News Today on ‘free press’

A good read on the current state of the print media:

Politicians who have either been pampering or fighting the media have realised the trick and are becoming barons themselves, bringing the kind of money and muscle into media that existing entrepreneurs are incapable of. In TN, the raging battle between the kazhagams had never been confined to the hustings and streets alone. Both have their print mouthpieces and their own TV channels. The DMK's Sun Group has now bought out a newspaper chain and is all set to paint the state red and black. The opponent will not remain idle, for sure. So it will be politics on newsprint and cheerio for the printed word's sanctity. For those who were cursing the media, the current crop of journos are going to seem like angels if only they can guess what's coming.

FDIs and stock markets too are rocking the media boats no end. Gone are the days when newspapers were targetted only at readers. Today, they have another audience and that is the shareholder. He needs profits and PEs, and has to be pampered, unlike the reader who swallowed whatever was dumped on him. While the reader would baulk at slanted reporting, a shareholder would not mind if it can help get advertisements and swell revenue. In short, he will dictate.

The tell-tale Talk on your hands is a product of twin realisations, pulling from two ends: That the readers will be reluctant to pay for news any longer, what with technology keeping them updated by the minute and newspaper economics simply cannot afford a virtual free paper every day. Reason why we trouble you only once a week. So that we do not trouble ourselves too much! Hail the truly free press!