I have always maintained the Independence of the Media is a myth, it only implies that the media outlets are at liberty to decide for themselves which organization they shall sell their soul to. The events that transpired during the course of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections only serve to remind us that most journalists in the Mainstream Media are merely propagandists in the guise of independent journalists. The journalists have long since abandoned the pursuit of accurately reporting public opinion and actively attempt to shape it. Fortunately for us, the demands of their endeavors far exceed the extent of their capabilities and all their attempts at influencing the results of democratic elections have fallen flat.
One would have thought that after the debacle of the Mainstream Media in the USA over the Presidency Elections, their Indian counterparts would have taken a lesson but then again, expecting the Mainstream Media to fix itself is like expecting Cancer cells to kill themselves on their own. And thus, it happened, as journalists were fawning over the SP – Congress alliance and expecting a victory for their new found ally against Narendra Modi, the BJP scored a resounding victory in the UP elections with a complete Saffron Sweep of the state.
On the 7th of February, Rohini Singh of Economic Times, tweeted BJP “seemed to be struggling in UP” as she stressed that Demonetization had an adverse impact on Narendra Modi’s credibility as the Prime Minister of India.
The BJP seems to be struggling in UP as of now
— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) February 6, 2017
She tweeted on the same day, “Traveling in UP and the anger with demonetization is the one thing that consistently stands out. Wonder how Delhi analysts missed that!”
Travelling in UP and the anger with demonetisation is the one thing that consistently stands out. Wonder how Delhi analysts missed that!
— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) February 6, 2017
One wonders how could someone be so much off the mark but then journalists were themselves so angry at Modi over demonetization that it coloured every single observation of theirs. Not to be left far behind her colleague, Vasudha Venugopal, anotherJournalist with Economic Times, tweeted on the 22nd of January, “Poetry & praise for Akhilesh reaching crazy levels on this stage. UP poet ends his speech with.”yeh parinda dil mein ghosla banata raha ..”
Poetry & praise for Akhilesh reaching crazy levels on this stage. UP poet ends his speech with.."yeh parinda dil mein ghosla banata raha .."
— Vasudha Venugopal (@Vasudha156) January 22, 2017
In hindsight, it appears Economic Times was firmly in the pockets of the SP – Congress alliance.
Another of their journalist, this time a male for a change, Aman Sharma tweeted on the 2nd of February, “Im still to find even a handful of persons in West UP who plan to rush in joy to polling booth to vote for BJP purely due to demonetisation!”
Im still to find even a handful of persons in West UP who plan to rush in joy to polling booth to vote for BJP purely due to demonetisation! https://t.co/yYoymxKE29
— Aman Sharma (@AmanKayamHai_) February 2, 2017
Are these journalists actually this incompetent or were they working under the influence of some added incentives? I would leave that for the readers to judge.
The Economic Times seems to have been functioning as a Public Relations team for the SP – Congress alliance and some of their tweets are, quite frankly, monumentally embarrassing. Aman Sharma again tweeted on the 3rd of February, “This ws picture of the day for me from the rallies yesterday. A song was also blaring – baby ko base pasand hai, UP ko akhilesh pasand hai!”
This ws picture of the day for me from the rallies yesterday. A song was also blaring – baby ko base pasand hai, UP ko akhilesh pasand hai! pic.twitter.com/FCC3saBFUs
— Aman Sharma (@AmanKayamHai_) February 3, 2017
On the same day, he tweeted, “Solid road show in Agra by Akhilesh & RG. City at cusp of Braj & West UP regions in Phase 1 of polling. City plastered with RG-AY hoardings”.
Solid road show in Agra by Akhilesh & RG. City at cusp of Braj & West UP regions in Phase 1 of polling. City plastered with RG-AY hoardings
— Aman Sharma (@AmanKayamHai_) February 3, 2017
Unfortunately for them, despite their vigorous zeal and considerable hard work, the people did not share their enthusiasm for the Akhilesh-Rahul do as is evident from yesterday’s results.
The journalists seem to harbor a personal vendetta against Demonetization which they project onto the masses at large. Vasudha Venugopal tweeted on the 30th of January, “Do people of UP really want the Ram mandir..? Especially after the way small businesses have been hit by demonetisation..?”
Do people of UP really want the Ram mandir..? Especially after the way small businesses have been hit by demonetisation..?
— Vasudha Venugopal (@Vasudha156) January 30, 2017
I think it’s safe for us to say now that the people of Uttar Pradesh definitely want the Ram Mandir. They really do want it. And one has to be either schizophrenic or a journalist to actually believe that temporary inconvenience brought about by demonetization would make people forsake the one party that has promised to put an end to the politics of minority appeasement.
Adityanath upset hai aur kya west ka daura karenge? And Anupriya star campaigning karengi.? UP BJP buzz is as interesting as its chaat :)
— Vasudha Venugopal (@Vasudha156) January 21, 2017
One wonders how could journalists be so out of sync with the will of the masses. As Nassim Nicholas Taleb says, “Journalism is the last refuge of the rejects of the Information Age.” NN Taleb reserves some choicest words for these propagandists in the guise of journalists, “An erudite is someone who displays less than he knows; a journalist or consultant the opposite.” But perhaps, he sums it up best when he says, “This business of journalism is about pure entertainment, not the search for the truth.”
On a completely unrelated note, the Akhilesh led SP government allotted 68 acres of land to Times Group, the owner of Economic Times, to develop the Bennett University in Greater Noida which was announced in December, 2014.
Before I finish this analysis, here’s a tweet that sums it all:
Final analysis of yesterday's polling: BJP biggest loser,RLD likely 2 make big gains,Alliance done better than expected, BSP holds on 2 base
— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) February 12, 2017
