Northeast Nuances
3.3.7 Representation Pattern of Northeast: Rational
According to Sub-editor of a regional English language newspaper:
Maybe because Northeast is not considered as part of India, it is contributing little to the nation’s economy, so not many would be interested in the region as such.
According to Producer (News) of regional television channel:
The major reason of such representation is that this part of the country is secluded. There is problem in transportation. As communication technology helps to shrink the world, it is important to improve the same for proper portrayal of North East.
According to Staff reporter of a regional vernacular language Newspaper organisation:
The main causes for highlighting only terrorism, violence etc. in the mainstream media is the communication barrier between northeastern region and other parts of the country.
Political involvement: 5% (Figure 3.20) respondents refer to involvement of political factors that lead to northeast either being marginalised in the mainland consciousness though ignored mainstream media attitude or selective representation in media. Even regional media houses do not seem to be of much help when it comes to breaking stereotypes, but rather they follow and supply mainstream media with desired reports on violence. Noteworthy was the mention of political involvement by respondents in very subtle manner and no one actually pronounced names or parties or even explained the prevalent scenario.
Under-representation: As the Editor of International news Magazine brands Northeast the “under-reported part of India”, 14% respondents (Figure 3.20) apparently refer to under-representation of the region in media has lead to the region being neglected by mainstream media. As they perceive that media consumers beyond the state boundaries are not interested in the happening of the region it requires a drastic event to grab expected public attention. Thus the primary focus of media makers is to look for instances of violence from the region that are capable of reaching out convincingly to a wider target audience.
Lack of involvement: 2% respondents (Figure 3.20) believe it to be lack of involvement that has led to the patterned projection of the region in media.
Respondents refer to lack of awareness and community participation as major causes for the region gaining limited media space and time. Respondents also refer to very
less media practitioners holding decision making positions in mainstream media houses. As a consequence of very less representation in national media houses as well, regional intricacies are often missed out by mainstream media houses. With generalised understanding and lack of proper research media reports from the region only happen to be reports of violence with only facts and figures.
Low professional ethics: 19% respondents (Figure 3.20) point at low professional ethics in journalistic practices in the region as causes responsible for such responses/
patterns or variations in representation of violence.
According to News Producer of a television news channel broadcasted from Guwahati:
Sometimes they even forget the professional ethics. An important aspect is that some of them do not even know what professional ethics is. There could also be the problem of media literacy among the media professionals themselves.
According to CEO and Content Editor of a regional television channel:
Most journalists consider themselves as social thinkers and intellectuals and in many cases acts like an expert giving out their comments, which has no iota of truth or is based on their findings, research or previous experiences. Most journalists feel that they can take their audience, readers for granted.
Competition/ commercial attitude: 22% respondents (Figure 3.20) pointed at the competition in the industry as the basis of patterned projection of the region in media.
As it is all about selling the media product like any other profit driven industry in market, media makers only concentrate on popular trends of media representations and avoid deviations which might jeopardize audiences and thus affect the commercial gains negatively. Pointing at the media houses, majority of the respondents apparently affirmed media competition and the main motive behind media production is to earn more profit’ and thus according designing and selecting content.
According to Freelance journalist from Assam:
Mushrooming media houses especially news channels and the increase in competition and TRP run.
According to Senior Copy Editor of a regional English language newspaper:
Mainstream Indian media (like the rest of world media) is driven by TRPs and readership numbers. So, it also provides stories the general masses will be interested in knowing or reading. In this manner, media goes on feeding people the stories that percolate their set mindset and attitude towards a place/ issue.
According to Correspondent of a regional English language newspaper:
The hunger for TRPs or circulation and the race for gathering the exclusive ‘scoop’ could be the causes responsible for such responses/ patterns or variations.
Freelance journalist and also Editor of a current affairs magazine:
Preoccupation with and hangover of 1970s-90s coupled with success of yellow journalism types has lead to the established situation. Every incident is seen in connection to the previous violence in comparison to number of victims and enormity of violence.
Sustain prejudices/ stereotypes: 24% respondents (Figure 3.20) stated that keeping the existing prejudices and stereotypes regarding the region alive was the reason behind the patterned projection in media. Media apparently banks on the belief that consumers interest lies in violence from the region. Thus in making profits, respondents agreed confirmed that media practitioners tend to make homogeneous products from mass consumption which they believe would attract maximum viewer and reader attention and thus result in increasing TRPs and circulations respectively.
Northeast as a whole has been reflected in media in a specific patter and mostly through violence. Thus the emerging patter of media representation of Assam and Northeast can be seen in correlation with the long history of violence in the region and also the history of media content representing the region.
According to Senior Copy Editor of an English Language newspaper:
Mainstream media content selection and development is a profit oriented strategy. So, it also provides stories the general masses will be interested in knowing or reading. In this manner, media goes on feeding people the stories that percolate their set mindset and attitude towards a place/ issue.
According to Assistant Producer (English News and Programming) of a regional television news channel:
News is also about selling news and for this for a long time insurgency was and to some extent is still a major factor in the socio-political functioning of the region. This leads to national papers taking up these issues more and more.
According to News coordinator of a regional television news channel:
GS Road incident or BTAD violence only portrays the dark side while there are so many positives that can also be portrayed by the national media.
According to Freelance journalist reporting for national newspapers and news portals:
News is shown or reported depending upon what viewers/readers want to read or know. Hence, violence is increasingly reported from northeast India going by the judgment of media that violence from the region only interests people.
According to Feature writer of a regional newspaper organisation:
The events that occur have been convoluted or processed in the way that people can easily understand. Current affairs seem to attract maximum viewer attention.
Perhaps summing up of most of the views of patterned projection of northeast in the media is the point made by Senior Producer of Doordarshan, Regional News Unit:
Earlier only print media and cinema use to represent violence and related issues, after 1970 the
“idiot box” came to existence through Aakashvani (All India radio) and DD was born too as the first television channel. After that revolution of visual media came drastically and mushrooming of media houses /channels began. These satellite channels can been from any corner of the world. And for the survival and existence they need regular income sources; which comes through sponsorship and commercials. These compel them to abide by responses of financers, sponsors and target audience. Thus the social importance of the media houses got reduced to please sponsors or commercial decision makers, than to serve the interest of the people. Instead of authentic reliable responsible news media, there are dictative and bias media. The political parties have been taking advantages of these mushrooming commercially motivated media houses, which are reflected in media content. Commercial motive and political inclination has been the basic cause for these kinds of representations.