Understanding Media Representation of Violence in Assam
3.2. Theoretical Understanding
3.2.6 Representation of Violence in Media
in occurrence and its representation.
According to News coordinator of a regional news channel of Assam:
If you look at the current rise in crime, then violence is and has become a crucial part of TV reporting. We do not encourage violence but if there is news of a violent crime then we tend to cover the story as smoothly as possible.
According to Editor of a regional vernacular language newspaper:
Violence of any kind that is portrayed in media, whether censored or uncensored and which can have a profound impact on impressionable young minds is my idea of violence in media. A case in point – the recent ethnic clashes that apparently took place between the Bodos and Muslims community of Assam-where the Muslims were supposedly treated as immigrants in the BTAD areas of Assam. These clashes were reported with alarming exaggeration in local media – especially TV news channels. The repetitive and sensational nature of reporting whipped up communal tension –not only in affected areas but also in the whole state. The interaction between common people in social networking sites such as Facebook showed a rising trend of communal jingoism which can be directly blamed on irresponsible reporting of media.
Media portrayal of violence: 39% respondents (Figure 3.6) refer to media portrayal of violence as mere representation of violence in media. Majority of the respondents even justify the direct depiction, apparently over representation, of violence in media by claiming that audiences demand such programmes and thus the designing and content selection is done accordingly. Selective respondents refer to representation of violence as the following:
According to Freelance journalist of Assam:
Reporting acts or incidents of violence in order draw attention of the concerned authorities so that necessary remedial measures can be taken at the earliest and also primarily to inform the people / masses.
According to Sub-editor of a regional English language newspaper organisation:
Coverage of riots, assaults, hooliganism, protests leading to disruption of law and order and all other sorts of violence. Violence among communities or various groups or individuals is treated as good food for media production.
According to Content Editor of a regional television news channel:
It is best understood as broadcast, presentation of violent incident, programme or enactment of an incident.
According to News coordinator of a regional television news channel:
People want to know about violent crimes happening around the world. We just try to portray what is going on in the society in the best possible manner.
According to Reporter of a regional television news channel:
Representation of violence in media refers how various media interpret violence issues through pictures, visuals and language; also its impact in our society.
According to a freelance journalist working from Northeast:
Portraying news of conflict -zones like northeast India, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and J&K. Most of the states mentioned are suffering from insurgency or Maoists and wherein the state is engaged in either a battle or ceasefire with the insurgent groups.
According to correspondent of an English language newspaper from Guwahati:
Violence or representation of violence implies the coverage of stories associated with crime, disorder or chaos. Representation means coverage of those issues in the national media with equal tenacity.
Exploiting violence: 38% respondents out of 112 (Figure 3.6) refer to extensive representation of violent content as representation of violence in media. Media
practitioners refer to exploiting violence, the practice of over exposing violent content as a setback to media functioning. Respondents were of the view that media usually engages in showcasing and glorifying violence for its consumers to consume, as showing more violence leads to attracting more audiences and thus violence cannot be ignored.
According to a national English language newspaper Guwahati correspondent:
It is how the media is presenting any situation, exaggerating even manipulating sometimes. The main problem that lies here is that media is trying to draw conclusions/give decisions in which is not at all what it is supposed to do. It should simply report the incident.
According to City (Guwahati) correspondent of a regional television channel:
It is a very broad perspective, but to narrow it down if we just look at the movies that portray violence, it is presented in a very detailed manner. People are made to get attracted to it, it is used as a bait to get the audience’s response, either positively or negatively.
Media Policies: 20% respondents (Figure 3.6) directly link representation of violence in media to the organisational media policies. The media policies of the media houses is found to be responsible for deciding the way violent content is to be handled by the media, from deciding upon the significance of the story to packaging and presenting it to the audiences accordingly.
According to senior Freelance journalist of the region and also Editor of a current affairs magazine in Assamese language:
The media house’s editorial policy decides the language and angle that is given to a news story.
Example, the words used to describe Taliban is different in the western media and the media in Pakistan/ Afghanistan.
According to Desk editor of a regional television news channel:
This is the part where the media has to tread the fine line of bringing forth violent occurrences in a fair manner without sensationalism inciting any section unduly, and also not cause any disturbing image to upset the audience.
According to Desk Editor of a regional television news channel:
Appropriate representation of violence may be the sensible approach towards reporting of violence so that the concerned media house doesn’t end up making it worse for the victims. It also depends on the nature of crime, conflict and situation so as to decide what would be the appropriate way of representation.
According to Producer (News and Current affairs) of a regional television channel:
By representation of violence in media more than what is shown it is the question of how something is represented. Media-makers have many choices when it comes to representing an event, or the aftermath of that event. Violent actions can be represented as cool, glamorous, easy, or justified, thus inspiring copycat behaviour. It can include sound effects, images, camera angles, editing amongst other technical elements in its representation.
According to Reporter/ copy writer of a vernacular language newspaper:
“Representation of violence” suggests what and how Media perceives violence and presents it to the public.
According to Producer of a regional television news channel:
Every media has its own way to represent violence. For print media the visual and the use of word can take the shape of violence. For electronic media like radio the sound forms can instigate a violent content. In television with the smoothing touch of sound and the visuals violence can be represented in the most appropriate manner. Television has more effect on the viewers as the visuals can represent reality in the most appropriate manner. Representation of violence in media today can influence the viewing masses.