Undoubtedly the year 2005 was a year of sting operations. The Ajtak's latest sting of MPs, the Star News sting, the operations of India TV showing politicians having sex, Star TV showing an IG having sex with a tribal girl. And so many such stories that one lost count.
Even English channels tried to undertake sting operations but probably felt that their stories do not have the kind of impact as Hindi channels can have. Barkha Dutt wrote an interesting article about such exposes in HT. Notwithstanding the moral issues concerning these operations, one thing is clear--year 2005 was the year of stings.
Media emerged as the true 'Bhasmasur'. The corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and middlemen who feared none were trapped. With Ghoos Mahal and similar exposes using hidden cameras, journalism entered a new era. The Idian media and journalism has most certainly emerged stronger and proved that despite numerous constraints the journalists in India have opportunities and the will to bring to fore the underbelly of the society.
Also, the Right to Information Act came at the right moment. It is time for the journalist to monitor that the act serves its purpose and babus do not succeed in killing it.
