Thursday, October 9, 2014

media a two way dialogue

I have been a very ardent follower of media reportage long before I become an entertainment journalist.Cut to the good old days of print and electronic media when we would love to read articles/ watch interviews of people who we did not agree with Although even then we abused them we had no option to reply formally. As letters to editors hardly ever got space and were least read I guess. Feedback good bad or ugly (I have got my share of ugly ones) really came into own post the social media revolution.Every hard hitting article /interview immediately invites large number of comments.And since the comments mirror the views of people on both sides of the fence the comments just keep multiplying. Earlier since we had no way of knowing how others feel it is not a matter of right or wrong if a view is widely held,it gains currency) we would cow down and the writer/speak would get away. Todaythanks to instant feedback,there is no escape for missing facts In such an environmentthe essence and value of the write up/ video interview many times looses values, if read in conjunction with comments.And those who oppose the write up/ interview will surely bother more to comment then those who agree. However while I welcome this democratization of the media debate which till now was a monologue. Some of the reactions are complete below the belt as well Abuses are hurled about personal lives of the writers . And if one false hood is repeatedly several times,it is considered true.Such assumptions might destroy reputations and personal lives.