Simplified Laws Guide to Taxation and Legal Concern All news channels have a common feature – 24X7 BREAKING NEWS. What is breaking news? Is it news that has just come in? Is it out an event that is currently happening?
If you go by common sense, breaking news is about an event or situation which is unexpected and surprising or shocking. For example, an earthquake, a plane crash, fire etc. Do you agree? If this is the meaning, then how why do all news channels beam 24 * 7 ‘Breaking News’?
News – the present and the past: When I was a kid, we had limited access to news. Either it was through All India Radio (AIR) news or through newspapers. Fortunately, there were no breaking news channels.
I vaguely remember of a mishap that took place in the late 70s. AIR was reporting about this incident wherein around 100 people died. While discussing about this incident, the elders at home said “If AIR is telling that 100 people died, in actual at least 300 people would have died”
Today, the situation is quite different. The breaking news channels will broadcast ‘1,000 people feared dead’ and we at home discuss that ‘If it is shown as 1,000 dead, actually only 500 would have died”. Do you agree?
This is the difference. Today, there is a great degree of exaggeration in breaking the news whereas in the past, there was a mild and sobered attempt to convey bad news to the people of this country.
This is not all. Recently, I was watching a channel wherein they were showing a fire mishap at Mumbai. Instead of focusing on the topic, the channel was driving two points to the viewers, namely (a) EXCLUSIVELY PICTURES ON …………..TV ONLY and (b) FIRST ON …………………TV. The question is – so what? Is it something which one has to take credit for? Will the viewers ‘applaud’ the great achievements of the channel crews, when the building is burning?
This apart, many a times, breaking news gives misleading information. Let me highlight 3 instances in the recent past –
Cabinet clears GST Bill, will be operational from April 2016 – This was a breaking news in one of the news channels. (Followed by a day long discussion) So, as a common man, if you read this information, what conclusion will you draw? It’s simple. GST is ready and will be operational from April 2016. Agree? But is this the right fact? Is the cabinet clearing GST bill sufficient to put GST in place? Factually, it is incorrect because –
- GST Bill was not cleared, instead GST Constitutional Amendment Bill was cleared.
- The Bill was then to be placed in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Only after both the houses pass the Bill and get the assent of the President, it becomes an Act or amendment to the Act.
- Subsequent to passing amendment bill, GST Bill has to be cleared in cabinet, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, get President’s approval and approval from 15 state assemblies. Only thereafter, GST will be operational in India!
Second instance – ‘The court is pronouncing the judgment today. If the person is convicted, he will have to be in jail for 5 years’. During such days, the news channels will have 2 – 3 breaking news – one at the bottom (red color), another at the top (yellow color) and the third one comes like a flash (in maroon color with white letters). Have you observed?
This tamasha will be telecast throughout the day coupled with panel discussion. Finally, at 3.30 pm or so, the verdict comes and the person is convicted.
So, by watching breaking news, what will be your impression? You will think that the convicted person will be jailed for 5 years, isn’t it? Again, it is factually misleading because
- The verdict was pronounced by a lower court
- The convict can go for an appeal at higher courts
- The courts generally admit bail applications and grant it, unless the convict is a criminal and there is a high chance of him fleeing away from the country or tampering with the evidence.
So, the day long (waste of time) event will wrap up by the court granting a bail by 6 pm!
Third Breaking news – “The Black Money Act is passed and evaders will be jailed for 10 years”. So, if you watch this program, your take away is that the tax evaders will be jailed for 10 years i.e, if the department catches a tax evader, he will be sent to jail for 10 years. Is this the correct information? Again, it is a misleading breaking news –
- First of all, the department will have to issue a notice
- Give sufficient time for the evader to respond
- Then raise a tax demand
- The tax evader will get an opportunity to go against the demand at 2-3 higher levels (courts)
- Finally, if the tax evader fails to succeed, then he can be sent to jail. There also he will have sufficient re-course before actually getting sentenced.
So, breaking news that 10 years jail term is a bit misleading.
Similarly, some of the breaking news will accuse individuals or institutions and later retract from such allegations (after gathering facts and figures).
It was not the case in the past. There was no excitement in beaming the facts and figures. Even private newspapers were publishing the news, after a thorough background check. While hearing or reading, one used to feel the ‘neutral’ voice of the media. Today, watching news will increase one’s blood pressure.
The moderation and the honesty of the past, coupled with the use of latest technology and gadgets, can enable modern news to give better experience to the viewers/readers. Media should, instead of rousing their emotions, permit citizens to form their own opinion.
Thought for the day
Two things define you. Your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything.
