In a revealing and concerning development, nearly 60 percent of the orders issued by the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) over the past three years have targeted programs that breached its ethics code on communal harmony. This statistic, drawn from an analysis of NBDSA orders since 2023, underscores a disturbing race to the bottom in the media landscape, characterized by brutish and cynical tactics.
The Race to the Bottom in Media
Amidst intensifying competition in an increasingly crowded and fragmented media environment, television channels and digital broadcasters have opted for a path of maximum shrillness and minimal resistance. They have transformed into megaphones for the powerful and the hateful, mimicking the worst aspects of social media, which rewards extremes, outrage, and spectacle. This shift has led to a jostling among channels and platforms to abandon journalistic responsibility, framing news in ways that propagate divisive specters and stereotypes.
High Costs of Media Abdication
The consequences of this abdication are severe and multifaceted. There is an unchecked sharpening of polarization, which shrinks spaces for meaningful deliberation and dialogue. In a plural and diverse democracy like India, constitutionally committed to protecting citizens' freedom to profess, practice, and propagate their religion, this backsliding is particularly alarming. The fraying of democratic promises is not the only price paid; there is also a significant erosion of trust in the media institutions themselves.
Their relentless pursuit of viewership at all costs undermines their own credibility and that of the broader media industry. This is evident today in declining TV audiences and the increasing irrelevance of channels that rely on clickbait images, gladiatorial contests, and hate-filled screens. Additionally, growing signs of citizen disengagement from a public sphere of shared understandings highlight the broader societal impact.
NBDSA's Role and Limitations
It is a positive step that the self-regulatory body, the NBDSA, has called out the targeting of minorities. By drawing attention to attempts to paint communities as the Other—singular, aggressive, and conservative—the NBDSA has performed a crucial function. However, its power is limited to gentle prodding and nudging. The responsibility to halt this dismal noise, which masquerades as news, must be embraced more widely.
Call for Broader Accountability
This responsibility begins with the owners of these studios and extends to all stakeholders in the media ecosystem. A collective effort is needed to uphold ethical standards and foster a more responsible broadcasting environment. Without such action, the erosion of trust and democratic values will continue, posing long-term risks to India's social fabric and media integrity.
