What is the likely impact of this competition among television channels to outdo one another in running exclusive live coverage of events for gaining higher viewership?
The competition among television channels to outdo one another in running exclusive live coverage for higher viewership has made news far more immediate, democratic and intimate. Television has fostered public debate and expanded its reach with a lively and informal format.
However, this competition raises concerns about whether serious political and economic issues are neglected in the race for higher viewership. With about 900 private television networks broadcasting, channels may prioritise sensational coverage over meaningful content. The context also raises questions about whether such coverage amounts to voyeurism – peeping into people's private and intimate moments.
While this competition can highlight important issues like the plight of rural poor, it may also lead to sensationalism and invasion of privacy in the pursuit of exclusive content.
Explanation
This question is from Exercise for Box 7.12 in the NCERT textbook. The answer draws from the context which discusses how news has become 'immediate, democratic and intimate' while also questioning if 'serious political and economic issues are neglected'. The textbook itself raises the question of voyeurism and the potential positive role in highlighting rural poor's plight, indicating both positive and negative impacts of this competition.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identified the positive impacts from context - news becoming immediate, democratic, intimate and fostering public debate
Step 2: Identified the concerns raised in context - neglect of serious issues and question of voyeurism
Step 3: Balanced both perspectives while mentioning the potential positive role in highlighting rural issues