Mangalore : It is Roles Reversed for Rajdeep and Sagarika
by Florine Roche
Pics : Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Mar 7: Eminent media couple CNN-IBN's Rajdeep Sardesai and his wife Sagarika Ghosh were in Mangalore yesterday to unveil the portrait of cricketer late Dilip Sardesai at the Hall of Fame at World Konkani Centre at Shaktinagar. After the formal function a media interaction was arranged over dinner and the media couple answered a range of questions fired by the journos that ranged from the need of a regulatory body to the media to the control of media by businessmen. The couple also answered personal questions like what channel their children watch, to what news channels the couple watch other than CNN-IBN which they run to paid news and sting operations. But they opposed the idea of a government controlled regulatory body which would pave the way for indirect control over the media by the government.
Rajdeep Sardesai was quite forthcoming when he said that a statutory regulatory body was the only alternative to exercise some control over the media which has failed to have self restraint in its coverage of news. When asked whether he as chief of Editors’ Guild could do something about regulating the media he said “I can be own responsibility for what we broadcast in our channel. But I cannot impose it on other channels. The only way out is a to have a regulatory body comprising people from within and outside media with powers to impose fine or other measures that compels the channels to observe self restraint. Citing the recent example of fire in Carlton Towers in Bangalore recently where some channels showed the video clippings of people jumping to death he explained “when we saw the clippings we sent out messages not to broadcast such clippings which would hurt the sentiments of relatives of the victims and also others involved. Despite this some Kannada channels went on showing them and I could do nothing about it”.
He was quite vocal when he said the media was responsible for catapulting people like Pramod Muthalik and Raj Thackeray to fame saying “without media these people would not have risen to the 15 minute fame they have acquired which they don’t deserve”. When asked whether 24X7 news channel was a good idea he said that it was both a good and bad idea as it keeps them in tenterhooks often forcing channels to go for sensationalism to providing the so called ‘breaking news’ which all channels resort to in order to grab viewers attention, which is of course not good.
The couple lamented that competition has failed to improve the quality of the programmes broadcast on news channels. “It is really worrying to note that the quality has deteriorated instead of improving”. Sagarika also expressed apprehensions about the deteriorating standards of students of journalism in the country and said the freshers have not been taught the basic skills of a journalist which has in a way contributed to the deteriorating standards of broadcasting.
Reacting to a query related to the sting operations carried out by the television channels Rajdeep pointed out that it is worrying to note that so far sting operations are confined only to politicians and corporate houses have been left out of sung operations. It does not mean that corporate houses free of corruption. He said it could be because some journalists are fanning to the whims of the corporate houses. Rajdeep also expressed his fears on the growing tendency of business houses and politicians getting control of the media. Giving the example of Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Panjab where politicians and businessmen having media control and stated that it is not an encouraging trend as the media may not be able to function freely and fearlessly.
When asked in what way his channel was different from others Rajdeep stated that he never claimed to be different from others. At the same time he felt that the channels should be independent and neutral (truthful) as far as possible.
Sagarika lamented the fact that despite their channel not patronizing any political party their channel has come to be identified as “pro-Congress”. “I am unable to pinpoint the exact reason of getting this tagline when we have been equally vehement in criticizing the Congress like any other political party, Sagarika muttered under the breath greatly irritated by what she felt was unfair to brand them as pro-Congress.
The couple agreed that while they keep a tab on their own channels side by side they watch Hindi news channels to keep a watch on ‘what is happening’ as they felt Hindi channels are trifle quick when it comes to getting hold of news within no time. Rajdeep emphasized the role of local language channels in future and said CNN-IBN was all set to launch its Kannada channel but the economic downturn put a break on their grandiose plans. They however did not rule out the possibility of starting the Kannada language channel in the near future.
The couple said their children prefer watching their own favourite channels. “Our son watches sports channels and Animal Planet as he prefers watching animals there than watching these animals (referring to them)” he said in lightervein and our daughter too has her own preferences when it comes to watching channels”.
Rajdeep denied his son had any plans to follow his parents saying that his son has been showing interest in medicine and there is no chance of ‘like father like son’.
The couple enjoyed the traditional dinner served on the occasion and they highly appreciated the fish and the prawn curry served for dinner. Sagarika said the taste of the fish curry would goad her to come to Mangalore often. The couple also had a great appreciation for the press.
It was indeed a fruitful evening and the media too had fun in having a lively and thought provoking discussion considering the fact that the people on the other side belonged to their own ilk.