Mistrials By Media

Trial by media, presstitutes, paid media and many other derogatory remarks are referred to the Media be it the Print, Broadcast or the social media. The power of media has increased substantially over the years. The recent illustration of the mistrial by media can be evident when the Allahabad High Court acquitted the Talwars after 9 years of investigation, court trials, and imprisonment.

Any form of Media is it the Television News Channels or Online News flooding on social media does impact public opinion. In Arushi Talwar's case, the Judges convicted Arushi's parents on circumstantial evidence. In this case, many journalists and media channels pronounced the verdict on the basis of the statements of so-called "impeccable sources" under the veil of anonymity. Every news channel in the quest for exclusivity came up with different facets of the story with Talwars being the prime accused as the common factor. 

Democracy empowers the citizens as the supreme source of authority. When there is a breakdown of the Legislature, Executive and the Judiciary the Fourth Pillar Media or Press has a pivotal role as the watchdog of the functions of the Government and society at large. Even the judiciary on the basis of investigative journalism and several reports have taken up cases by using the cognizance of suo motto.  

Considering the power of media and its massive outreach. Media has turned into a market to grab the eyeballs of its viewers and readers with emphasis on increasing TRPs ( Television Rating Point ). There is a competitive environment in the quest for a sensational story. At times atmosphere created by the media in any case before the verdicts of the judiciary can adversely affect the reputation or tarnish the image of the accused and the people involved in a particular case. The media tend to impede the privacy of people involved.

In High profile cases involving celebrities or politicians, or huge breakdown of Government machinery. In such cases, we often see there are no clear answers by the police authorities or by the bureaucrats. Not all but most of the cases in India there is no clear communication by the authorities on the local level or the top officials so in a broader sense a journalist is under a severe pressure and would lead journalists to find sources. There is a possibility of these sources giving out irresponsible statements with demanding anonymity and this often leads to distortion of facts and virality of false information.

The increased role of the media in today’s globalized and tech-savvy world was aptly put in the words of Justice Learned Hand of the United States Supreme Court when he said, “The hand that rules the press, the radio, the screen and the far-spread magazine, rules the country.”Therefore, in a broader sense, Media Trials are harmful and certainly violates the freedom of the press. Therefore there is a dire need for "Communication with Credibility." However, it is not only the media but also on the part of the authorities to create transparency if the responsible officials speak openly we can certainly avoid such " Media Trials."