WAR clouds are still hovering over the sub-continent despite the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan after a short military conflict. There is a war of words among politicians and there is a fog of war in the television studios. War stories, with graphic details and a thick layer of jingoism, are buzzing in the studios and newsrooms. Simple narratives are getting more and more complex in the echo chambers of Indian television channels. Amid the deluge of breaking news, the print media has been treading cautiously, waiting for confirmation and resisting the urge to jump the war bandwagon. The worth of the printed word has been significantly pronounced in this entire hysteria.

 

The war week, after India launched Operation Sindoor to demolish terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, was full of activity on television channels and social media. There was an avalanche of stories from ground zero from “sources”, fully wrapped in theatrics in the studios. Stunning graphics and vfx effects had brought the war right into the drawing room. The race to show the “most exclusive” was maddening and frightening. Some sections had simply gone ballistic even before the operation started as anchors and correspondent indulged in various antics. Some emerged from secret tunnels while some took the vantage position atop war tanks. It was a media mayhem before and during the war week.

 

And yet, the numbers unleashed a stark reality about the viewer’s choice. Figures released by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), which maps audience pattern on television, revealed that during the war week not many people were willing to switch to news channels. The Hindi news genre was way behind sports channels as people preferred to watch the IPL a day after Operation Sindoor was launched. Even after the IPL was suspended in wake of the military tensions, BARC survey found out that news channels clocked a growth of hardly four per cent while twice this number preferred to watch old IPL matches on Star Sports. BARC is a premier agency mapping audience choice on television. Its figures determine ratings and advertisement rates on TV channels.

 

The war week survey by the agency should ring some bells in the studios about the method and manner of covering a critical issue. Media is already grappling with the issue of credibility with the emergence of social media handles dishing out anything under the sun as Breaking News. TV channels, including the mainstream, have the responsibility to overcome this menace of unverified content available in digital space. Many channels chose to maintain the dignity of the Press with measured coverage and good debates from genuine military and diplomacy experts. However, a majority simply got carried away to score a few brownie points as people with limited domain knowledge occupied positions of pundits and experts. Some news channels had already launched an “operation” against Pakistan even before the Indian Government did on the intervening night of May 6 and 7. With catchy slogans forming headlines and graphics akin to video games playing in loop, a war was on in full throttle leaving the world gaping at the exhibition of nonsense in the guise of creativity. As TV news continued unchecked with its dangerous theatrics, the print media remained sober in its coverage. Almost every newspaper adhered to the decree of verifying reports and checking facts before presenting it to readers.

 

One remarkable trait shown by the print media after the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor was not getting swayed by the 24x7 narratives on other news platforms. The war coverage included calculated and tothe-point details as counter-terrorism experts and former military officers provided wellresearched and insightful information to clear the fog of disinformation. National pride reflected in layouts, opinions and headlines but there was hardly any chest-thumping or jingoism. Upholding dignity of news, country and soldiers remained the core attribute of print media throughout the war coverage. A distinct view of the situation in the last two weeks establishes that the strength of the printed word still weighs much higher than other sources, especially in the present era of misinformation. The print media has held its place in the changing media landscape on the dint of its trustworthiness. For, it follows a traditional system of checks and counterchecks before publishing any news. Responsible media platforms have no option than to stick to what is confirmed officially or backed by full-proof evidence. Moreover, the print media is fighting a new terror of social media which did not exist in the previous major clashes. It is virtually impossible to control the new-age media.

 

Even within these constraints, the print media is coming out with stories about people, impact of the conflict, geopolitical consequences of each action and tales of heroism – on and off the battlefield. And it is not a matter of hearsay which many platforms are using blatantly to relay unverified news. Fact-checking remains a prominent tool for the print media, again establishing its credibility as an authentic and reliable source of news and information. The intense military conflict between the sub-continent neighbours has busted many myths. And, in the process, it has cleared the fog surrounding legacy media. It has confirmed that a printed word holds tremendous value and responsibility than the fleeting flash on channels. A wrong newsstrip on the ticker can be deleted within seconds. But the printed word stays. Forever.