Northeast Nuances
3.3.3 Violence over other Regional Aspects in News
Undoubtedly violence dominates the media content, but significantly violent content in media has not only raise quantitatively over the years with media boom, media commercialisation and consumerism in the regional scenario, but also qualitatively with visuals, images and even texts becoming highly disturbing, graphic and detailed.
It was unanimously agreed upon by respondents that regional violence has been immensely exaggerated by the media leaving other, genuine issues with little attention. Priority given to violence content in comparison to positive human interest stories or developmental stories, in news rather than other aspects of the region has always been a matter of concern. Though the unrest and social condition of the state might be to some extent responsible for dominance of violence content in media products, but the over-emphasise on violence in news sensationalised presentation, especially in television is for attracting quick attention undoubtedly.
The responses (Figure 3.16) on Violence over other regional aspects in news may be categorised as below:
Figure 3.16: Responses on Violence over other Regional Aspects in News
Violence dominates: 25% respondents (Figure 3.16) said that priority is given to violence content in news rather than other aspects of the region. Apparently violence and crime stories always make for better scoop than other aspects. Media practitioners believe that representation of violence in media is justified in the prevalent media scenario of competition and consumerism. Negative news about violence is always given priority in comparison to positive and human interest stories in media. Violence dominates media content simply because violence as content is expected to be well accepted among the media consumers and
According to CEO and Content editor of a regional television news channel of Assam:
Violence can run emotions high. As people are killed or an act of violence is reported, viewers, audience is automatically pulled in. And action always put our adrenaline high. If a road side quarrel generates a lot of attention, definitely, a TV showing violence is surely going to get more attention.
According to Freelance journalist from Assam:
Violence get a priority over other content related to other aspects of the region. I believe it is because violent content interest people and masses keep track on the flow of incidence. Hence media gets its ready audience for few days. TRP matters for the business of any news channel and circulation figures matters for print media.
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26
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19
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No. of Respondents
Violence over other regional aspects in news- Responses
Responses
According to Producer (News) of a regional television channel broadcasted from Guwahati:
Violence in any form will always have some influence in any form of media, because the media understands how to keep their audiences busy. Therefore, the rule applies to north east India too. Most of the violence issues depicted in media are not all correct. People are made to believe what the media say are true. If we particularly look again to the northeast it is more complex, because people have a notion that north east is an insurgency infected states so violence is bound to happen. People in the rest of the country have been fed with such false conceptions about northeast India where otherwise these states are almost same with the other states of the country as far as violence is concerned, though little care needs to be taken because of the existence of the militant groups.
Media Ownership: Considering the current situation of violence and negative news dominating media, media ownership was pointed by 3% of respondents as one of the influencing factors in determining the content and presentation of news. As Senior Correspondent, of an English national newspaper, with Guwahati edition cites:
Negative news is always given priority other than any other aspect of information from the state. For example during the state elections in 2010 the news channels harped on rigging and sporadic untoward incidents in some pockets, rather than highlighting the fact that it was by and large peaceful election where the young people of the state came out in great numbers to cast their votes. There are only two ways of journalism in the state- one for the government (by media houses owned by ministers and their family members) and against the government which means blind criticisms of anything the government and associated organizations do. There is no middle ground. This is hurting the whole journalism sector in the state. Likewise there are definite political gains and financial achievements attained from the conflicts and violence projections of the state.
Commercial motivation: News production in present day context is largely understood to be commercialised in order to attract mass audiences in return of profit, as is the case of any other commodity production in market. 27% respondents (Figure 3.16) point at commercial motive behind media production for excessive representation of violence gaining precedence over other regional aspects in news.
Apparently violent content is broadly understood as appropriate for fetching TRPs/
hiking up circulation numbers of newspaper in comparison to other news item.
According to a Senior News Reporter of a regional television channel:
Violence content obviously gets more media attraction than any other aspect of the region.
Simply put a blast killing few people is obviously a better news item than a story on prospective tourism in the state.
According to Freelance journalist of Assam:
A specific priority is given to violent content as it is an easy means of earning TRPs mostly by sensationalizing the incident.
According to Freelance journalist of Assam:
Violent content interest people and masses keep a track on the flow of incidence. Hence media gets its ready audience for few days. TRP matters for the business of any news channel and circulation figures matters for print media.
Pertinent stereotypes: 23% respondents (Figure 3.16) feel that history of militancy and strong stereotypes held by people and furthered by media have been one of the major reasons why violence in the region is given priority in media than other aspects.
The region has been identified with persistent conflicts and violence for over a period of time, and as news content of violent activities makes sensational reading/viewing and thus sells. Respondents believe the region makes saleable stories only when they are in tune to the perceptions media has already created, spread and sustained.
According to Producer (news) of a regional television news channel:
Priority is always given to violence content in news rather than other aspects of the region.
Since Northeast is a geographically remote region with lack of proper transport connectivity and unrestful image, very less people actually know the place and the people. The history of numerous underground outfits may be another reason though there is peace in the region at present.
According to Senior Copy Editor of an English language regional newspaper:
It is mostly due to the innumerable acts of terror by various extremist groups and organisations in the region in the past and are still continuing though extremely fewer in number of cases, that violence has become the leading content of news from the state. These fetch TRPs/ hike up circulation numbers of newspaper.
