Media Monopoly: The Game They Play

Journalism has evolved in India over the last 30 years. Apart from technological changes, spread and reach, there has been a rising clout of a very few owners. In other words, there is growing concentration of media ownership. The increasing control of the media by a handful of corporate entities means that more and more it is, they who control “what the average Indian reads, sees, and hears.

Some of India’s media conglomerates with interests in television, print, internet, filmed entertainment, mobile content and allied businesses are Network18, Times Group, India Today group, New Delhi Television, UTV, Eenadu group etc.

The good news is that the Indian government allows foreign equity only upto 26 per cent of total equity in news category channels and print media. As a result, joint venture television channels in the news category are restricted at the moment to English news channels; like CNN-1BN, Times Now- Reuters, UTVi- ABC to name a few. Also with 26 per cent equity, a foreign owner cannot control the television channel or its editorial policy because his equity will allow him only to have one or two nominees on the Board of Directors.

The bad news is corporation of news due to media monopoly. Corporate ethic is so single-minded about extreme fast profits and expanded control over the media business that it is willing to convert news into a service for the affluent customers wanted by the media’s advertisers instead of a source of information significant for the whole of society. Thereby, damaging the Indian democracy.

There were large numbers of farmers committing suicide in different parts of the country. For the owners of the media, the newspapers, the magazines and the television channels, what makes news is different. There are no readers and viewers but consumers. The idea is to bring the advertiser closer to the consumer. Therefore unlike before when newspapers were perceived as effective tool to bring social change in the society,newspapers today are mere consumer product like soap or toothpaste.

Yet another by product of media monopoly is cross-media ownership. Cross-media ownership is threat to democracy and journalism. Unfortunately, whenever there is talk about restrictions on cross-media ownership, namely that one particular newspaper group or one particular media organization should not dominate all media in a particular area, be it in print, radio or television, there is a big hue and cry. There are restrictions in the U.S. or Australia, however in Indian this restriction is objected by the media fraternity saying its infringement on freedom of expression, a right enshrined in the constitution of India. If it is a business like any other business, then should media firms be regulated like any other business? When the central interests of the controlling corporations are at stake, mainstream news becomes heavily weighted by whatever serves the economic and political interests of the corporations that own the media.

During elections, the politicians are seen giving bytes to their favorable news channels thereby regulating the behavior and decisions of the people. Rarely, news channels focus on their past manifesto and their past record. Politicians become the lead players on the TV screen during pre-election period.NDTV 24×7 is considered to be pro-Congress. The owner and editor of Eenadu group supports Telugu Desam party while actor Chiranjeevi has stake in TV9 group is soon to form his independent party.

Mukesh Ambani plans to venture into news segments is a classic example of corporate owned media. Wrong doings of such large corporates are likely to be under wraps due to its presence in the news media. Also many corporates see venture into news segment a control over the government interference in their business dealings. Even real estate companies are not far behind, Triveni a real estate company is soon to have its own 24 hours news channel.

Dominant media corporations can set the national agenda. For instance the Jessica Lal case became the national agenda as soon as mainstream news channels took up the story. That’s not it; mainstream news channels even had a trail in the news room itself wherein the verdict was given out on the cases even before the court judgment. Excessing media coverage though brought some of the high prestigious cases on the public platform for discussion which resulted in quick trail. It is said that final judgments were influenced by the media interference.

Media Monopoly endorses surrogate advertising. NDTV joint venture with Kingfisher NDTV Good Times channel is nothing but an example of surrogate advertising of Alcohol brand Kingfisher.

Growing intolerance towards independent media due to media monopoly was witnessed in India when, Tehelka and alternative independent magazine run by Tarun Tejpal, office was confiscated and shut down. It diminishes diversity and marginalises the smaller voices in the media.

Media is today for the elite, by the elite and of the elite. Mainstream media at present do not cater to the needs of the dalits, adivasis etc. After all they are not their prestigious readers or viewers. Hence issues like reservation, farmer’s suicide; slum demolition take a back seat or is one sided. This situation gets worse when it comes to the English media; these issues are not followed at all.

Journalism code of conduct and ethics are endangered. Reporting should be balanced and should provide the full story, different points of view, the proper perspective, the historical, social and economic perspectives. Media monopoly results in homogenization of news. In a democratic nation people have to be informed in order to make right decisions. With homogenisation of news, readers and viewers are restricted to views of the majority and not alternative views. In the name of being first with the news, ‘facts’ are published which may not be verified, allegations are made which may not be substantiated, and the basic duty of trying to get the other side of the story is ignored.

Not to forget, increase in entertainment pages or programmes. After all entertainment news serves as fodder for 24 hours running news channels and publications in today’s time. Page 3 as it is popularly known which is nothing but paparazzi or yellow journalism has ruined journalism to the core. Page 3 articles appear on the front pages of national dailies. Marriage ceremonies of celebrities are telecasted throughout the day on national news channels. News channels have allotted time for crime shows featuring actors donning as investigators. To sum up, media monopoly is the root cause for dumbing down the news.

Below are few links on the same subject:

THE MEDIA MONOPOLY

Monopoly Media Manipulation

Media Ownership in UK

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