Malik Jehangir
SRINAGAR: The radio station of Srinagar working under the aegis of Prasar Bharti Broadcasting Corporation of India (PBBCI) has lost its relevance since it broadcasts news and events that happen days or even weeks before.
The radio station of Srinagar better known as Akashvani Srinagar in the morning on Monday (May 9, 2022) dished out stale information in its news bulletins. The worst of the whole story is that the station higher-ups did not deem it fit to carry out an apology in this regard. In other words it can be said that people were deceived through news bulletins.
In the morning bulletins of May 9 at 9:20 AM (Kashmiri) and 9:25 AM (Urdu) information was given that Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta visited the Bone & Joints hospital and Lalded hospital on Sunday (May 8, 2022). The news readers in both the news bulletins said that the Chief Secretary was accompanied by senior officers in civil administration and senior officers of Health & Medical Education department.
Scanning the press notes of the Department of Information it came out that no such visit was carried out by the Chief Secretary. While scanning the press notes of previous dates it came to the fore that the Chief Secretary had visited the Bone & Joints hospital and Lalded hospital on April 28, 2022 and not on May 8.
He was accompanied by senior officers including higher-ups of Health & Medical Education department. This goes on to show that the news editor of Akashvani Srinagar acted in totally irresponsible manner while finalizing the news items to be broadcast in both the news bulletins. Without checking and cross checking the facts and figures, stale information was dished out to readers.
It would be in place to mention here that Akashvani Srinagar and Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar are the public broadcasters and they are supposed to broadcast and telecast news items that reflect a correct picture and not imperfect one. The people at helm at these public broadcasters are taking people for ride and same gets reflected every now and then.