According Sub-editor of a regional newspaper in English:
If you are talking about National media, then violence is given more precedence, mostly because of the age-old stereotypes regarding the region and its importance. The Northeast has always been neglected by the National media, so any coverage will be done on the lines of the image the National media has formed of the region
According to Desk Editor of an English language newspaper published from Assam:
It is a widely known fact that Assam in day-to-day knowledge is known far more for its violent/militant problem than due to, say, Sattras or tea gardens – and that has been the years of media representation of the condition of Assam. So a Paresh Barua would be given far more priority than an Uddhav Bharali or Reema Kagti.
Reflecting upon how representation of the region through mostly violence in media has been keeping in tune with the prejudices and in turn overlooking at other aspects of the region, a freelance reporter from Assam says:
Yes priority is given to violence reporting in the valley than any other coverage than most discussed and elite interested politics, culture or tourism and wildlife because of the valley’s history on terrorism. The entire Northeast region has been in the grasp of terrorism which caused havoc in the valley and took many lives. In fact news stories get coverage on what at present ULFA or other terrorist leaders are doing even if they keep themselves restrained from violence for a period as per their pact with Government. The media tries to show the terrorists in the realm of human interest stories. The flow of news on violence will have huge impact of society affecting the way people think and behave. People may safeguard themselves.
News values are fundamental to understanding news production and the choices that editors and other journalists face when deciding upon one piece of information being news while another is not. Violence or conflict is undeniably accepted as news considering its so called news value. Most often representation of violence in media is found to be more of the representations of the “pre-occupations, interests and values”
of the journalist’s consumer society or atleast the dominant groups comprising the society (Carruthers 17). On similar note it becomes decisive as to who in media decides what the audiences want to know; and what and how much should be let known to them. The news producers have their own opinions and mostly follow the patterns of representation being followed in the past and in trend in mainstream.
Diverging from the known and accepted is taken as possible damage for the media house. As it is popularly understood and believed defying the norm might lead to loosing viewers/ readers and thus it might affect the media business adversely.
Balanced Usage: 2% respondents (Figure 3.16) deny violence been given priority in media texts over any other regional aspect.
According to News coordinator of a regional television news channel:
Violence is violence. On a daily basis there are over 12 reports from all over the region that deals with various sorts of violence. We tend to pick up only a couple maybe that we think the people of the state or the region should know.
Changing scenario: 1% of the respondents (Figure 3.16) pointed at the change in scenario
Earlier it was mostly violence but slowly and steadily positive news or other stories are also featuring in the news. Newsmakers from the field of music, arts and culture get a huge space in this. Maybe the region itself is becoming more vocal, social media has acted as a huge eye- opener for the other parts of the country and youths of the region are themselves engaged in the media industry.
Lack of knowledge: 17% of the respondents (Figure 3.16) were of the opinion that lack of knowledge about the entire northeastern region as a whole and the popular mainstream notion that Northeast is less popular among wider audiences was apparently one of the major reasons pointed at for violence being selected for media representations leaving aside most other regional aspects.
According to Production Engineer (News) of a regional television news channel:
Northeast is a geographically remote region and many of its places does not have transport connectivity like train, flight, roads etc. a very few things are known by the people who have not been there.
According to Correspondent of a regional newspaper published in English:
Violence in north east is usually given the top most priority in terms of selection of the news items. The reason that can be attributed for such a response is because a huge majority of the audience population viewing mainstream news comes from outside northeast so other news associated with north eastern states find less audience. Most media houses target the central, northern and parts of southern and eastern belts, since their idea is to rope in more target audience while north eastern states are often ignored on most occasions unless a story has the magnitude to attract national or international attention.
Political involvement: 2% respondents (Figure 3.16) pointed at the political involvement in media that leads violence been given priority in news media texts.
Echoing similar views Producer of Regional News Unit of Doordarshan News states:
Though the unrest and social condition of the state might be to blame to some extent, but the over emphasize on violence in news –especially in TV- is for eyeball grabbing and cheap
sensationalisation. For example during the state elections in 2010 the news channels harped on rigging and sporadic untoward incidents in some pockets, rather than highlighting the fact that it was by and large peaceful election where the young people of the state came out in great numbers to cast their votes. There are only two way of journalism in the state- one for the government (by media houses owned by ministers and their family members) and against the government which means blind criticisms of anything the government does. There is no middle ground. This is hurting the whole journalism sector in the state.
Respondents typically cited three primary aspects which are instrumental in priority given to reports on instances of violence selectively ignoring various other aspects of the region- commercial motivation, violence dominates consumer consciousness and pertains to prevailing stereotypical perceptions. Increasing news conglomerations and intervention of big media conglomerates into the region through media collaborations with regional media houses, intensifies the demand for instantly acceptable and saleable news reports. Thus exploiting the already existing trend of reporting of violence for perceived instant users’ gratification is done either by propagating fear or sympathy among the consumers and thus sell the story. The reason that violence sells media products apparently cited by respondents is because that is exactly what the mainstream desires and accepts.
One of the primary reasons for violence being the dominant media content from the region may be said to be media ownership influencing the media content. Research evidences show that media ownership has significant influence over media content.
Media concentration often results in “over-representation of those forms of output favoured by dominant media owners” (Doyle 19). Though comparatively fewer respondents were vocal about the ownership and pressure executed over content selection and representation, apparently the media to some extent is unwilling to change the predominant violence representation because of the authoritative pressure or political involvement in journalistic practices. Concentrations of media ownerships narrow the range of voices that predominate in the media and consequently understood to pose a threat to the interests of the society. The relationship between media ownership, commercial media content, prevalent stereotypes hampers diverse representation of the region and newer avenues from being explored. And thus results in selective representation of the region through violence mostly.