We need to know the truth, sometimes we prefer it to be sugar-coated and sometimes we like it straight-up. Why is the truth, important?
Is the truth important so that the history we build is correct, factual and incorruptible. What the generations make of the truth is left to their intelligence. I waited sometime to write this as I felt I might not look at the subject objectively enough. I waited till I was calm and rational enough to look at it from a very detached angle.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts.- Daniel Patrick Moynihan
We know what happens around us and in the world based on facts compiled by news agencies all around the globe. Our reliance on the media is pretty much like an addiction, streams of numbers and videos presented to us continuously. How much of this information is really required, one wonders. Our brains will sift through the words and sentences and probably keep some relevant bits and pieces for us to analyze on another day with a cup of tea and the right company.
But what about the ownership of presenting the truth. Does the media realize its responsibilities well enough to present the facts and leave the general public to decide as to what they make of it?
There have been moments when the media has indeed shone bright with greatness and a genuine urge to ensure that the truth is available for all to hear. Case in point, NDTV reaching disaster struck areas before the government. Another extremely good moment for the media was the coverage of the Mumbai attacks, the press united the world over to ensure that everyone knew what transpired exactly. This was brave and bold and genuine. It was moving and inspiring. But what about the media taking a negative stand as well? Passing judgment where none was required.
Were they trying to influence decisions and change lives where they were not meant to? To borrow words from a famous quotation and change it a little (credit to John Locke), it is one thing to show the errors of the world and another to put him in the possession of the truth.
Why is the truth important to me now? I worked for a software giant that was recently mired in a lot of controversy. My colleagues and I were suddenly in the midst of a giant sandstorm threatening to wipe out our lives and careers. The first day was probably the worst after the news came out about the financial scam. The worst that could happen was of course the doors closing and offices shutting down with a little over 40,000 people unemployed and devastated.
The best of course was that the truth would take effect and the people responsible for the crime taken away and we would be left alone.
This was not to be, not a chance of that happening in this lifetime. The Media took a stand, no matter what the organization should and would do , they will be humiliated. After all the share holders and the general public was cheated of the truth. In the cross fire some great leaders along with the media decided that even the employees were “Guilty”, of what you may ask? We still don’t know.
Systematically news channels broadcasted every hour and on the hour, taking on the big responsibility of getting the truth to the people.
Fact was that unless there was an investigation and the guilty questioned, no one would know what happened. Here is my point, the media decided to not only present the facts but was launching an all out campaign to give the truth new layers. Who has the time to peal them and see the truth for what it is?
Must say though that few news companies like CNBC presented a more factual report and I spent time listening to them trying to get my bearings and understand what was going on. There was also a statement passed by one of the great IT industry leaders which shocked me and made me realize that this was business and he was doing his bit to eliminate the competition maybe? Maybe my interpretation is wrong or is it because I see the media’s version of the truth?
You decide.
Mark Twain said “If you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the paper you are misinformed”
I hope I never have to write about something like this again and I hope that no one has to go through what the employees went through and are still going through.
Listen to what the world has to say, but don’t accept it unless you do some thinking of your own and some old fashioned investigation.
The media can accomplish a lot, they have the power to carry the needs of the people in all the streams and ensure that justice is done. Lets just make sure that people dont get hit in the cross fire though shall we?
Signing off till next week, may come back mid week for a technical article. Read something exciting about Active client pages and Jquery so will do a piece on that.
