Media coverage of the Sheena murder case reflects the “irresponsible and unethical” reporting behaviour of Indian TV news channels, which consumed one-third of the prime time coverage on six TV news channels, says according to a study.
6 TV channels, including 2 English news channels, featured 113 stories and 61 special programmes on the murder in a fortnight, the study by CMS Media Lab found. CMS Media Lab also analysed coverage of six national TV news channels - Aaj Tak, ABP News, Zee News, DD News, CNN IBN and Times Now - for a fortnight from August 25 to September 8.
The study said DD News gave the least time to the case by allotting only 36 minutes during the entire study period. English news channels gave more coverage to the murder case. News channels gave low priority to important issues like farmer suicides, floods and drought in different states during the period.
Times Now topped the coverage by devoting 948 minutes, followed by CNN IBN at 424 minutes. Among Hindi News Channels, Aaj Tak led the coverage by devoting 341 minutes, closely followed by ABP News and Zee News with 268 minutes and 263 minutes.