It is a common argument made against media that it always try to put words into the mouths of those personalities who are interviewed. Most of the time, it must be confessed, that the efforts are deliberate and look inquisitive, especially with the prominent members of the government or for that matter, even the opposition. What is necessary is to note that the media is a recognized body by the Constitution, Government and even the Judiciary to attain such a role if that allows it to draw info in the pursuance of larger truth. All the time media has dealt with half-truths and cajoling, comforting statements; it is the high time --since there are a shine of good journalists available--that the polity be pressed to a larger extent.
First: those who crib at media being iconoclastic, eloquent should be ashamed of such accusation. The ministers must out-smart media as it should be expected on such grounds of speechifying, dissertation or eloquence. The media acts as a votary of the common billions and they are under tremendous pressure themselves in their approach towards the scrabbling of truth out of deep hearts and minds.
Second: even the politicians or ministers have the common sense as to which media is relevant and which is yellow sphere. They always have the option to put off the requests of those who sensationalize or don't have the audience who can be nationally serious and concerning. But the contemporary times allow such media flair to exist and exist brilliantly where if the spokesmen of one party aren't coming to defend themselves, the spokesmen of the opposition would gobble all the time against the government---a fete which media can only but enjoy along with the viewers. So, the onus is always on the existing ministries to come to the channels (or panels) that matter and issue a defensive. This is a good sign and will only help in improving system--making it more accountable and transparent if any--and will do a great service to the commoner on the street by allowing him to participate by mere gesture of listening. (though they can always move to the media grounds and make comments or ask questions.)
Third: Many a faces of the party politics have been surfaced bare by the strength of media. Media may go overboard but it is one such institution that can admissibly do so without much harm. The reason for which would be a lopsided side the media has in the initial phases of any inquiry or investigation. When politicians themselves plunge to use lies of mammoth sizes, they can't blame media to concoct such questions which disrepute them or their party. They can't expect the same style of functioning from media, which doesn't even have such. Instead, they must present themselves, through their spokesmen or otherwise, and their ingenuous response on any matter as is being asked to. They can choose not to answer and dodge if they want. It will only ensure the audience who is the lucky lot after years to see the simultaneous jousting live between the government and the opposition and thus are able to understand many crafty angles to each discourse.
It is therefore important that the every participating side has such spokesmen who speak articulate, have strengths of eloquence and are intelligent. So far, this is in fact the case at least with Congress, BJP, BJD. I hope this continues and such shrewd tactics as to muzzle the media by means unconstitutional on mere ground that it pinches more and more, are not going to serve any purpose. The government may try to opt such means but only if the light is brought out to them that tomorrow they vacate the treasury benches as the voter may wish so and in that case their voice perhaps would be resounded by the same media on similar occasions. The biggest solace for me, personally, is that the commoner enjoys a lot: this flow of info, bickering, intelligent questions and responses-- all validating the tag of 'argumentative Indian' in a glittering way.
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