Media and Corruption Gujarat NRE Integrity Theme Presentation Dr. Ipshita Basu Guha Research Student Dr. Renuka Garg HOD, DBIM, VNSGU, Surat
Media and CorruptionGujarat NRE Integrity Theme Presentation
Dr. Ipshita Basu GuhaResearch Student
Dr. Renuka GargHOD, DBIM, VNSGU, Surat
The Crumbling INSTITUTIONS
• CVC‟s National Anti-corruption Strategy paper
clearly indicates that institutions around us are
crumbling
• Corruption is rampant at all levels and domain
• India gives the perception of extremely high
intensity of corruption from the lowest rung to the
highest
• India‟s ranking as per Transparency
International in 2010 is 87th in the world.
The Crumbling INSTITUTIONS
The institutions like :
• Judiciary
• Legislative
• Executive-political as well as
administrative wing
• Armed forces
• Private institutions-media including
• Non-governmental organizations
The Crumbling INSTITUTIONS
President
Vice President
Prime MinisterCouncil of Ministers
Minister Minister Minister
Secretary
Additional Secretary
Joint Secretary
Administrative Structure of Government of India
Source: www.arc.gov.in/viet.ppt retrieved on 06.12.2010
Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances
The Crumbling INSTITUTIONS
District Administration
Source: www.arc.gov.in/viet.ppt retrieved on 06.12.2010
Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances
District Collector
Regulatory Administration Development administration
Law and order
Land administration
Tax collection
Coordination
Points of Corruption common in India
The Crumbling INSTITUTIONS
• Political Corruption
• Administrative Corruption (Armed forces,
Foreign services, Customs, Taxation,
Excise, Environmental Boards, Forest)
• Business-linked Corruption (including
education, healthcare)
• Culture and ethics of citizens further
compound growth of corruption* It is a Catch-22 situation
The Crumbling INSTITUTIONS
• Fostering sources for Corruption
– Government Laws, Acts and Policies
– Discretionary Powers of Executive
– Lax Enforcement Agencies
– Business Environment & Framework
– High Inflation (Cost of Living)
– Vested Interest like Lobbyists
– Declining Moral Standards in Society
(Power, Anarchy, Greed)
Fighting CORRUPTION
• Who will POLICE the Police
• Systems and procedures are necessary to
keep check on Enforcement Agencies like
CBI, CID, Police, Armed Forces, Court
Judges, Octroi Officers, Factory
Inspectors, Forest Officials
• Media is the only body outside the direct
clutches of the Government and
Administration
MEDIA – To fight corruption
• One of the active tools to fight corruption world-wide
• Accessibility to huge masses
• Educating masses about an issue
• Opinion creation by presenting cases of people who have risen without being corrupt
• Highlighting wrongful practices hitherto unknown
• Bringing clarity to issues
The Road less TRAVELED
• Media and journalists especially should tread where “angels” fear
• Corruption should be brought out in day light
• It requires will and courage on the part of the 4th estate
• They have the tools and the eyeballs
• Promote cases of good Samaritans and role-models for the new generation
• All they need is to Deliver
The Road less TRAVELED
• Biggest example of the impact of Media -
Watergate Scandal involving US President
Richard Nixon in the 1970s
Source: http://photos14.flickr.com/17068074_1914a4097a_m.jpg in politicaltherapy.blogspot.com retrieved on 06.12.2010
The Fourth Estate - MEDIA
• The term Fourth Estate refers to
“Independence” of press according to
American concept
• Independence is accompanied with
obligation, responsibility and accountability
• Independence also includes culture and
ethics in reporting
Source: www.wikipedia.com
The Fourth Estate - MEDIA
• The original term Fourth Estate coined by Edmund Burke (1787) in a debate referring to press reporting
• Burke was Irish Statesman, author, orator and philosopher
Source: www.wikipedia.com
The Fourth Estate - MEDIA
“Burke said there were Three Estates in
Parliament; but, in the Reporters' Gallery
yonder, there sat a Fourth Estate more
important far than they all.”
