Can You Trust India's No.1 Newspaper?

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In past two of my articles I have written extensively about India's No.1 English Newspaper. When I mentioned it that way, i.e. as No.1 Newspaper, I was excessively skeptic as to whether my readers would able to recognize this paper or not. However, my qualm was retorted in the preeminent way, not just did they identify the paper but also embarked upon letters to them – Not once but two of them. My deepest and heartfelt thanks all of them who dared to write to India's most powerful newspaper without reservations. You indeed give me strength to fight them out. I am filled with further courage to go on my further assault.

By the way… why do you read newspaper? You buy a newspaper to learn about the happenings in your surrounding, don't you think so? I am sure it is. Would you buy a newspaper if it is telling a lie? Or if it is misleading you with half baked information? One which is manipulated to suit their and their advertiser's need? Would you buy a paper with a biased pose? The pose which is to work all against you? Would you buy a daily if it never had to guts to tell you the truth? I am sure, you answer would be certainly 'No'! But that's what these so called 'No.1' and 'Mainline Newspapers' all about.

Before I go into details let me make you understand some difference between a Business Organization and a Newspaper Organization. Business organization as a general rule exists to buy raw materials, manufacture goods, package and sell those in the markets to earn profits. Though the processes are akin to that of business organization in Newspaper business, there is one underlying distinction. The difference is in that of moral ethics and social responsibility.

While the moral responsibility of a business organization is very much limited to its own businesses, Newspaper's morality is much broader. It is just not enough for a newspaper to take care of their moral responsibility but also to ensure that others are following it and report to the public if any organization or person(s) are failing to do so.

For existence though newspapers have to rely on business organization, but pertaining to the morality they have no obligation, whatsoever, to show favors to their advertisers. That is the reason why, traditionally, newspaper have kept their respective Editorial and Marketing departments different and parallel. This 'Parallel' method of functioning ensures that the news is never biased.

There can be nothing more dangerous than a biased and opportunist media, like our No.1 paper, gaining momentum to reign supreme. It's a vogue newspaper, if not anything else. Let's have a look at it. The first page talk about the news which are just like any other news paper, and then the 5th page talks about spirituality cum editorial – from where they try to prove themselves as 'Secular' and eventually in the last page, mostly read by young readers, is filled with explicit photos of half-naked film stars and the like. While at page 5 they talk hardcore spirituality, where does it go by the last page arrives? I simply don't understand this scrap. By the way can you assume that? It is a fundamental point to prove of theirs being a paper without 'Values'. Would you read a paper without values?

By the way let's look at the coverage this media had given to Sanjay Dutt, the star-actor of 'Munna Bhai' fame. 14 years back he had committed a blunder of possessing an AK57 assault rifle. The reason what he says is 'for self defense'. However, what I am unable to understand and what question neither this nor any media arouses is as to why did he needed an AK57? why not any pistol or double barrel gun for which he could have easily availed a license? Forget asking the question, I wonder why many didn't feel skeptic about the excessive support the newspapers and television channels gave to him?