Sakshi,Eenadu,Andhra Jyothi(ABN) Media manipulation on Mudragada fasting
S.R.Seshu
When newspapers or news channels blatantly take political sides, truth becomes the victim. The mainstream newspapers’ coverage of the fast-unto-death agitation by the Kapu Nadu leader Mudragada Padmanabham in a hospital in Rajahmundry is the latest example for Telugu media’s manipulative reportage.
Even as there is a lot of confusion over Mudragada’s fasting, three prominent Telugu newspapers-Eenadu, Sakshi and Andhra Jyothi- gave different treatment to the developing news story in tune with the management’s affiliations and ideologies. While Eenadu and Andhra Jyothi, known supporters of Chandrababu Naidu government allegedly due to caste equations, soft-pedaled the issue, where as Sakshi, owned by the Opposition leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, blew it out of proportion.
‘Vaidyasevalaku Mudragada sahakaram (Mudragada cooperates for treatment)’ was the headline of Eenadu, which relegated the important report to page-5. It states that the agitating leader accepted four bottles of intravenous fluids but it hushed up the doctor’s version that his health condition has reached to a dangerous level. The doctor’s version was buried somewhere inside the story.
Andhra Jyothi, the sister concern of Eenadu when it comes to supporting Telugu Desam Party, gave a single column on the page-1 and ran the remaining in page-2 with a headline “Vaariki bail vachhe daakaa deeksha aagadu (Fasting won’t be stopped till my people get bail: Mudragada).” It is a statement-based headline. The first line of the Andhra Jyothi story clearly states that ‘the talks between Mudragada and the government have almost succeeded.” Quoting doctors, the report announces that he consumed two liters of water and his “health condition is alright (baagaane vundi) and though he is feeling weak, the force in his voice has not come down (maatala balam taggaledu).”
The real shocker comes from YSRCP’s Sakshi newspaper. In a banner story, with a title “Mudragada aarogyamto sarkaar aatalu! (Government plays with Mudragada health!) and a deck ‘Kaapu vudyama neta aarogyam marinta vishamam (Health of the Kapu leader further deteriorates)’, gives an altogether different picture. The opening line says that his health condition is serious. The editorialized story conveniently plays down the issue of four bottles of IV fluids but quoted doctors as saying: “anything can happen at any time.”
Surprisingly, English newspapers are dealing the issue with a lot of care and contemplation. Same is the case with news channels except Sakshi TV. In all probability, the managements are seriously considering their business equation with the media-savvy cum maverick Chief Minister!
