Media

Feb 4th was Bus Day in Bangalore. Posters were put everywhere to encourage commuters to travel in public transportation as against taking own vehicles so as to reduce traffic congestion and pollution.

On Feb 5th, I saw headlines of 2 newspapers. One newspaper said Bus Day was a huge success and showed pics of professionals going in the bus. It even interviewed some non regulars and asked them their experience in coming in the bus. Another newspaper said Bus Day was a big flop. It showed the usual congested trafffic and many cars plying on the road.

Those who read the former would have felt proud about Bangalore and Bangaloreans' effort - miniscule though it might be - towards global warming. The participants in this exercise would have felt happy and the non participants would be encouraged to participate in future such events.

Those who read the latter would have felt helpless and dejected. The participants in this exercise would have felt the futility of their effort and the non participants would feel that such events hold no water and continue not to participate.

Just shows how media interprets a particular situation and what impact it has on the general public.