Wednesday, May 7, 2014

'Objectivity comes at a price' by K.J.S.Chatrath


It is so easy to move over from one TV news channel to another. Just a click of the remote and you get a different perspective. But it is more complicated in case of newspapers. One gets addicted to the newspapers that one reads and finds it very difficult to switch over to different papers.

I have long been reading the Times of India, and staying in Panchkula, The Tribune for the local news. With the election news elbowing out every other news, and there being serious talk of 'paid news',I decided to move over to, what I feel is a more objective newspaper- The Hindu.

I have been reading The Hindu for a week now and find its handling of stories, especially of the political ones, much more objective and balanced with considerably less advertisements.

This morning, for the first time I saw the price tag of this paper. I was taken aback. A daily edition of this paper is priced at Rs.8. The Times of India is priced at Rs.3 and the Hindustan Times and The Tribune at Rs.4 each.

So the objectivity comes at a price. So be it.

I have decided to continue with The Hindu.

2 comments:

  1. Chat, the newspapers have to make money to survive. Earlier, before economic liberalization, the newspapers were dependent upon Government patronage and spoke for the Government always. Then they started depending more and more upon business advertisements. So they started printing what the businesses wanted. Now they are entirely dependent upon MNC's for full page ads so they will always sing praises of MNCs. Newspapers like Hindu are more dependent upon subscription money so will be more objective and write what is good for the reader. So pay on. Its worth it. Other newspapers are just coloured rags.

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  2. I fully agree with your analysis. My apologies for the delay as some how it had slipped me.

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