A leading daily of Odisha carried a headline in today that 'ADM, BDO and JE have been kidnapped' in the Chandrapir block of Rayagada district, which incidently is the most naxal affected block in the district. This sent a panic wave in not just the district, but also in the entire state and ripples are felt in the state capital as well. Infact yesterday itself the electronic channel of the same media group carried a news item that the BDO Chandrapur has been kidnapped. Within hours the district police inquired and found that the news item is false and all concerned, including the media persons were informed accordingly. However inspite of this the media group in its daily has carried in the front page headline news of abduction of BDO, ADM and JE, which is nothing but a clear case of irresponsible reporting.
It is said that this irresponsible reporting from the reporter daily has been critized by the members of the press themselves, who are told to have said that this is a an attempt of individual reporter to gain public attention by engaging in sensationalism, unmindful of the effect it will have on the relatives of those who are falsely said to have been kidnapped, in particular and govt officials and people in general.
This episode further brings to fore the issue of standards and accountability of media perssons.A senior citizen in Rayagada has said that media has a very important role to play in a democracy and all sorts of freedom is given to them. However with this kind of mindset, the freedom is more often than not, misused.
People in general, in the district, are seen to be very angry about this behaviour from the otherwise reputed media house and there is demand to call for their explanation by the government.
