In his first video interview since he resigned from Zee News, Vishwa Deepak, a producer with the channel, informed that the JNU sedition row was covered with ‘pre-conceived’ notions. Speaking to The Quint, he said:
My resignation seeks to question the sanctity of journalism and the independence of editorial judgement. What is the role of a journalist in society? Should a journalist toe party lines or question them?Vishwa Deepak, Former Producer, Zee News
Lashing out at the coverage of several TV channels, Deepak alleged that certain media organisations are guilty blindly following the government line. The media, he says, conducted its own trail and ‘framed’ certain people.
I couldn’t bear that the media was working as a tool of the government, so I resigned.
Deepak elaborates that a certain section of the media is guilty of creating ‘mass hysteria’. According to him, basic principles of journalism were not followed, facts were not checked and the authenticity and source of videos being aired were not verified. This is ‘irresponsible journalism’ and ‘failure of judgement’.
We question the democracy of the other institutions, but there is no democracy in newsrooms. Do we, or can we actually question the lines our editors take?
Update:
Zee Media has issued a statement strongly refuting the claims made by journalist Vishwa Deepak. The media giant has denied allegations of broadcasting the ‘doctored’ JNU video showing ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans. Zee Media has called Vishwa Deepak’s allegations ‘mischievous and incorrect.’
It has come to the notice of Zee Media that Mr. Vishwa Deepak who was working with Zee News, after his resignation dated 19.02.2016, has made certain statements on various social media platforms which are not only incorrect but also defamatory and mischievous. Some of the media houses without proper verification of the facts and going into details of the false, incorrect and mischievous statements made by Mr. Vishwa Deepak, have portrayed the said statements as a statement of fact. It is disheartening to see that other media platforms without even caring to check with Mr. Pawan Nara who was reporting that night from JNU chose to believe and report wild allegations.Excerpt of statement by Zee Media.
Read the full statement by Zee Media sent to jantakareporter.com.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)