Huh, this is my favorite subject these days. All across the blogosphere, you will find stories about how media should follow code of ethics before reporting; verify the facts before they publish, how they should dress up before presentation blah blah. Looks very fine and readable on papers. When it comes to implementation, even the top trips.

Talking about journalism, media and reporting, you can talk about them all day long and you will never be tired.

Basically these reporters can be classified into two categories. One those who make nothing out of stories and the other who make stories out of nothing

The latter are called as Hooh Haah reporters.

Here are a few glossy examples. The report reads “India watches as Satyam goes down”

1. My Home Hub, Satyam

Is India watching the building glass  ? Or some painters, cleaners. Where is Satyam going down here ? In fact I see Satyam being cleaned, painted. That tells me they have additional money for spending on their building. That is a sign of progress   Someone please tell them !

2. A Crisis Situation

It says “people looking at a large screen displaying India’s benchmark share index…..” . I don’t see any benchmark index, nor do I see any large screen. I see a Sardar showing his four fingers. Could it be that the Sardar is a well dressed assistant cameraman? All the ingredients of Hooh Haah reporting, must say.

3. Up In Smoke

I laughed over this one for long. I see four guys posing for the photo graph with cellphone in their hand and some made up expression. Again – Where is Satyam in the picture? Nothing in that photo suggests that the photo is from Satyam.

..And the text talks of “Smoking Break”. Where is the smoke, I ask you ?

4. Out in the Open

What was the intent ? Do you see Satyam ? How do you know from that photo that she is an employee of Satyam ? – May be the Id card, but nothing is visible you see

5. On Guard – So what does it tell me, huh? Are you telling me that a Guard outside Satyam’s office is watching Satyam going down?

6. An Onlooker

Oh ! That’s just a good photograph. Again, where is the large screen as claimed ? How do I know this old man is concerned about Satyam ?. Ditto with The Aftermath Wake up, do some good reporting !

7. Wreckage & Tense Situation

Excellent photos. Monitors do look like trade screen. But considering the credibility of all the above photos, this one fails to impress me besides the quality of photograph.

Welcome to the age of Hooh Haah reporting !

Image Credit: Alex Steffler

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