मशहूर पत्रकार राजदीप सरदेसाई ने मुंबई हमले के कुछ दिनों बाद डीएनए में WE DIDN’T GO OVER THE TOP शीर्षक से लेख लिखकर अटैक के दौरान इलेक्ट्रानिक मीडिया की भूमिका को व्याख्यायित किया और इसे सही बताया। राजदीप के लेख में कही गई बातों का एक-एक कर जवाब दिया है नवभारत टाइम्स, मुंबई की कापी एडीटर रीना पारीक ने। रीना ने अपना खुला पत्र भड़ास4मीडिया को भेजा है, जो अंग्रेजी में है। इसे हूबहू प्रकाशित किया जा रहा है। -संपादक
Dear Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai,
This is with reference to your article “WE DIDN’T GO OVER THE TOP”.
I am a journalist too and I must say that electronic media people not only went OVER THE TOP but also made a mockery of the whole issue. You have compared the recent attack to that of 9/11 attack. In 9/11 attack, the terrorist blew up the world Trade centre whereas in Mumbai attack, we were still fighting with the terrorists and many lives were at stake. With the terrorists having satellite phones and some unknown mentor in some other country providing them with live updates (Thanks to electronic media), they became even more powerful.
Ok! You don’t buy this logic.
Even then, why take a chance? How did you make sure that such a thing was not happening? Were the security forces fools to black out all the TV channels, or you know more than them?
I don’t deny the fact that journalist showed enormous courage and covered every bit of news, but did they hardly realize that they were creating a problem for the security forces and the commandos. As if the terrorist crisis was not enough for them, the electronic media people were ready to burden them with extra work. (Do they take care of the hostages or keep making sure that media persons and onlookers keep out of their way).
In such a grave situation where people were already horrified and tensed, you people were busy gathering “BREAKING NEWS”.
I was at CST station when the rumour about firing occurred. People were running here and there, but I did not hear a single fire. After enquiry I came to know it was just a rumour. Don’t you think that such highly sensitive news needs to be verified first? But how could you people wait? By the time you verify, some other channel will break the news.
What’s more important for a journalist “BREAKING NEWS” or “GENUINE NEWS”. What kind of filtration did you do with the CST news? Did you get to know the effect of such news? Within minutes, calls started pouring from all over India (from our relatives) to my dad and they were petrified. This would have happened to lakhs of people whose kith and kin went to work. (Thanks a million for your apology for that news).
I agree that television is a window to the outside world, but please tell me what difference it would have made if the news broadcasting was done with a gap of some hours instead of breaking it live. If you people were so keen to show live action then why the frills of commercials in between?
May I know who the survivor was who said “WHILE THE TV CHANNELS WERE ON WE FELT SECURE”?
I can give you the example of a survivor couple who clearly told the print media that news channel (CNN) had put their lives on risk by showing details of their whereabouts in the hotel while they were hiding from the militants. (DNA – 1/12/08 pg-10 “NEWS CHANNELS PUT OUR LIVES AT RISK”).
Please let me know what kind of benefit did anyone get from your “Live” Broadcast. Of course, every body wanted to know how the events unfolded but not at the cost of lives of hundreds of people trapped there.
The most inhuman act was interviewing people immediately after being rescued.
People do make mistakes but you justifying your acts and glorifying them is hurting even more. I feel my words are a little harsh. But I am fuming with anguish and pain. So speaking my heart out, after watching all those heart-rending scenes of victims and brave commandos who laid their lives for our safety.
We are totally prepared for the insensitive and baseless fights by the political parties to follow this attack, but please don’t stand among them and add to our woes.
Regards,
REENA PAREEK.
(NAVBHARAT TIMES. MUMBAI)
रीना से संपर्क उनकी मेल आईडी [email protected] के जरिए किया जा सकता है।