Source: www.wikipedia.com
History of JOURNALISM
• Johannes Gutenberg‟s printing press revolutionized the world of journalism
• First daily newspaper – Daily Courant –1702
• The New York Times started in 1851
• Journalism has evolved many folds since the early 1700s
The Fourth Estate - MEDIA
• Fourth Estate has now given way to a
broader term – MEDIA
• All kinds of communication – electronic
(TV channels), digital, multimedia,
Internet, blogs, “tweets”, social network
apart from print media like newspaper and
magazines
• Media has become extremely active and
real-time in reporting with access to
masses
Media Reporting BIAS
• Strong bias exists in reporting especially in
India
• The voice and tone of discussions and
debates indicate the proclivity of a
particular individual if not the channel or
paper
• Selective reporting*
• Suppression of news ** Common in India
The VIEW or MY view
• Journalists are expected to report the facts
AS IT IS
• Associations sway THE view to a personal
view
• Journalists are mixing up the view
• Amanpour was also subtly charged with
lack of objectivity and a case of bias
during the Bosnian War Reporting
Ethics and ACCOUNTABILITY
• Society of Professional Journalists have a
Code of Ethics
– Seek Truth and Report It
– Minimize Harm
– Act Independently (Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than
the public‟s right to know)
– Be Accountable (Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and
each other) Source: http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp
Media – Corrupt or NOT
• Certain segments of Media are corrupt
• Recent Niira Radia tapes clearly shows
unethical practices in journalism
• The fine line between news snooping and
gathering to lobbying or ideological leaning
has been blurred
• Act Independently clause in the Code of
Ethics is generally not followed in India
The lure of TRP
• Higher TRP is directly linked to higher
advertisement revenue
• TRP is a huge factor behind news
reporting on either television or print media
• The aim is to break a news first and
ensure TRP rather than the follow-up story
Is it about MONEY?
• Talk shows are shallow and wavering
• Group discussion on television news
channels often show the coordinator in an
aggressive mode rather than being a
facilitator
• Often issues framed depending on pre-
determined conclusions
• Inconvenient views are shut down by
advertisement breaks and time outs
Is it about MONEY?
• Instances of selective reporting are rampant today
• Money does play an important role in media
• Funding of channels, newspapers and the personal aim of the funding agency are highly critical
• Channels do display left – right bias
• Need for focused funding to fight corruption through media
Breaking NEWS
• Christiane Amanpour shot into fame after
the Persian Gulf War reporting in CNN
• „Breaking News‟ was the keyword
• Indian media has made a mockery of the
criticality of „Breaking NEWS‟
• The assassination of a leader gets same
status as two youngsters of different
communities eloping and getting married
Role of Media exposé
• Media expose are meant to create
awareness
• To prompt agencies from being
complacent
• To highlight corruption at various levels
• To bring a closure to issues when
remedial measures are taken
• … not just Sensationalize and Fade
Break ke BAAD
• Media‟s Breaking NEWS does ensure
some amount of action from the
concerned agencies
• Recent Examples
– Lalit Modi case is an example
– CWG Games and Suresh Kalmadi
– A. Raja 2G Scam
– Adarsh Housing and ex-CM A. Chavan
– Yeddurappa‟s Land Scam
Break ke BAAD
• Most media are not COMMITTED to
follow-up reporting
• Example: CWG Scam – Do we know the
status today?
• „Public memory‟ is short and limited
• Awareness levels are low about general
issues (or issues beyond current domain)
• Lack of follow-up weakens any good story
and is pushed under the rug
Break ke BAAD
• Channels are in a rush to slot news items
as „Breaking NEWS‟
• The focus fast shifts to another story either
in a day or in couple of hours‟ time too
• The lure is for TRP
• Channels or papers clamoring to highlight
who “broke” the news first rather than the
quality and depth of reporting
Break ke BAAD
• Media is not so effective in weeding out
corruption because
– Lack of seriousness in reporting
– Lack of objectivity and independence
– Lack of detailed research and explanation
– Reporting bordering on advocacy of a cause
or issue
– Competing on breaking news with rivals
rather than quality
– Ad-hoc reporting, lack of focused, sustained
efforts
Break ke BAAD
• Example of good media:
– Tim Sebastien of BBC discussing the Doha
round of WTO
– The discussion is highlighted with multiple
views, public voice in the audience, multiple
episodes and seriousness in discussing and
reporting
Educating the MASSES
• Average population does not understand
politics, economics, administration or
finances
• Most corruption issues revolve around the
above factors
• People need to be educated about an
issue while reporting it so that the
significance or consequence is established
• The media is not doing it in India
Educating the MASSES
• For a layman -
– What is the meaning of GDP at 9%?
– What is fiscal deficit?
– What is the Hurriyat Conference?
– What is the Telengana issue?
