Well done was my first reaction when I read of New Indian Express decision# to stop covering IPL. And the editorial announcement also tweeted under @NewIndianXpress was nicely drafted to evoke similar responses. My friends also shared and commented with ‘very bold decision’ and something like Respect. It would have been interesting if the media unanimously boycotted coverage of every potentially super-spreader event like religious and political assemblies.
THE TIMING SEEMED RIGHT.
The second wave of COVID19 is still to peak, there is chaos and confusion, and the still peaking. It is a state of scarcity with a lack of infrastructure, beds, doctors, oxygen, ventilators, and injection. Social media is full of negativity about the situation. Individuals and groups are working to help out the patients. Suddenly, people know of at least one person in our close circle suffering from COVID19. Many have lost the battle. Or lost the battle. Things are suddenly seeming real. Everywhere people are complaining.
Someone said that New Indian Express is a small south centric newspaper, and it does not make a difference to IPL if they do not cover the matches.
A SECOND OPINION.
The question is does it means anything to the masses. Maybe, it is here that the newspaper failed to read the sentiment wrong.
It is all about timing. People questioned the newfound purpose and love of New Indian Express.
QUESTIONS
The New Indian Express decision is just the foundation. The questions are addressed to every newspaper and, in effect, the whole of the media.
Where was the newspaper when the election rallies were up? The politicians were still talking of safe distancing and masking. At some places court even wanted people to mask while inside the car. However, the political rallies showed another picture. These were super-spreader events.
Where was the newspaper when the Khumbh was taking place? When marriages, events- religious and personal were allowed through with limited numbers. Whatever may have been the arrangement made at Haridwar, it seemed a wrong event to allow*.
Where was the newspaper when initially Gym, talkies and such places were opened?
WHY IPL.
Why is the newspaper picking on IPL that does not use any public money? That is so well managed in a bubble. Planned and programmed in the safest possible way. IPL may even help take care of some of the negativity and provide some entertainment to stop people from stepping out. It is commercial, and that makes me feel, at least some economic activity is on. Some business is happening.
Where are the newspapers when they keep reporting bikini-clad pictures of people with money and resources vacationing in a beautiful destination? Do they just think of news and paid features, or there are some connect and empathy for the audience.
SOME VOICES.
Vikas Mehta, ex-Lintas, was critical of the New Indian Express decision. He was clear the IPL should continue. EPL and all other European football leagues continued during December 20- April 21, the worst 2nd wave period in Europe. The WC qualifiers happened. Players shifted between countries and sometimes bubbles. And more COVID positive cases occurred amongst footballers in Europe than cricketers in India.
New Indian Express seems not to be walking the talk. The digital version carries the IPL news as the physical talks of stopping covering it.
My friend SANJEEV SHUKLA says New Indian Express plays out a calculated strategy to ride on the tiger. Ghanta makes any difference to IPL or to anyone if New IE (not IE) Or any newspaper covering or not covering makes no difference. IPL is running like any other business – legally. What’s wrong with that? If it’s a problem, let Government stop it. Why doesn’t NIE close down its paper for a few weeks in solidarity with what’s happening? IPL is not impacting the COVID19 second wave; it may, in fact, be helping the situation.
There are scientific data saying Negativity/Depression directly & drastically impacts Immunity levels and the body’s strength to recover. But NIE would like people to not be Positive, brood in the gloom, and die of virus or Depression. (@Ramki @agarwalsanjeev and @DPrasanthNair also voice this opinion)
If there’s so much issue about celebrations in times of misery. Close Netflix, Amazon Prime, Sony Liv… people shouldn’t be allowed to laugh, entertain… there are thousands with their livelihood dependent on IPL. Is NIE going to give them money to survive?
Seems the timing is absolutely wrong. Another media person commented ‘it is not the same brand (referring to Indian Express) that was once a newspaper practicing journalism with courage. Now a coward on both sides. (many feel it is balanced and fair)
However, another friend and brand coach Sumit Roy thinks. Otherwise, New Indian Express is encouraging responsible behavior. Everyone has to assume that they could be carrying the COVID-19 virus. You owe it to your fellow Indians.
@AnshuMor tweets, “What is this nonsense of criticizing IPL Now? Stop blaming the cricketers and Bollywood for everything just because you don’t have the balls to question the Government?
THE PLAYERS BUBBLE IS JUST A BUBBLE.
The IPL teams are living in a bubble. But, they cannot be immune to the situation outside. Any tested positive and have joined back after recovery. R Ashwin has cut short his IPL season and is joining the family as they fight COVID. I expect more to act and we most likely will be left with a curtailed IPL season.
THE REALITY.
And you realize that is the truth. We are so stressed with everyone now knowing someone suffering from COVID19. We are so frustrated with the indifference of people we trusted to act. There is a simmering volcano of trapped anger among ‘have nots’ against the haves. They start celebrating every such act that is loaded with strategic intent and most likely superficial emotions.
The Government, the citizen, the judiciary and we have failed the nation. We all knew of these events; they did not happen in one day. And hence, if we were so concerned and sensitive, we should have raised our voice early and in unison. We cannot be selective in our criticism, and if we have a stance or a purpose (for brands), we must stick with it.
We have come a long way. From everyone for everyone, we have been pushed to a situation of Everyone for themselves. It does not take long for the situation to spiral out of control when things come to survive. Honesty, values, ethics, accountability, and responsibility sound so hollow when tested in the jungle out there. Go, do something far more constructive than stopping coverage of IPL. It may sound a lot harsher, idiotic and heartless, but maybe the way it is being handled, IPL may be doing something good than wrong.
footnotes
*There is conflicting news from people in Uttarakhand, the social media trolling Government, and the Kumbh attendees on how well managed with COVID19 protocols maintained Vs how ill-managed it was. However, from all we know, huge numbers came and took the dip, and that’s the problem. It should have been banned like many other things.
#The New Indian Express announcement. India is going through its worst case of Covid pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of people are struggling, many in vain, to exercise their right to live, as a ramshackle universal healthcare system proves that it has no answers to the challenges posed by a creepy bug. The health ministry’s daily bulletin of fresh, positive cases and fatalities has hit the stratosphere, so have SOS messages from individuals and hospitals seeking oxygen refills and life-saving medicines. Most of us already have friends or relatives who have succumbed to COVID-19 or are battling for life. In such a tragic time, we find it inappropriate that the festival of Cricket is on in India, with layers of bio-bubbles creating protection.
This is commercialism gone crass. The problem is not with the game but its timing. Cricket, too, must accept that we are going through an unprecedented crisis. In the circumstances, The New Indian Express has decided to suspend IPL coverage in the newspaper. This is a small gesture towards keeping the nation’s attention focused on life and death issues. We are sure that our readers will see the point. These are times when we must stand as one nation with one resolve.
UPDATE–
With the bubble breached and people in four teams and support staff testing positive-IPL been indefinitely postponed on 4th May with around 29 of the 56 matches already over.
BLOG/035/2021
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