Note:The conversation between Punya Prasun Bajpai, Aaj Tak anchor and Arvind Kejriwal, Aam Aadmi Party leader did not merit the attention it has unduly been given. Almost all interviews are conducted in the same format and with similar conversation between the interviewer and the interviewee.
Gopal Krishna
There is nothing wrong if a politician is suggesting that certain
issues should be highlighted or a helpful anchor is giving helpful
suggestions for an interview as long as the basic thrust and thought of
the interview is not diluted,
feels AMITABH SRIVASTAVA in his write up for The Hoot
Was
the Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and Aaj Tak anchor Punya
Prasun Bajpai talk before telecasting his interview really such a big
deal?
Having
been a political journalist for a very long period, I was very curious
to watch the video of the Aaj Tak anchor and supposedly the most
transparent politician of the country today.
By
evening almost all the TV channels were showing this video to their
viewers on prime time. But after watching the contents of the video,
frankly I felt terribly let down. It was not clear who the rival
channels were trying to expose - Kejriwal or Aaj Tak.
In
the ‘scoop’ leaked out to the media, Kejriwal is heard discussing with
Prasun that they should high-light the issue of Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom
because it touches the people at large, even though the anchor has his
reservations.
However,
the most ‘embarrassing’ issue that the rival channels tried to
high-light in the video was his admission that he did not want to talk
against corporate houses because it would hurt the sentiments of workers
and his potential vote-bank and the friendly anchor appears to agree
with him.
If
they were trying to expose Arvind Kejriwal implementing his ‘setting’
formula that he had advocated to the people of Delhi at his oath-taking
ceremony at Ramlila Ground, it did not matter. His popularity is not
dented even a bit after the exposé -- just look at the unending stream
of VIPs joining his party even after the telecast. I am only surprised
that the flood of donations to his party has not gone up after the video
telecast, as happens after every ruckus involving him.
And
if they were attacking Aaj Tak, the channel has clarified that it had
telecast the interview as it was -- without editing. And we have to take
their word for it till someone proves them wrong.
As a senior journalist of some standing, I find nothing ‘unusual’ in the bon-homie between an editor or anchor and politicians.
Political
journalists, at least I can speak with authority about print
journalists, know that the best news from politicians is always
off-the-record. And journos on the beat have to maintain that faith of
the politician because they cannot kill their source by any act of
indiscretion.
Which, by implication means that the on-record interview or quote of the netaji
is only what will not harm his interests? If this is SETTING, so be it.
If this is NEXUS, so be it. The relationship between a politician and
journalists is very fragile. It is a professional necessity.
There
was a time I had to write a political gossip column titled ‘Dilli
Durbar’ which appeared thrice a week in an eveninger of Delhi. My
column, embellished by cartoons sold like hot cakes in the evening. And
obviously, all this was possible because I was not quoting my sources
even though all the information was 100 per cent authentic.
I had clearly told the netas that I
knew our relationship was based on faith. I promised not to reveal
their names but they had to promise that they would never give me false
information. We maintained this trust as long as the column lasted and
no one was complaining -- my bosses were happy, the politicians were
happy and the readers were happy. We were running a tabloid and we had
our distinct identity in the market.
But
I can’t be presumptuous enough to think that what we did was the most
ethical thing to do or that we were the only successful print venture.
During my tenure with the eveninger, Pritish Nandy had taken over as the Editor of the Illustrated Weekly
and he gave a new definition to ethics in political journalism. He
stated that no talk with a journalist can be off-the-record. He asserted
that whenever a politician or any top personality talks to a journalist
he knows that he will be quoted and went with a tape-recorder to meet
them.
The reputation of the Weekly and its circulation went sky high. And soon the Weekly
acquired a reputation that anyone who wanted to quit his job gave his
last interview to Pritish Nandy -- because after his EXCLUSIVE
interview, today known as Bhadaas, appeared in print, he would not be
allowed to remain wherever he was. The Weekly became the last resort for political ‘martyrdom’ during the stewardship of Pritish Nandy.
So there we are. You have a right to take sides in this debate without being labeled an agent of Mukesh Ambani or anyone else.
I feel that there is nothing wrong if a politician is suggesting that
certain issues should be high-lighted or a helpful anchor is giving
helpful suggestions for an interview as long as the basic thrust and
thought of the interview is not diluted.
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