The term NEWS, as we know, is a acronym (= a kind of word formation that comprises the first later of more than one word) of North, East, West, South. As a corollary to it newspapers are the primary sources of information for us. In the past when there were no regional printers English newspapers ruled the roost (-dominated). The general public got news at second hand and often garbled (= a mixture of truth and fiction). But today the scenario has changed and newspapers in all possible languages have attained phenomenal growth. It is now a competitive venture and there is no end of ploys (= methods) employed by one newspaper baron to the other in the game.
Needless to mention that its role and responsibility in public enlightenment is of the highest significance. Today our morning tea and newspaper go together. If the one is absent the other seems to miss its significance. Naturally, the newspaper is the first printed matter that first hits our senses as we take to it with a morning- ‘fresh mind. Newspapers can obviously contribute a lot to the public intelligence, knowledge as well as comprehension (= the ability to understand). And it goes without saying that they do so. But the debatable point is how and to what effect? The topic has to be studied from several angles: their financial aspects; moral political aspects; cultural aspects. aspects and commercial
The financing of newspapers is an intriguing (= full of under hand complications) affair. The barons (= overlords) of this industry are intrigued by various kinds of ambitious intentions. Many dailies are launched with subtle (= deep-seated) political designs, like hoisting (= holding up) up the image of some political persona or scuttling (= bringing down) the image of some other. Its editorial policy is tenuously (= slenderly) linked to the long-term objective of its overlord. It is often seen that an editor, sick of such a kind of regimentation (= disciplining), turns berserk (= fighting) and is sacked unceremoniously. The dispenser of money can little brook (= tolerate) untoward (= uninclined) leader. But often a generous and liberal spirited person lives down his personal grouse (= rumble) in the interest of public welfare and enlightenment.
The newspaper economy is a unique phenomenon in itself. We get it for a song (= too cheap) as the proverb goes, for its price is only a token-value. Its cost has to be met by circulation extent. It has to wangle (= manipulate) bigger and bigger chunks of reading public at every swipe. It poses problems of maintaining moral honesty and political truth. It has also to keep an eye on the truism that sensational scandals, scoops (= spooning loose materials) sell like hot cakes. Again if it indulges too much on these, custodians of a country’s health, moralists and political leaders may pull it up for immoral trading. The latter would be forced to do so if the news affects the health of the nation. The more enlightened the reading public, the greater becomes the challenge that a journal has to face.
Its moral and political character was put to severe test during our country’s freedom struggle. Many articles that were penned in national or patriotic zest had to face charges of sedition (= against authority) from the Raj. Again, now, business magnates that are the backbone of a newspaper would try to undermine a liberal and non-capitalistic monetary policy. They would commission articles that would plead their cause by tricks of argument. But it involves a risk too. If seen through, the stand may subject the paper to public criticism as a capitalist journal.
In the newspapers today the mixture of truth and fiction has become a device to influence public. Perhaps originally its function was chiefly that of a news feeder. But today in general there is desperate effort to make facts look like fiction, and vice-versa, by a kind of verbal jugglery (= trick). It has become essential-its survival formula. For, if it errs on the side of fact which goes against the government., some obscure legal instrument may charge it for having violated the guidelines of the freedom of the press. The opposition may rally round, at times it does. But politicians are strange bedfellows as they change sides like weathercocks. After an initial protest the voice sinks into obscurity. And public memory is, proverbially, short. The burning issues of today like the Narmada Waters, Deepa Mehta’s film, the paintings of M.F. Hussain have swung into our vision for a while with fanfare, but have disappeared into obscurity like an UFO (Unidentified Foreign Object) from a watcher’s observatory.
Lastly, the commercial aspect. To be precise, The Times of India, today, commands the field of the reading public like a Field Marshal. Every now and then it devotes one page to an exhibition of its astounding sale. Its market management and commercial acumen (= skill) is, perhaps, the highest. It caters to the needs of an increasing variety of readers by a superbly planned layout and categorizing. It never jumbles issues; launches topical forums of discussion and debate, furnishes useful trade information, publishes health-matters and expertise from Cleveland and other authorities and picks up choice and boiling international events. The result: it is today the cheapest and the best. The root of the matter is that unless there is a fine mixture of slyness, a pretension of intellectual flavour and shrewd avaricious (= greed of money) instinct, it is difficult to survive in this industry.
Sheer honesty and a pledge to avoid yellow-journalism can remain only a utopian (= impractical) ideal in this venture.
