Understanding Media Representation of Violence in Assam
3.2. Theoretical Understanding
3.2.5 Violence and Representation of Violence
Reflecting the above view was the response by a Freelance journalist from Assam:
‘Representation in Media’ simply means voicing the issues and causes affecting the masses, individual, group, organization as a mouthpiece irrespective of any discrimination or difference.
Creating perceptions: Representation, according to 4% respondents (Figure 3.4), implies creating perceptions by media. They opined “representation in media”
suggests what and how media perceives of any particular event, incident, place or people, and subsequently makes the consumers (viewer/ readers) perceive.
According to News coordinator of a regional television news channel:
For me being in the media holds a great responsibility towards the society. Though the idea of bringing change in the contemporary world is a big challenge but why not try it by doing some small part from my own end.
Distribution: Space and time allocation in media was pointed by 2% respondents (Figure 3.4) as representation in media. This includes employing strategies in programmes and print reports in the best possible scope of attracting and retaining audiences/ readers. These strategies are employed to deliver to audiences’ demands and in turn deliver audiences to advertisers in the composition that makes their advertising most likely to be effective (Ellis 136).
It was observed from the responses that representation in media is apparently the process by which representations of real life incidents are made to appear believable and acceptable as real to the media consumers. The perception of the media practitioners was primarily found to be the concern that the media product should resemble reality so much so that the audience get the real feel to the reportage and undergo emotional extremes to want to consume more of similar products.
Figure 3.5: Responses on Understanding Violence and Representation of Violence
A major percentage of respondents clearly show a lack of knowledge and understanding of clearly defining violence. On a broader aspect responding media practitioners revealed understanding of violence and representation according to the followed media rule of their respective organisation. Wide range of forms of violence represented in media, cited by respondents, include acts of terrorism, gender abuse, riots of any kind, protests leading to disruption of law and order, assaults, hooliganism, fights, police firings etc. which may be broadly categorised under insurgency related violence, domestic violence, wildlife and cybercrimes.
Diverse understanding: 43% of respondents (Figure 3.5) revealed a wide range of understanding of violence ranging from physical hostility to mental damage propelled individual or any group. Below are some specific responses which describe the understanding of violence of respondents from the media:
According to Producer (News) of a regional television news channel:
Violence can take the form of physical, mental, verbal. It is some kind of aggression which could affect people to either behave or affect the behaviour of the normal persons.
According to Assistant Producer (English News) of a television channel:
Violence shall be use of physical force to hurt someone and its representation would be how that act of violence and its impact and its various reasons are described or depicted.
According to Producer regional television news channel:
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13
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No of Respondents
Violence and representation of violence- Responses
Responses
Violence is a situation that basically involves penetration in comfort zone (in any format) of anyone, a community, a group, a class of people or any other; and therefore arising of difference of opinion and even combat.
According to Desk Editor and Feature writer of an English language newspaper:
Any activity that goes against the social or legal code of justice can be violence – ranging from the usual murder, rape and arson to the more subtle forms like mental abuse and child labour.
According to CEO and Content Editor of a regional television news channel:
An act or an incident which can disturb the social fabric of the society or incite anger, hate, and revenge is best understood as violence. Any incident which can incite communal sentiments or passion is understood as violence too.
Showcasing violence: 29% respondents (Figure 3.5) were of the opinion that representation of violence meant bringing to the knowledge of people acts or incidents of violence through various available media options. In order to inform people, violence is ‘showcased’ in media for its audiences to consume, but mostly the media intention of informing turns into a gimmick to entertain and thus gain popularity.
Though respondents agreed that there can be ways of representing violence which basically depends on the representation grounds, for most respondents’ representation of violence apparently should be done in such a manner so as to not further violence or worsen situations for the victims. Representations of violence in media, as per respondents, constitute description or depiction of acts of violence, its impact, causes of violence and various other related issues. These issues of violence or conflict replicated or put for show for the mass media consumers is a matter of concern and debate for media practitioners. Reflecting similar views are few responses selectively given below:
According to Senior Producer of a regional television news channel of Assam:
Violence can be represented in many forms either in words, texts, and images or sometimes even with gestures etc.
According to Desk editor of a regional news channel cum correspondent of an international news magazine:
Representation of violence should be more of a sensible approach, so that the concerned media house’s depiction doesn’t end up making it worse for the victim/victims or worsening the situation beyond control and repair by the authorities and society. It also depends on the nature
of crime, what is considered as violence and how is it represented. Proper representation is very essential to serve the purpose of media and also for smooth functioning of the society.
According to Correspondent of an English language newspaper published 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.
According to Copy Editor of an English language newspaper published from Guwahati:
Representation of violence means how the print & broadcast media describes an event of violence occurrence and presents it to the audience in order to inform, educate or mostly entertain them.
Insurgency related: According to 13% of respondents (Figure 3.5) violence representation is a confined concept related to insurgency. For them representation of violence in media is only limited to representation of instances of violence related to or resultant of insurgency and similar issues.
According to a freelance print journalist, who is also digital blogger and writes extensively on issues pertaining to Assam, Northeast and insurgency:
It would mean 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.
Gimmick: For 13 respondents’ media representation of violence works as a gimmick for attracting consumers and retaining user interest and continued attention. Profit motive, paid media, political motivation individual and organizational gains etc are certain factors that work strong on these representation patterns.
According to Editor of a vernacular language newspaper of Assam:
It is all about attracting readers/viewers attention in media. Violence is a potent means capable of attracting quick attention. Through representation of violence most of the times media is seen try to inform people only selective angle of the story which will interest media users and also create fear to know more.
Reporting violent crime: 3% respondents’ (Figure 3.5) understanding of violence and its representation was apparently limited to reporting of instances of crime, both
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.