Short Story: "Hypocrite Radar - EmpTy-TV and Parkha Strutt"


The Story


I am a blogger - I do not wish to disclose my name in the interest of privacy. There were terror attacks in my country (again I would prefer not to disclose my nationality either) on the 52nd day of the 22nd month last year (lets call this incident as the "52/22 attacks"). Most of the news channels in my country were irresponsible in their coverage of the event; but one particular channel - EmpTy-TV, was outstandingly shoddy.


I had put forth this opinion is as many words in a blog post immediately after the 52/22 attacks. I had singled out one female reporter of the channel - named Ms. Parkha Strutt (how apt, since all she does is strut her half-baked sense of journalism in front of the camera) for severe criticism. This was not the first time that Ms. Strutt had violated journalist ethics and pure common sense in pursuit of TRP's. In an earlier incident, she had reported LIVE from a battlefield (when my country had been in war with a neighboring country). Her news feed had given away the location of my country's army bunkers and had resulted in casualties in my country's army too.


Well, apparently, Ms. Strutt could not digest this criticism. The recent turn of events (including a legal notice to me by EmpTy-TV) have culminated in me tendering an unconditional apology to Ms. Strutt; and withdrawing my said blogpost.


What is really sad about the whole event is the unabashed hypocrisy on display - on part of EmpTy-TV and Parkha Strutt in particular; and my country's mainstream media (MSM) in general. The media had come under fire from all quarters after the 52/22 attacks. The national Government in my country wanted to regulate the media, at least during times of national emergencies. However, the MSM lobby had vehemently opposed any such move, arguing that it would be detrimental to the idea of "freedom of speech". I, at that time, had silently sided with the media. Allowing regulation of media by Governments is dangerous - It is very easy for the Govt to misuse the power.


Well so MSM and EmpTy-TV did have their way and retained their freedom of speech. But, wait a minute. Do I not enjoy the same freedom of speech and expression as they do? Let us for a moment forget about everything else in this episode - MSM's downright unethical coverage of the 52/22 attacks, or my blog post bashing them up for it. My point is - why one set of rights for MSM; and another set for the general public (bloggers included)? If one cannot handle criticism, one should not indulge in criticism either, should (s)he?


The Appeal


I appeal to the readers of my blog to protest against this act of hypocrisy by EmpTy-TV. Some of the means of protest:


  • Stop watching EmpTy-TV; or even unsubscribe from EmpTy-TV if you are in a position to do so.

  • Inform others who do watch EmpTy-TV about this incident. Let them take the decision whether they wish to continue watching this channel.

  • If you are an advertiser on EmpTy-TV, then pull out right now.

  • Start (or help me in starting) online petitions for this cause. You can consider petitioning EmpTy-TV itself (showing the channel how much resentment there is against it); or petitioning the national Government (demanding an explanation/justice from EmpTy-TV); or even the petitioning some of the companies which advertise on the channel (requesting a pull-out - the advertisers have ample avenues anyways).



Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. All entities mentioned in this story (including, but not limited to, countries, places, dates, names, incidents and controversies) are imaginary. Any reference or similarity to any real entity is purely coincidental. Further, any reference or similarity to any person or news channel, living or dead (literally dead; or dead in conscience, professional ethics, or spirit) is purely coincidental too.


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Update (01/02/09): MadMomma has linked to this post. Head over to her post and you will be astonished at this unbelievable coincidence - Just after I write this short story; I stumble upon an almost exact real-life incident! Its a good thing I put that disclaimer there!!


Update 2 (01/02/09): Apparently, the "war incident" which I mentioned above also closely resembles a real-life incident which occured in India in 1999. Thank God (or whoever invented them) for Disclaimers!!!


Update 3 (01/02/09): This one takes the cake. And it altogether redefines the term "coincidence". It has come to my notice that a similar incident has taken place in a far-away galaxy on the planet of Massomedia too!!! I am dumb-founded and really do not know what to say!


Update 4 (02/02/09): This post has featured at BlogBharti.


13 comments to Short Story: "Hypocrite Radar - EmpTy-TV and Parkha Strutt"

  • Anonymous

    bravo!!!
    But I am not one to mince words...I said it as it is....Lets see what they can do!

  • Anonymous

    This is a brilliant way to do what you did. Without getting a libel suit slapped on. Frankly I cannot stand empty tvs or those who strutt around.

  • Ms. Parkha Strutt needs to read this blog. Is there any way to get this imaginary article to the imaginary character?? :)

  • @chandni: Thanks. And yes - you said it "Lets see what they can do". Nothing - unless the said journalist quits her job, starts reading the hundreds of posts against her and starts sending legal notices to each and every one of them!

    @Nita: Thanks!

    @itsme: Good idea. Let me start investigating if I can somehow bring this fictional story to the notice of this fictional character :-)

  • Brilliant. Hilarious, if only the real life situation weren't so ghastly.

  • Nicely written.
    Very true, I have seen this Shrutt doing all nonsense stuff while relaying for her news channel, just to get TRP.
    I mean, sahi hai, kai logo ka imaan-dharam kuch nahi hota...
    When did it happen yaar tht you got legal notice from this TV ?

  • woooow ! Brilliant!

  • @Dipali: Thanks - and ya - if only the real life situation weren't so ghastly!

    @Deepak: Thanks - and hey, dint you read the disclaimer and the updates? I got no such notice - this story is a work of f(r)iction ;)

    @Pavi: Thanks!

  • Anonymous

    hey awessssome blog!

  • excellent dear,i appriciate u...

  • brilliant brilliant!

  • Your determination to fight injustice gives me immense pleasure. I felt sorry when i read the apology blog you wrote and what a come back this is! i pledge that i won't watch EmpTy- TV hereafter. All i watch off late for news items is Views Z. I too request fellow bloggers to stop watching EmpTy-TV and their likes. United we stand, divided we fall.

  • @Anonymous, Mallika and Ernest: Thanks!!

    @j k: Thanks for your encouragement. Although I would like to remind everyone here that this is a fictional post - Maybe you people are mistaking me to be someone else ;)

Disclaimer: This is my personal blog. All the views and opinions expressed on this blog are entirely my own and do not reflect the views of my employer, organization, relatives, friends, acquaintances or any other person/entity.