– What is the 2G scam?
– What is the aim of JPC?
• 80% of the population will not be able to
answer the above
Changing scenario of MEDIA
• In the 80s it was the Newspaper
• In the 90s with cable TV, came various
news channels
• In the 21st century – it is the Internet
• The various streams – Tweeter, You Tube,
Blogs, Social Networks have
revolutionized the term „Media‟
Blistering BLOGS
• Today everyone with a view can be a
Journalist
• People can post their views on issues and
be heard too (this never happened earlier)
• The audience is the entire world and not
some parochial few
• People can debate on blogs through
comments and counter – comments
• How Amazing!
Blistering BLOGS
Source: ajayshahblog.blogspot.com
Truculent TWITTER
• People from the Taj Hotel „tweeted‟ about
themselves while being held hostage
during 26/11
• Tharoor‟s tweets cost him his job
• Modi‟s tweets during the IPL games have
put him in the dock finally
Truculent TWITTER
Vista on YOUTUBE
• Pictures don‟t lie
• Technology enablers like compact
Handycams, Mobile Phones help capture
live action
• Youtube has given the platform to the
masses to showcase events in video
format
Vista on YOUTUBE
Need is CONVERGENCE
Source: http://www.marketingonthebeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/convergence_media_journal_du_net.jpg retrieved on 06.12..2010
Need is CONVERGENCE
• Media can help fight corruption through
convergence of all avenues including
education
• Corruption issues need to be dealt with
news articles, TV channels, blogs and
discussions, frequent tweets, even videos
to prove the point
• Multiple sources of information will help
corroborate facts and bring out issues in
the open
Ethical DILEMMA
• Use of Media creates Ethical Dilemma in
certain instances
• Sensitive issues aired without due
verification can ruin image and reputation
of the innocent
• Respect for Privacy is another aspect that
needs to be considered
• Truth comes at a price
. . . Future
• Whistle blowers - support of media -
Satyendra Dubey - pointed out corruption
in Quadrilateral Project. More such cases
needed
• MNCs spend money in “educating
Indians”- Rebecca Mark had remarked in
1996 that Enron corporation had
* Spent $20 million to educate Indians-
euphemism for bribing political &
bureaucratic establishment
. . . Future
Combating Corruption
• Increasing political accountability
• Strengthening civil society participation- role of media included
• Creating competitive private sector
• Institutional restraint on power- checks & balances
• Improving public sector management
• Infuse corruption related awareness in our education system
. . . Future
Civil Society Participation
• Civil society - citizen groups, NGOs, trade unions, business associations, think tanks, academia, religious organizations, media
• Educational institutions should have in-depth sessions highlighting this issue and process for tackling the same
• Whistleblowers under RTI should be protected and helped in their mission
. . . Future
Civil Society Participation
Media can:
• Create awareness - (information) carry
surveys on corruption, service delivery,
diagnostic assessment - disseminate
information about existing pattern; bring
together anti-corruption groups
• Build opinion - sensitize, mobilize
. . . Future
Role of Media
• Lobby for new legislation, judicial reforms,
freedom of information,
• Publicize reports of Citizen Report Card
(initiative of Samuel Paul in Bangalore)
• Provide response mechanism to public so
that can give leads to media - toll free
numbers, websites etc.
• Coverage – to important happenings
. . . Future
Media – the strategy – Form partnerships
• Join hands with private companies/ government establishment/ NGOs/ advertising agencies.
• NGOs for mobilization, grass root contact;
• Private companies for funds, organizational support – E.g. Tata Tea advertisement “Jaago Re”
• Channels can be like National Geographic or Animal Planet – channel with a cause
. . . Future
Media – the strategy – Form partnerships
• Advertising agencies for research and
content development;
• Media - free space
Media – the strategy – Influencing Policy
• Positive Lobbying
• Putting pressure through editorial content
to critical issues afflicting the anti
corruption systems and building opinion
. . . Future
Media – the strategy – Influencing Policy
• Comparison of systems in other countries
• Highlighting best practices- in the country
& worldwide
• Providing platform to people wedded to
the cause – mouthpiece to reach the
masses
. . . Future
• The modern Media is highly evolved
• It is the right tool for fighting corruption
along with other avenues like Government,
Citizens and Ethics Committee
• Honesty and accuracy while reporting will
be of prime importance
• Unethical practices of journalists and
media have to be brought to light to build
credibility