Extramarital affairs and intramarital aberrations are so commonplace all over the world that prompts one to wonder at their news value, given their appearance in cold print in dailies of all hues, including this one. The only difference in the way the related episodes earn space column of news papers seems to be that the affairs of bigwigs such as Presidents of countries and members of royalty hog space on front pages of broadsheets, more so accommodated in multi-column headlines while the sexual adventures of small fry in society, are reported in inside pages for providing grist to gossipmongers, particularly in smaller cities such as our own. Elderly keen readers of dailies may recollect the episode of John Dennis Profumo, a British official in a high post whose career ended in 1963 after a sexual relationship with the 19-year-old model Christine Keeler in 1961. Two Presidents of the US escaped getting into a tight predicament by the skin of their teeth after figuring in sex-driven extra-marital relationships a few decades ago.

The land’s epics as well its long history have their share of episodes too involving divinity as well as royalty respectively straying beyond the frame work of fidelity, being charmed by the beauty of their targets and physical attractions hard to be ignored. The politicos of our times are only taking their turn in doing an encore of the greats of a distant past.

Sensationalism by print media is like a double-edged sword, earning more patrons for the daily and providing excitement to the readers. Seasoned editors make it a point to impress upon the budding journalists not to miss happenings in society and essay what are familiar to journalists as human interest stories. In this context, three occasions in three different locations featuring a veteran journalist, a judicial officer and a senior cop this week, have emphasized caution in the matter and of adhering to decorum of language and protecting privacy of individuals.

The Police officer’s prescription of not revealing the identity of sexual assault victims except when doing so favoured the victims has its value. The judicial officer, cautioning the media against crossing the Lakshman Rekha, defined the line of control namely publication of comments and information should not invade into the privacy of an individual.

What is information to others could be a personal and sensitive issue to an individual in circumstances relating to intramarital discord taken to the portals of a law court. Ultimately, mastery over language is a great help in using language for reporting with finesse.