OWNERSHIP OF MEDIA
Whose news are you watching today?
Television news in the southern part of the country has largely become the preserve of the various political dynasties, with a glut of channels acting as mouthpieces of the owners rather than objective news broadcasters.
T S Sudhir
brings us the true picture.
THE NEWS IN PROPORTION
23 June 2017
Media : The Press
FIGHTING PAID NEWS
Paid news undermines democracy
The governments counter-affidavit in a recent suit could strip the ECI of its power to disqualify candidates for fraudulent accounts or put an end to the pandemic of paid news.
P Sainath
reports on civil society attempts to stop the subversion of the ECs powers.
NEWS OR VOYEURISM?
Kannada TV channels cross the line
In a desperate bid to outdo each other in television rating points, regional news channels are increasingly resorting to celebrity coverage
bordering on tabloid journalism that infringes the right to individual privacy.
B S Nagaraj
comments on the trend.
OPINION/MEDIA
Terror reporting reveals gaping holes
The pervasive tendency to speculate and insinuate involvement of individuals and selective groups in instances of terror, without authentication or references to source of information, is not only an unfair attack on those implicated but against the very essence of journalism.
Ammu Joseph
elaborates.
MEDIA FREEDOM
Why is Naveen Soorinje still in jail?
Despite a political decision to drop charges against Kannada TV reporter Naveen Soorinje,
he continues to remain in prison. A PIL filed soon after the decision has put the case in limbo.
Satarupa Sen Bhattacharya
tracks and analyses the developments.
PAID NEWS
The pay-to-print saga resumes
The Delhi High Court's dismissal of Ashok Chavan's petition and the CIC's orders to the Press Council to make its report on 'paid news'
public promise many blushes for Big Media and platinum-tier politicians, writes
P Sainath.
PAID NEWS SYNDROME
Who pays the price for paid news?
In mid-June, the Election Commmission of India directed Chief Electoral Officers of all states and Union Territories to enforce the law against "paid news" during elections.
The institutionalised racket has been running into hundreds of crores of rupees.
Ammu Joseph
brings you up to speed.
CONDUCT OF THE MEDIA
Terror coverage raises lots of questions
The terror attacks have raised numerous questions of media ethics, values and news-gathering methods. While the government and politicians
faced the wrath of the public, the media too was under the lens.
Ramesh Menon
reports.
COVERING DEPRIVATION
Is the media watching poverty enough?
If our media can provide regular updates on the
stock markets, foreign exchange and
bullion rates, weather, pollution, etc.,
surely they can add a poverty watch? The
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty passed on 17 October, and
Ammu Joseph
scanned the national press from Bangalore.
MEDIA/OPINION
Media barons and press freedoms
How relevant is the argument of a threat to freedom of the press in cases where the
financial interests of a media baron could ostensibly conflict with that of the
public? The question resurfaced recently in Andhra Pradesh over the Eenadu-Margadarsi
controversy, writes
B P Sanjay.
Making it to page one
A homely looking woman in her late fifties has for years run a small-scale business doing what is widely seen as a man's job --
providing computer hardware to companies. But she does not make the local news. A culture of community journalism in the English
newspapers is missing and is much needed, says
Nabina Das.
Covering the silent revolution
A flurry of activities of senior citizen associations and related news coverage usually herald
the International (and National) Day of Older Persons, annually observed on 1 October since 1990. However,
it will take much more to focus serious attention on the world's fastest growing population
group, says
Ammu Joseph.
Cutting through the urban jungle
It may take more than random coverage of dramatic developments on the civic front for the media
fulfil its promise of connecting citizens and governments. Mere reports based entirely on press
statements and conferences in which plans are presented with little questioning
won't do, writes
Ammu Joseph.
India Together offers an excellent forum for people from diverse fields of expertise to present their views, share their experiences and raise questions about where our country and society are headed in the future.
Amitabha Basu
- Retired Scientist
- National Physical
- Laboratory
- India Together reader
India Together
Also see our sister publication 
From Aug 2013, published with support from Oorvani Foundation, a champion of public-funded media for the new India.
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