Sir: The rightly acclaimed fourth pillar of democracy, media, appears to be crumbling because of what had happened recently on a private news channel. The episode that comprised the ‘hard talk’ was in fact a farce: a planned and planted programme by the ‘interviewers’ for bailing out their guest for some ulterior motives. One is at a loss to understand why the management of the channel allowed the programme by the two hosts who damaged the reputation of an otherwise prominent channel, and the much-admired profession of journalism. It would be in the fitness of things if a thorough probe is conducted to ascertain the facts of the matter. BUSHRA SIDDIQUI Islamabad