Navika Kumar Apologises: Navika Kumar, a popular journalist on Indian television, is often in news herself for sensationalist coverage of current issues. Who can forget her displaying “exclusive” pictures of Sushant Singh Rajput’s dead body on her news channel! Thought this circus could go no low? Lo and behold, she was recently trending as #KachraNavika for using a derogatory term in reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi!
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While it is a reporter's job to sell news, are Indian journalists not guilty of overselling news? Yes, last night the senior journalist also took to Twitter and apologised for her comments writing “The momentary lapse in the flow of conversation in using an unparliamentary word on air was in the context of describing the political situation in Punjab which Shri Rahul Gandhi thought had been addressed before he took a break but persisted ironically at the time of his return." Kumar further wrote that the context of her comment was certainly not to describe any person as is being misquoted. "As can be seen in the clip, it was unintentional and immediately retracted. Sincere apologies for the same," she concluded.
The incident took place when Kumar was on a panel discussion soon after former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from the Congress party as state unit chief.
Isn't this an entitled apology? Don't you smell personal bias here? And can it be a momentary lapse? Isn't it a journalist's first responsibility to remain neutral, factually accurate and not let their personal opinions/biases come in way of their reporting or commentary? Yes, media is the fourth pillar of democracy and it has the right to criticise the establishment. It is not new for Kumar to create a sensation- she recently asked Olympic Gold Medalist Neeraj Chopra if he had a girlfriend!
The parent company behind the news channel Republic TV also filed a defamation complaint at New Delhi’s Patiala House court against Kumar alleging she made “rabid and unfounded claims” against Arnab Goswami in the TRP scam case.
Earlier, four Bollywood industry associations and thirty-four leading Bollywood production houses pleaded the court to direct specifically Arnab Goswami and Pradeep Bhandari of Republic TV, and Times NOW, specifically Rahul Shivshankar and Navika Kumar.
It is unfortunate that a large part of the audience is not able to decipher the truth from the bias. Media houses are increasingly been driven by ratings and accuracy takes a back seat when the aim is to provoke public interest and excitement. And sensationalism is not just bad for the public but journalism too.
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Apologies Won't Keep Personal Biases From Creeping Into Media Reporting
Isn't it a journalist's first responsibility to remain neutral?
Navika Kumar Apologises: Navika Kumar, a popular journalist on Indian television, is often in news herself for sensationalist coverage of current issues. Who can forget her displaying “exclusive” pictures of Sushant Singh Rajput’s dead body on her news channel! Thought this circus could go no low? Lo and behold, she was recently trending as #KachraNavika for using a derogatory term in reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi!
While it is a reporter's job to sell news, are Indian journalists not guilty of overselling news? Yes, last night the senior journalist also took to Twitter and apologised for her comments writing “The momentary lapse in the flow of conversation in using an unparliamentary word on air was in the context of describing the political situation in Punjab which Shri Rahul Gandhi thought had been addressed before he took a break but persisted ironically at the time of his return." Kumar further wrote that the context of her comment was certainly not to describe any person as is being misquoted. "As can be seen in the clip, it was unintentional and immediately retracted. Sincere apologies for the same," she concluded.
The incident took place when Kumar was on a panel discussion soon after former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from the Congress party as state unit chief.
Isn't this an entitled apology? Don't you smell personal bias here? And can it be a momentary lapse? Isn't it a journalist's first responsibility to remain neutral, factually accurate and not let their personal opinions/biases come in way of their reporting or commentary? Yes, media is the fourth pillar of democracy and it has the right to criticise the establishment. It is not new for Kumar to create a sensation- she recently asked Olympic Gold Medalist Neeraj Chopra if he had a girlfriend!
The parent company behind the news channel Republic TV also filed a defamation complaint at New Delhi’s Patiala House court against Kumar alleging she made “rabid and unfounded claims” against Arnab Goswami in the TRP scam case.
Earlier, four Bollywood industry associations and thirty-four leading Bollywood production houses pleaded the court to direct specifically Arnab Goswami and Pradeep Bhandari of Republic TV, and Times NOW, specifically Rahul Shivshankar and Navika Kumar.
It is unfortunate that a large part of the audience is not able to decipher the truth from the bias. Media houses are increasingly been driven by ratings and accuracy takes a back seat when the aim is to provoke public interest and excitement. And sensationalism is not just bad for the public but journalism too.
The views expressed are the author's own.
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