Dear Srinivas and AJ Family,
Ever since I heard about your news paper - Andhra Jyothy is planning to float a news channel I thought of writing this mail to you. At the back of my mind, I was worrying about the reception this mail gets from you and your editorial board it but certainly tried hard to hold me back, though not longer.
I wish I should have written in chaste Telugu on neat paper to impress upon Telugu news paper editor. But I have chosen English to write this mail in. Pardon me for that. Reason being as kid growing up in small remote village in Mahabub Nagar District- speaking or using few English words in conversion or for that matter in answer sheets in exam was something considered as an achievement. That was 90's mindset. 2000's are really different so as my yardstick to measure achievement.
Changing Societal Trends - Media role
This change not only happened in my life but also in society. So many changes happened in society, in news reportage, in societal values and traditions and in economic status of individuals including poor. I have serious doubt whether these changes captured by media, really well? This is debatable. It is apparent from kind of reportage that we are seeing in local print media and local news channel that Media is not catching up with societal changes in the truest sense. And also, you agree with me, true journalist responsibility is to Mirror the views of people/society to that powers that control them and also mirror the society own wrong doings to itself.
And also I believe that Journalist responsibility also that of a watchdog -keep an eye on society movements (wrong direction that if it is taking) and suggest it the course correction that is required to put it back on track. I think that you agree with me on this too. I do not want to remind any journalistic responsibility to a Doctorate in journalism -you and whose news paper editorial policy is wedded to truly journalistic values and traditions. I thank you very much for up keeping the journalistic values even in toughest times.
Emergence of New Tribe - "I Too Love Democracy@ my convenience"
Recent happenings -after math of YSR death prompted me to write this mail. I am as disturbed in this state as any right thinking citizen of the state should be. I am referring to" Jagan To Be Made CM" demand. In this episode one thing crystal clear is that Media (yours is an exception) and individuals are keeping the individual interest much ahead that of the state. Room of criticism to this demand is shrinking day by day. It appears that deliberate attempt has been made to silence the right thinking citizen's voice. This is not good for the democracy. This is classical example how feudal leaders can be dangerous to the democratic fabric of the country.
I was appalled by these feudal leaders' plans to even thwart the National Media. I heard they plan to go to court against "Mail Today" of India today group with the fear that their reportage in Delhi news paper may thwart their efforts to make somebody- CM. Being far away from New Delhi it seems Andhra Pradesh is less exposed and eventually become less tolerant society. Lallu Yadav or Mayawati have done a fraction of corruption that leaders of AP did that should have become national news and made them to mend their ways. Unfortunately AP news does not gather more eyeballs at national level so these gentlemen are escaping. These individuals do have a feeling that they even silence National media as they tried all the tricks in the hat to silence you and failed.
Reason behind these things is lack of understanding the democratic values. I was really surprised by the fact that these VERY individuals are saying the congress Hi-command is not respecting the "People SENTIMENT". As Pandit Nehru observed democracy is not only that majority opinion inclined to but it is majority of opinion judiciously mixed with wisdom of the leader, society observers and interest of the state. It seems that, sir, these "New Breed of Democracy Lovers" under the head of business men are using and abusing the democracy to promote their vested interests. It is common knowledge that business men are quite adept at this art. These SAME individuals suppressed the long standing democratic right of Telanganis for their state. I earnestly feel that power and money at the few individuals' beck and call will certainly pose much danger to the society. Any right thinking citizen or journalist should not allow this to happen.
You and your editorial board (Adithya and all) seems to have observed this wrong trend and tried level best to expose these dubious intentions but you seem to have not achieved its objective as you are primarily in print media. As you made an attempt to give a voice to your noble thoughts with new "News Channel". I sincerely hope that you surely find success in this venture.
All The Best Once Again
Regards
Mahesh Thipparthi
