Our news channels, as we all probably agree by now, are predominantly another type of reality TV. Every bit of “breaking news” and every “exclusive report” is a larger-than-life, over-the-top interpretation of subject matters... They persistently exaggerate relatively irrelevant topics to an extent that forces us to yell a “get over it” and makes us switch channels till we find something more significant being discussed – case in point is something like the Lee-Hesh Olympic Duel (did we really need to see their dad’s air their dirty linen in public) or like Rahul Gandhi’s in-the-passing mentioning something to the extent that he’s now willing to take on a more active and / or meaningful role in government… huh, so what exactly does that mean, he’s willing to become a manage a ministerial portfolio or he’s planning to plant some trees around Parliament? What was the need to debate & discuss his statement around-the-clock?

Further, these accounts are being reported by anchors (and being discussed by pseudo-intellectual panellists) who are all constantly trying to outdo each other in terms of aggression & volume.. The same panellists are called to debate topics ranging from child abuse to the casting couch to political games to corruption in the defence purchases.

They do “sting operations” to expose wrongdoing in industry, society and government using the most gullible & vulnerable of players – do something similar with the Big Bosses of industry, society and government and it would mean something, but trapping or entrapping small fry’s is so lame. Cases in point are the recent stings involving the small time IPL players taking money to spot-fix in cricket matches and the small time Bollywood artists taking portion of their fees under the table.

And, what has started bothering me the most is how the stories or issues that demand more coverage and more attention are merely reported and then side lined such as the athlete Pinki Pramanik story, the harassment she underwent and the video of her sex-determination test going viral – this should have been investigated further until all culprits were found, publicly shamed and legally booked.

Also the Sonali Mukherjee acid attack case… Nine years after an acid attack left Sonali Mukherjee blind in both eyes, partially deaf and melted away the skin on the skull, neck, chest and back, the 27-year-old is running penniless (after 22 surgeries) from pillar to post in Delhi for help from the government or permission for euthanasia. This cause should prompt a telethon – and funds should be collected to help people like her.

In fact, just so you know, The ITA has already started a drive to help with arranging funds she requires for her reconstructive surgeries. The government put its hands up and offered Rs. 50,000 /= of the minimum Rs. 21 Lakhs she needs, .The India Today group n The ITA has approached friends and associates and has already collected Rs. 11 Lakhs..Rs 10 lacs coming from the Gitanjali Chief..Mehul Choksi.. All those interested in helping, in whatever little way you can, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. Thank You.

Before I conclude, I have another thing to thank you for… GR8! Magazines is celebrating it’s 9th.Anniversary with the next issue! Our GR8! Team, all our readers, all our associates and friends... Thank you all so very much for all your feedback, support and encouragement through these years. We greatly appreciate it and we look forward to sharing many more years with you all.

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Until next time… Happy Reading!

Anu Ranjan