Friday 14 April 2017

Reality of Rural India: Why media must give space to stories of rural India, show reality from the ground

Rural areas have been getting out of focus.

Issues like malnutrition, poor health facilities, condition of tribals, lack of employment, non-availability of teachers in schools, scarcity of water, just to name a few.

Further, some amenities are just available in urban areas and poor get them by default. After this report was published in the newspaper, people have come forward to help the family.

Job offered to the father in a mill and social organisations have also acted. It started happening nearly 10-15 yrs ago when media owners decided to under-report these things.

That something which will disturb you, must not be carried prominently & only good, positive news be shared.

This concept or 'TG'--target group affected journalism and society in a big way. For example, if five people are killed in a slum, it would not be a page 1 news but if one person gets a knife scar in a posh locality, splash it as lead.

It helps everybody--businesshouses, those who give ads, govts, everyone. Still, sometime some people somewhere carry stories. There is positive impact too.

Media needs to tell stories, inform readers about what is happening around us. We all must know the state of affairs. Feel good that Dainik Bhaskar published this report in its local edition.

 They may not have carried it in their Bhopal or Jaipur or Raipur editions because perhaps it pricks conscience. When we spend hundreds and thousands on food in restaurant, this photograph comes to haunt.

So why the reader get a guilty conscience! That's the idea of corporate journalism. Still, there is need for media to tell the people the real situation.

Publish ten stories of hope, success and achievement but give space to one or two stories that show what the lack of implementation on ground can do. For now, thanks to the journos who published it. Good to know that local people have come forward to help the family.