This is a unique kerala problem so my non-keralite friends can skip this post . But my nri friends who are mallu please read on .
Its a known belief that if a black cat crosses your way ill omen will fall you . I dont know what the poor cat had to do with this belief from olden times, but the take home message is that in a journey the first thing that happens has a lasting good/bad influence on the journey .
Now coming to the newspapers . Whether we go for a jog or walk groggily to the bathroom for most of us the morning newspaper is one of the first things in the morning agenda . Most of the newspapers have catchy headlines in the first page and yes media has the habit of putting catchy things in the first page . But here the newspapers of one of the most literate state stand apart from the rest . Here, most of the days the negative things are put on the first page in bold and with a long write up . Its common knowledge that accidents do happen , people commit suicide , politicians get caught for womanising etc . But in 30 days , at least 15 days the front page news is regarding these three topics . As there is no dearth of accidents happening in the national highway there is always a big picture of the mangled remains of the car ,a "nice" write-up etc . Whenever suicides happen it is there in the front page with all the details and the possible causes(media decides that also ) . Womanising gets an equal opportunity with many places in kerala made infamous by media by womanising scandal .
Kerala is not the only place where all these things happen . Accidents happen throughout the world , suicides also happen sometimes and some politicians are womanising . But even in Kuwait when i was there ,( which is a muslim country) whenever whoever is caught for womanising etc that news is put in the third or fifth page . In kuwait the accidents occur at much higher speeds and i had seen one car twisted on itself while i was there . But it is hardly put in the first page of Kuwait times which was a very readable newspaper with the right mix of national and international news . The same with the newspapers in mumbai --you look forward to reading it . But many malayalam newspapers --they have the importance for the negative things mostly . And inspite of all their gory reportings the number of accidents are increasing day by day in kerala . Studies have proven that the prominent reporting of suicides especially family suicides promote copycat suicides . In the west therefore suicide reporting is regulated . In kerala with no one to monitor this here also newspapers have their influence . In many parts of the world , womanising politicians make it into newspaper . But here too kerala newspapers lead in the number of politicians , actors , even common people allegedly linked to a particular scandal . These things happen as much like in any other parts of the country but do not regularly make front page news
Travelling to many parts of the country and a few parts of the world i have come to realise some strengths as well as some weaknesses of keralites . Compared to other parts kerala ,inspite of being Gods own country, has more than its share of people with a cynical outlook . And my question to the reader is whether the newspapers are catering to this cynical outlook or it is the newspapers causing the cynical attitude . If its the latter time to change the newspaper to a better one which even though may not show rosebeds everyday will not show mangled remains of a car and the like .
If there is disagreement pls take last 10 days newspaper and then shoot me the comments .
P.S : By the way i love black cats . I dont know who discovered that omen :)
Its a known belief that if a black cat crosses your way ill omen will fall you . I dont know what the poor cat had to do with this belief from olden times, but the take home message is that in a journey the first thing that happens has a lasting good/bad influence on the journey .
Now coming to the newspapers . Whether we go for a jog or walk groggily to the bathroom for most of us the morning newspaper is one of the first things in the morning agenda . Most of the newspapers have catchy headlines in the first page and yes media has the habit of putting catchy things in the first page . But here the newspapers of one of the most literate state stand apart from the rest . Here, most of the days the negative things are put on the first page in bold and with a long write up . Its common knowledge that accidents do happen , people commit suicide , politicians get caught for womanising etc . But in 30 days , at least 15 days the front page news is regarding these three topics . As there is no dearth of accidents happening in the national highway there is always a big picture of the mangled remains of the car ,a "nice" write-up etc . Whenever suicides happen it is there in the front page with all the details and the possible causes(media decides that also ) . Womanising gets an equal opportunity with many places in kerala made infamous by media by womanising scandal .
Kerala is not the only place where all these things happen . Accidents happen throughout the world , suicides also happen sometimes and some politicians are womanising . But even in Kuwait when i was there ,( which is a muslim country) whenever whoever is caught for womanising etc that news is put in the third or fifth page . In kuwait the accidents occur at much higher speeds and i had seen one car twisted on itself while i was there . But it is hardly put in the first page of Kuwait times which was a very readable newspaper with the right mix of national and international news . The same with the newspapers in mumbai --you look forward to reading it . But many malayalam newspapers --they have the importance for the negative things mostly . And inspite of all their gory reportings the number of accidents are increasing day by day in kerala . Studies have proven that the prominent reporting of suicides especially family suicides promote copycat suicides . In the west therefore suicide reporting is regulated . In kerala with no one to monitor this here also newspapers have their influence . In many parts of the world , womanising politicians make it into newspaper . But here too kerala newspapers lead in the number of politicians , actors , even common people allegedly linked to a particular scandal . These things happen as much like in any other parts of the country but do not regularly make front page news
Travelling to many parts of the country and a few parts of the world i have come to realise some strengths as well as some weaknesses of keralites . Compared to other parts kerala ,inspite of being Gods own country, has more than its share of people with a cynical outlook . And my question to the reader is whether the newspapers are catering to this cynical outlook or it is the newspapers causing the cynical attitude . If its the latter time to change the newspaper to a better one which even though may not show rosebeds everyday will not show mangled remains of a car and the like .
If there is disagreement pls take last 10 days newspaper and then shoot me the comments .
P.S : By the way i love black cats . I dont know who discovered that omen :)
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