and nice feelings among the viewers. The concept of getting married in a reality show is very exciting and can emerge as a very popular show for the Indian masses. Remember, Hum Aapke hai kaun , a movie based on marriage ceremony in an Indian family and also Vivah , which did not became mega hit like HAHK , but nonetheless was appreciated by the viewers.
I am sure, RDLJ could have been a DDLJ of small screen, had some more hardwork been done in the concept development and the execution part and yes, the main star cast. Rahul mahajan with his ill famed past, not so bright present, and neither seem to be having potential future(an opinion and not judgment) to woo the viewers or create magic among the masses. Also, the finalist seemed to be too ordinary and some time bit cheap too, with their tantrums and bitching and fake attitude. The final bride seemed to be having picture perfect fake attitude as well.
I am sure the masses would have loved, if the reality show would have been executed in a better way. Rakhi Sawant didn’t married in the Swayamvar, but that still that was better.
Now coming, to the sensational news of the week – A bunch of Sadhus and Sants getting into sleazy and sex scandals and playing with the trust and money of their followers. I really congratulate media on these social issues highlights , as I am sure people would not have known so much about these fake God man , had it not been highlighted with such frequency. I agree that the way it is presented in many channels is much more spicy and dramatic, but that does hammer the lots of Indian masses who are living in small towns and villages and needs to be awakened about these societal evils in the name of religion and faith.
Last but not the least, a corporate social event of Greenathon II on NTDV was a good breather and touched people on the issue of environment and energy. The event was studded with presence of movie stars, noted politicians and industrialists, economists and environmentalists. A total of 3.92 Crores was raised for lighting up 155 villages in India under “TERI’s Lighting a Billion Lives initiative. Some of the generous donors were bollowood celebrities and from corporate world like Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Abhishek Bachchan,Dia Mirza, Voltas, Jaypee Infratech, Galaxy Toyota, Gitanjali Gems,Nokia and CII .
This was a platform where, the aam aadmi, politicians, stars, industrialists, economists and environmentalists came together for a cause and media was the thread which brought them together. Accolades to NTDV for organizing such an event!
This was a non stopped 24 hour effort jointly taken by NDTV and Toyota for a greener India and a brighter India.
I love watching good programs on “Idiot Box” and feel happy about the way; it has come to a technically matured stage with an impact to influence lives of people. The spicy serials and presentation are going to stay for some time, and might be in a transition phase at a later stage depending on how the viewers taste progresses. Even, in America, the most developed nation, half of the populations were glued to their TV set watching apology by Tiger Woods.
So , place your verdict on it in a Truly Indian Media style …