Is the media crossing the line too often?

" A fake sting operation in India bites the would-be stinger

NEW DELHI: In India, it's the season of the fake sting.

The report was sensational: A math teacher in New Delhi turned her classroom into a brothel, forcing high-school students into prostitution.

A television reporter set up a sting to expose her, posing as a customer and secretly taping a conversation with the teacher. A young woman who said she was one of the teacher's students described her ordeal on camera.

After the report aired, a mob attacked the school, dragged the teacher outside and beat her. Protesters set a car on fire and stoned passing traffic. Police arrested the teacher "solely on the basis of the sting operation," Delhi Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat told the Hindustan Times.

But there was one catch: Police now believe it was all made up.

The reporter posing as a customer, Prakash Singh, was allegedly working with someone whom the teacher owed money to, according to authorities.

And the teacher, Uma Khurana, who was fired from her job and spent 10 days in jail, was "more of a victim than an offender," judge Alok Agrawal said when he ordered her released on bail Monday.

She's not the only victim: On Monday, three men were arrested for posing as journalists in an attempt to blackmail a member of Parliament.

The three men tried to bribe parliamentarian Rameshwar Oraon — then announced they were conducting a TV news sting. They told him they would quash the report if he paid them.

Oraon didn't fall for it, and the three were charged with impersonation and extortion................................................... ......"

BTW did you know that none of the foreign TV channels can broadcast live from India but Indian TV channels can probably even get away with fake sting operations...Is this Bias correct?

OMG shocked! will post some views soon..

I think our trust in media slowly loosing...Now a days some media forget their ethics n resposibilities,some TV channels make/create silly news so sensational...
And it true that Cos of media lot of corruption cases people can understand,know about politicians,some media ppls, bureaucrts, the udiciary and govt officials of all colors, shapes and sizes are on the whole rather corrupt...... 😕

I heard it in the news yesterday night. Pretty shocking.

Media Freedom comes with a price. and this is a classic example of the price the society has to pay to allow the uncensored freedom to the media. I won't vote for media to stop conducting such operations just because a handful of them are badly managed. Afterall, a lot of these sting operations have resulted in necessary exposures. Remember the WesEnd Sting operation roughly 2 years back? At the same time, on the same token, the media should be punished and held accountable for such badly conducted/managed operations. They are not above the law. If their misinformation resulted in wrongful accusation and sentencing of a responsible citizen then they must be made to pay so they are more careful in future. If such irresponsibilities are allowed to go scot-free, we will see more such shooting-of-the-hips-cum-irresponsible operations in future.

http://india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=720237

Kabhijit's post is about the new law which can control al the extra activites of media

* Is the media particularly the TV media behaving irresponsibly?
Yes, Absolutely yes. With the advent of innumerable 24-hour news channels, this was but inevitable. This incident reminds me of "Tomorrow never dies" (James Bond movie).

*Is getting crime into the living rooms of people a good idea?
What happened was with Tehelka and the intial sting operations the media exposed corruption in high places. Hence they were lauded as heroes. But soon the sting turned to sleazy sensationalism and thats where they are right now.The media needs to stop pursuing sleaze and stick to issues that actually matter.

*Do the TV channels need censorship and a moral code of Conduct?
Therein lies the problem. TV channels need censorship and a moral code of conduct. But will a censorship of press should not be in such a way that it affects the freedom of the press. If the governing party or powers that be decide to use this opportunity to muzzle all criticisms against it , then it becomes another type of problem.

Funny news. Weren't there some articles on casting couch some time ago?

You cannot hold the media responsible. They show masalader news because people show interest. Unless it would never be a headline. You would not have posted it and we wouldn't have replied.

Shocking!!

Is the media particualry the TV media behaving irresponsibly?
TV media has made mockery of news and reporting. For me news channels has just come down another form of entertainment not as educative or infomative from 90's.

Is getting crime into the living rooms of people a good idea?
NO absolutely not a good idea, infact incident like these doesn't have good impact on teenagers... good it tuned out to be fake.

Do the TV channels need censorship and a moral code of Conduct?
Absolutely Yes! I still admire the guts of Prabhu Chawala grilling celebs on AJJTAk in the name of public wants to know.

Originally posted by: mythili_Kiran

http://india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=720237

Kabhijit's post is about the new law which can control al the extra activites of media

Thanks! will read and see if both can be merged.

Originally posted by: samir_soni

Funny news. Weren't there some articles on casting couch some time ago?

You cannot hold the media responsible. They show masalader news because people show interest. Unless it would never be a headline. You would not have posted it and we wouldn't have replied.

it is not just about maseladar news...its media becoming the new mafia...a teacher who refused to pay her debts...the person whom she owns money goes up and gangs up with the TV channel to have this sting operation... so should common man now be scared of this new " underworld' too?