tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323210.post8146314352853981927..comments2023-11-05T15:12:03.559+05:30Comments on M.J. Akbar - The Sunday Guardian : Scripture of deceitM J Akbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372493873446290094noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323210.post-49582558642840098022010-12-07T02:23:19.182+05:302010-12-07T02:23:19.182+05:30I certainly agree that the journalists involved ar...I certainly agree that the journalists involved are probably not corrupt, if you define corruption only when money changes hands. However, their behavior is more than stupid; it is outright unethical and immoral. Perhaps the hindi word adharm is more appropriate. <br /><br />For me, these journalists have lost their credibility, for I do not trust their opinion any more. I am also sad to see some papers which I held in high regard, like the Asian Age and The Hindu, lose their standing with me because of the delay in reporting that involved fellow journalists. <br /><br />I would not fault Ms Radia or Mr. Tata. She is a known lobbyist, dedicated to the welfare of her client. India is a democracy, after all, and she has the freedom to promote the interests of her clients with any and all institutions, including the government. However, if it is proven that she bribed officials, or had a hand in such a venture, she has committed a crime and should be punished accordingly. <br /><br />The same goes for Mr. Tata. He is only guilty if he approved the bribes. Mr. Tata and Ms. Radia may lose face in the court of public opinion as being immoral, unethical and stupid, but are not guilty in the court of law unless they transferred money knowingly to achieve their goals.<br /><br />Mr. Raja, on the other hand, is a public official, and the bar of ethics and morality is higher for him, and if it is proven that he has taken gifts of money or materials, is also guilty of corruption.Barry O'Toolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08551409763192380545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8323210.post-36234313168897576032010-12-06T07:48:37.476+05:302010-12-06T07:48:37.476+05:30The rise of TV news has been of great benefit to t...The rise of TV news has been of great benefit to the nation, but it has also lead to a situation where some journalists, who appear on TV everyday, have turned into celebrities. Since they are hobnobbing with celebrities, filmstars and politicians day after day in front of the TV cameras, they can’t help but become like them. So TV news over a period of time becomes like Page 3 gossip on newspapers. <br /><br />Some TV channels have actually been able to avoid the lure of celebrity-hood. For instance, there is Headlines Today. This channel was the first to break the spectrum scam. I heard about the A Raja tapes for the first time in a 9 PM show on this channel. But there are other TV channels (one in which the lady journalist at the heart of Radia tapes controversy is working) who seem to be soft on corruption.<br /><br />The thing is that even if some big media organisations try to stifle a story, the other channels and Internet based outlets are going to pick it up. News has now started travelling through may different routes. India has already become an “information society”. Tapes and documents are going to get leaked, and people are eventually going to find out by one way or other. <br /><br />The biggest losers in this case will be people who have compromised on their integrity. They will be exposed. And next time when they have anything to say, their viewers will take their words with a pinch of salt. I must once again say that without Headlines Today, the 2G scam story would never have become so big. Headlines Today is doing a great service to the nation.Anoop Vermahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07243909072743938534noreply@blogger.com