Keith Vaz and Sandeep Kumar: How the Media Perceives a Sex Scandal

Here are some lessons we learnt from the two sordid affairs that rocked Indian and British media last week.

Sex. Sex tape. Sex scandal. Shameless sex. Sex shame politician.

Now that we have your attention, let’s move on.

Last week witnessed two ‘shocking’ affairs – one involving the not-so-aam aadmi Sandeep Kumar, and the other involving Indian-origin British minister Keith Vaz.

The media milked the ‘sex videos’ in both cases, outraging over its ‘immorality’ in the first case, and shocked over its contents in the second.

Here are a few journalistic lessons from the Brits and the Desi patrakars, on how to report a sex scandal.

When ‘Shameless’ Keith Vaz Shocked the British Press

Lesson number one: Use ‘sleazy’, ‘sex’, and any other related words in the headline. Sometimes, even twice (for effect).

Known for their sensational headlines, British tabloids remained true to form.

The Sunday Mirror, which broke the scandal, did not mince any words with their exclusive scoop. For the tabloid, Keith is clearly “leading a double life,” being a married man with two kids. The married man’s “sex life” being both “shocking” and “disgraceful” for the tabloid, had a clear moral undertone to the reporting.

Daily Star, Daily Mail and The Sun weren’t too far behind, labelling Vaz the king of sleaze and controversies.

So, basically, the man arranges for male prositutes, and wants to get “the party started.” To think that this is what got Britain’s tabloids shocked is another matter. The larger concern is the breach of the man’s private life.

It was completely up to him if he wished to engage the services of escorts. It wasn’t even a criminal act. Then why the brouhaha?

Leading newspapers in Britain answer that questions for us:

Both The Independent and The Guardian ran articles on how Vaz’s status as an influential public figure necessitates an intrusion into his private life, which brings us to the next important lesson.

Lesson number two: Get Personal. Like, really personal.

Yes, it’s probably true that no political party wants a minister who is habitually engaging prostitutes and potentially passing diseases to his wife.

But, again, it’s his personal life. And the emphasis on the male escorts is baffling for a country otherwise perceived as “progressive.” So what if he’s gay?

And “that’s only the tip of the iceberg,” as Sunday Mirror proudly quotes a fellow minister saying.

Tabloids and newspapers, both, culled out intimate details from his past. From listicles, to infographics, a timeline of his “scandalous” past was exposed. The media dug deep, and unearthed skeletons from his closet.

Not to suggest that he shouldn’t be critiqued for his alleged financial scams and social misconduct. But going hard (pun intended) on his sex life, sprinkled with sensational headlines, exposes a bigger, global problem.

When Sandeep Kumar’s ‘Sex CD’ Drove Indian Headlines

Lesson number three: If the scandal offends your morality, say it out loud. Also remember, visual tools like sensational music and tickers are your best friends.

While British media had their hands full digging up Vaz’s personal life, Indian news channels were losing their sh*t over the country’s “Sabse daagdar, sabse bhaddha, sabse bada sex scandal (dirtiest, biggest and the most sordid).

For ABP news, there’s been nothing more “apattijanak” (objectionable) than Sandeep Kumar’s sexual escapades. After showing a boring ol’ room and Kumar’s knickers, the channel decided to use bright red arrows to highlight, sorry to disappoint, a bolster. They also deployed the mesmerising tool of binoculars to focus on the lucky pillow.

There was Kumar, a woman, and what seemingly looked like a consensual act of sex. But the Bharatiya Saanskritik sensibility was predictably offended.

Aaj Tak’s moral stance makes it clear:

“Ek andolan se nikli party, naitikta ke sab se unche paidaan se cheekhne waali us party ka naam, Aam Aadmi Party, lekin aaj uska chehra sabse daag daar hai, sabse bhadda hai.” (A party that emerged out of a movement, a party that has maintained a high moral stance, the Aam Aadmi Party. But today its face is most tarnished, most ugly).

Coupled with a Balaji-esque background score, and a ticker that read “Kejriwal Ke Mantri Ka Dirty Game,” the channel left nothing to the imagination.

The Art of Personal Intrusion

The Indian media pounced on Sandeep Kumar’s ‘sex CD’ with so much glee, it’s clear that such sordid material is a money-spinner – privacy and balance be damned.

But don’t be disheartened, it’s not just us. The British media gave ours a run for their money with their enthusiastic coverage of every dirty detail of Vaz’s sex life.

We all know sex sells, but this has crossed over from clickbait to an Amsterdam-esque, exhibitionist, all-out sex show.