Opinon polls asking the viwers to send their feedback to channels has become an integral part of news programmes on most of the TV news channels. Everyday you have to float a question and seek feedback.
Naturally, the quality will suffer. Neither these opinion polls are a reflection of the viewer's opinion as their sample size is not known and the channels don't tell the number of calls/sms messages rather show percent.
But I felt sorry for the India TV as they didn't seem to know what opinion poll means and what should be its extent. Just imagine the fools asking a question on the ongoing Jet-Sahara controversy.
"Do you believe that the allegations of underworld links of Jet Airways' Naresh Goayal are true". Now how come you expect a viewer to pronounce a judgment. It is the responsibility of a news agency to find facts and reveal the truth, not to expect readers who have no idea of such deals to give their verdict. This is the job of intelligence agencies and govt to tell.
It also puts media on bad light because the feeling is that often some channels selectively target people/groups and this smacks of blackmailing. Interestingly, the result of the poll showed that 94% SMS received by India TV said Yes.
If that figure is correct then our viewers are so gullible that just on the basis of allegations on TV they believe whatever is shown. But did India TV tell us statistics that they got 50000 SMS or just 5. I am neither for Naresh Goyal or against him but this irresponsible coverage is no good sign for the future of Indian electronic media.
