News Hounds !!!

The increase in the number of news channels has a direct correlation with the falling journalistic standards. One look at the various programmes being shown on news channels especially Star News,Zee News and AAj Tak will leave no doubt that news has been overtaken by commerce.Aaj Tak took the cake when it ran a news story showing an indica car running on Delhi streets without a driver on prime-time for two hours . There was lot of serious discussion on the studio to explain this supernatural phenomenon and viewers also called in to share their experiences. It finally came to light that it was a case of driver with unusually long legs who was driving the car from the passenger seat,but by then AAj Tak had got what it wanted all the time viewer attention and TRP ratings.
Not only this,the news channels are also trying to propagate superstition among the masses .I recently happened to watch a programme on Zee News whereby one cleric was being projected as a person who can cure cancer.Now "faith healing" is something which most people accept as an alternative form of therapy .But the question remains whether news channels should indulge in promoting treatments or religious beliefs which have no scientific basis.
In most cases of mob violence ,media is as guilty if not moreso of providing the oxygen of publicity to trouble mongers and anti-social elements.
Its hightime that news channels do some kind of self introspection and put in place a mechanism for self-censorship.The race for TRP ratings by hook or crook must end .