The media story of Srilankan Tamils issue.

By Chinnaa


Tamils are sentimental people by nature. So also, the Tamil media. Whenever and wherever their fellow-Tamils are in trouble and affected, Tamils in Tamil Nadu become emotional. They look for emotional stuff from media in Tamil Nadu. Media there are not far behind. For the past few days or so, media are agog with news stories on intermittent war between Srilankan army and Tamil tigers, popularly known as LTTE.

How did these media in Tamil Nadu report Srilankan Tamils issue on 15.10.2008?

The Hindu, in its four column top left open page report along with a photo of all party meeting chaired by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Mr. Karunanidhi, has given a headline as follows:

T.N MPs to quit if Centre fails to ensure ceasefire
All party meet sets two weeks deadline for action on Srilanka.

Not satisfied with the above, it also carried another three column bottom left open page as follows:

All party meet called to speak with one voice
It will help channelize views of all parties: Karunanidhi.

The Times of India, launched during April 2008 in Chennai, in its two column top right open page report along with a profile photo of Chief Minister Mr. Karunanidhi titled ‘tough talk’, has this headline:

Stop Lankan war or we quit, TN MPs to centre.

The New Indian Express, through a single column top right open page report, had to say this:

MPs set to quit
TN threat to centre on Lankan ceasefire

Daily thanthi, a Tamil vernacular daily has given its half-page open page report along with a profile photo of Chief Minister in headline:

Stop arms supplies to Lanka
If the centre does not come forward to arrange for ceasefire
TN MPs will quit.
All party meet’s sensational resolution.

Dina Malar, also a Tamil vernacular daily, in its eight column fifth page report along with a photo of all party meet has said as follows:

TN MPs to quit en masse.
All party meet fixes deadline for centre.

In the same page it has also filled another three column report as follows:

Siblings’ rivalry affects Tamils issue: Karunanidhi to Tigers.

Sun TV, Kalaignar TV and Podhigai TV also carried headline reports on Srilankan Tamils issue with as much emotion as the Newspapers had.

All media in Tamil Nadu, both print and electronic, were specific about the non-participation of AIADMK, MDMK, DMDK and the BJP in all party meet. By their gesture, one can easily understand the permutation and combination of future alliance in the forthcoming parliamentary elections 2009 vis-à-vis the Srilankan Tamils issue.

The other aspect of report on Srilankan Tamils issue is; that The Hindu has given more and prominent space in columns as well as prominence and of course a balanced view; The Times of India and the New Indian Express were giving enough space in columns and prominence: Daily thanthi, being read by all sections of the Tamil society has also given enough space and prominence: Dina malar, a right wing daily has given only the fifth page relegating the importance down the pages.

Srilankan Tamils issue still eludes solution, but the media in Tamil Nadu thrive on it.