The proposition is very simple. You have hire a number of interns on an ongoing basis. All these interns do is watch TV channels around the clock. Yes, you read it right, their job as intern is to watch TV!
So, where is the missing link? It can’t just be watching TV. There must be something else.
Yes, you are right. There is something else, but not that very hard.
These interns classify every seconds they watch in different categories. Some of the categories would be:
1. Today’s lead news : time spent (neutral, descriptive purpose)
2. Today’s second lead news : time spent (neutral, descriptive purpose)
3. Investigative report which no other outlet reported today : time spent (positive)
4. Investigative report which other outlets also reported: time spent (neutral, descriptive purpose)
5. Reporting press conferences which others also reported : time spent (neutral, descriptive purpose)
6. Reporting interview / commentary which others did not report : time spent (positive)
7. Reporting an event which no other channels reported : time spent (positive or negative)
8. Reporting an event which no other channels reported and no involvement of the TV channel’s owner, management, etc : time spent (very positive)
9. Reporting an event which no other channels reported and it is deemed to be related to the owner or management: time spent (very negative)
10. Reporting what foreigners has to say about internal matters: time spent (positive or negative)
11. Reporting what locally resident foreign diplomats has to say about internal matters: time spent (very negative)
12. Reporting what foreign visiting dignitaries has to say about matters of our interest: time spent (neutral, descriptive purpose)
13. Reporting on sports event: time spent (neutral, descriptive purpose)
14. Investigative report on sport (no other channel carried): time spent (positive)
15. Crime report that just reported the event without going into the cause: time spent (neutral, descriptive purpose)
16. Crime report that spent time on the underlying cause: time spent (very positive)
The list could go on and on………
If any of you could prepare such comparative reports on a monthly basis and summarize on a quarterly / yearly reports, it could help us be a strong nation – both in economic terms and in governance terms.
Every citizens, political parties (which are not run by thugs) and the government agencies would be benefited from such a service. The service can start with the major news bulletin service of few selected channels. Once there is increasing focus, funding and support, the watchdog can increase its reach.
There are many operational matters that has to be sorted out – once a policy level decision is taken to implement this. Researchers in different social science departments may be of help.