The CPI(M) may be the first political party in the country to have its own television channel. But the party seems to have realised that it still needs to take a few lessons when it comes to handling the television panel discussions where hyperbole and theatrics matter.
The party has decided to have a panel, comprising mostly younger faces, to face the camera. Only those from the panel will be allowed to represent the party on panel discussions. And they will be given proper orientation on what to say and what not to say in front of camera on every issue.
“The media here is intrinsically anti-Left. Hence the party has to be careful while dealing with them,'' a senior party leader told The Week, while explaining the rationale behind the move.
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According to him, the right-tilted media often pick and choose leaders with the least communication skills. “Party leaders, especially those who belong to older generation, do not know how to handle the new gen media persons. There have been many a occasion when leaders give truthful answers which later get convoluted by the media. So they need to be imparted proper training and guidelines before going for a TV show representing the party,'' he said.
The immediate provocation behind the decision seems to be the way many party leaders have partaken in TV discussion on the recent political murder issue, where a youth Congress leader, S.P. Shuhaib, was killed. The fact that many CPI(M) leaders fumbled before the camera while discussing the issue has not been taken lightly by the leadership.
“In fact, there has already be a decision on who all should go for TV channel discussions. But it is often seen that all leaders are keen to appear on TV, irrespective of the fact that they are capable of facing a volley of question in front of camera. This has to end,'' the leader said.
The CPI(M) also plans to bring in some regulation for its cadre on how to behave in the cyber world. The leadership is learnt to be worried about “irresponsible'' comments and statements made by many of its young cadre on Facebook and other social network on various issues.
So if everything goes accordingly, one will be seeing more media savvy comrades around.