Bribing the media? Unthinkable!

The media-both print and electronic-are at the crossroads with social media and platforms like Twitter and Facebook virtually invading our lives, ‘connecting’ us like never before whether we really like it or not, making sure nothing that happens in the public domain, goes unnoticed. There was a time when politicians-both of the ruling party and the opposition- used to be dismissive of media reports about a scam or allegation but not anymore.

Nowadays, we see politicos scurrying for cover when coming under the onslaught of probing TV cameras and newspaper reporters, trying to be as righteous as they can be for they know that a weak link in their public utterances would be quick to be exposed, causing a huge embarrassment. Friday saw a huge outcry over reports that the office of none other than Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, had sent out Diwali gift boxes with cash gifts to several journalists and editors.

Questions are now being raised whether they were a bribe to keep powerful ‘friends’ in the media in good stead ahead of the crucial Karnataka Assembly polls, due in a few months from now. The CM has denied the charge asserting that he did not know of any attempt to bribe the media adding that this was a conspiracy by the opposition to malign his image. Bribes as we all know, come in handy when one is on weak ground and wants to buttress criticism.

Nowadays in government departments, whether one has ensured the paperwork is immaculate or not, bribes still have to be paid for they have become an ‘accepted routine’ of public life. The BJP government in the state has been at the receiving end of a lot of criticism for its inability to address people’s woes including the crumbling infrastructure in the capital city, Bengaluru.

Prices of essential commodities have been galloping much to the common man’s dismay. The floods caused by unusually heavy rains, have caused widespread havoc and the government has been found wanting on many counts. The media has been quick to highlight these issues much to the chagrin of the government and the brickbats have inevitably followed leaving the saffronists squirming because of charges of non-performance and corruption.

There is no doubt that the media in all its forms today, relies heavily on the government for its operations for state ads bring in much needed revenue. In fact there have been charges that this ‘over-dependence’ on the government could lead to unbalanced reporting and media bias. And there have been situations in the past when journos critical of government policies have come under the scanner with allegations being made that they are being targeted.

But despite all this, there are men and women of integrity in the profession who would cock a snook at any attempt to bribe the media and so this episode involving the CM’s office has come under severe criticism.

In fact some of the journos who received the so-called gifts have returned them to prove a point that professional ethics matters more than anything else-the lure of money or other allurements. Whoever thought of this ridiculously silly attempt to ‘bribe’ the media should be hauled over the coals for such attempts besmirch the fair name of the profession.

Scribes may be under severe threat for speaking the truth and may be facing challenges-economic and otherwise -but the full-blooded professional will continue to uphold the ethos of journalism and make sure the truth is spoken-whether those in power like it or not.