On TV news and subliminal cues

I froze today when I saw this flash line running on a major news channel. Even though 'dropping like flies' is an idiom, the context of the usage here was appalling.

I grew up watching NDTV's live news coverage. Eventually, Times Now was the prime news channel in our home. I remember watching our nation's greatest anchor's 2G coverage daily. When he started a new channel, I had high hopes. I remember watching the same channel a few months later and thinking, 'Wait a minute. This isn't what I expected'. We all know what's going on now.

Now, if I think about those 2G times, I wonder if that's when 'content' started taking the back seat and 'anchors' became the 'story' itself. I don't remember the 'facts' from the coverage; I only remember the anchor's anger now. Now see every news channel's posters, and you'll find anchors angrily staring at us.

The usage of the flash lines like 'Khalistanis dropping like flies' is not new. It's a pattern I've been observing on major news channels in recent times. Idioms like these (dropping like flies) are also subliminal cues. It immediately gives you a subconscious 'visual' impact. Such lines are mostly used when it comes to anything that affects the ruling party. Interestingly, these flash lines aren't found in the YouTube copies of the same coverage.

Would any self-respecting news editor write such provocative lines on live tv? Because, I know print journalists and editors are trained to not write like this. Will the same organization carry such a line on the cover of their magazine?

I feel that the news organizations that use such provocative lines are not treating their profession and their audience with dignity. The first thing any proper journalist learns is how to treat the audience with respect. I am just shocked to see the state of live news channels now. Kids are growing up thinking this is 'normal'. Whether kids actually watch these things is a different question. But see how 2K kids discuss politics, culture in online forums. They like 'extremes', and don't comprehend that things are not black and white. Hate permeates!

I'm blessed to work in news organizations that never encouraged sensationalism. But I am truly concerned about the ecosystem. We need an antidote.

I remember the time when I once wrote an apology letter to my readers. I had to cover a school student's extraordinary 'win' in a competition. It was a small box-type coverage. I mistakenly wrote a different school's name; it got published. One of the teachers from the school called and gave me an earful. I wrote an apology note in the magazine and to the editor. I never made a single mistake in my articles after that incident. There is no such culture on live news channels it seems!

"The Medium Is the Message" — Marshall McLuhan