Will ToI stop playing with numbers!

This entry into Media Watch is about ToI report Karnataka CM's pay to zoom 150%, ministers to get double. According to this report,

Karnataka's netas are giving themselves a Ugadi bonanza. Before winding up the ongoing legislature session, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, his cabinet and the legislators can expect a hefty salary raise.
According to the proposal, the CM's monthly salary will rocket 150% from Rs 12,000 to Rs 30,000 and annual sumptuary allowance will double to Rs 1.5 lakh. The government is likely to move a bill on the pay hike in this session.

Using percentage to report changes is a time tested statistical trick to confuse audience. Example, if I spend say 1 Rupee today and tomorrow spend 2 Rupee. You can easily mislead by reporting the change as “100 % change” while the fact is it its just an increase of another rupee. 

And then it is amusing when ToI uses expressions like “zoom”; “double”; “bonaza”; “will rocket" while reporting this news. If we go by the phrases, it is easy to believe that Karnataka CM is doing something which is out of ordinary! Just to bring sanity into this discussion Media Watch would like to draw ToI’s attention to another CM who took a salary hike in recent months

In recent months another state who has approved a salary hike to CM, state ministers and MLAs is Maharashtra. ToI reported State ministers and MLAs to get hefty salary hike. In this report, ToI took the pain to report congress ministers view (it seems this privilege was not extended to Karnataka ministers) 

"Look at the salary packages of bureaucrats and the Indian Police Service top-brass . A fresh IAS or IPS officer draws a monthly salary of Rs 40,000-45 ,000, whereas the CM's monthly salary is less than Rs 30,000,"

So that gives the justification why there should be a hike. Wonder why ToI didnot report the views of Karnataka Ministers?  It would worthwhile noting that Maharashtra CM even before the hike drew a salary of Rs 30K. Per the ToI report the salary of Maharashtra is CM is being increased from Rs 29,000 per month to Rs 67,000 which is more that 130 percent change.

So it seems that ToI reserves all the superlatives for Karnataka CM when he increases his meager salary from Rs 12000 per month to Rs 30,000 But Maharashtra CM who gives himself a raise from Rs 29000 to Rs 67,000  is given a just hearing and reporting.

Propaganda war against BSY continues–now TOI takes lead

If it was MidDay yesterday, today its TOI. In front page news today, TOI has reported

Astrologer Bhanu Prakash Sharma told TOI he has suggested the CM offer suryanamaskars in the nude for a couple of days. This is to ward off the evil forces which may pose a danger to his life and post as the 'CM's celestial configurations" are changing.

It is shocking that entire news is based on claim from a single person. and it seems no effort was made to verify the facts.

Media Watch would like to remind media that during the height of Radiia controversy, one of main complain from involved journalists was that they were not contacted to verify the authenticity. Why cant Journalists extend the same consideration to others?

Screenshot of TOI News

Outrageous Article in Midday

This entry to Media watch pertains to extremely distasteful reporting in Midday. We can understand Middays zest to condemn beliefs of BSY but it donot give them the right to misrepresent and insult Hindu beliefs.

Midday claims that Bhanuprakash Sharma, the CM's family priest has advised him as

"His zodiac sign is Scorpio. Rahu will enter this sign shortly, which could mean that his enemies might harm him. Such dasha brings insult and shame. To overcome this, naked surya namaskara is performed,"

The fact is Bhanuprakash Sharma or Veda Brahma Bhanu Prakash Sharma guruji (as he calls himself) is an self proclaimed  astrologer who claim to perform rituals and ceremonies to ensure better luck for their clients. He also claim that he had earlier advised JD (S) leaders and now guides BJP leaders including chief minister B S Yeddyurappa. Leaders like G Vijaya and Ambarish take his advice before making decisions. For the looks of it and simple google search it seems that Bhanuprakash Sharma is a fake out to get some cheap publicity!

Then Midday goes on to claim that

Yeddyurappa had visited Bhadrakaali temple in Kerala to perform the Shatrusamhara ritual, which involves sacrificing a donkey to subdue one's enemies.

The fact is Shatrusamhara pooja is a very common pooja which is conducted in almost every temple in kerala and it definitely donot involve sacrifice of donkeys!

Media Watch sincerely hope this article was written as a satire. Even if it was written as a satire such misrepresentation of facts insults Hindu beliefs and is not acceptable. Lastly drawing nude photo of CM of a state elected by popular mandate is extremely distasteful.

Media Watch strongly demand that Midday withdraw this article and issue an apology.

Details of Mediawatch conversation with Abhijit Majumder; Editor of MidDay

@i_panchajanya: @abhijitmajumder Sir We strongly protest this extremely distasteful reporting by Midday http://goo.gl/8W1h4 request its withdrawal & Apology

@abhijitmajumder: @keshda @i_panchajanya We've done the story through confirmed sources, but I'll still look into it

@i_panchajanya: @abhijitmajumder I am a keralite I can assure you no donkey is ever killed for shatru samara pooka @keshda

@abhijitmajumder: @keshda @i_panchajanya There's always scope of error on our part, but the reporter wrote what he was told. We don't have agenda in this

@i_panchajanya: @abhijitmajumder thanks sir for taking time to clarify Can you please atleast retract shatrusamhara part. Its very offensive @keshda

@abhijitmajumder: @i_panchajanya @keshda We are double-checking on the shatrusamhara bit. If there's a mistake, we'll certainly carry a clarification

@i_panchajanya: @abhijitmajumder Sir as we await your decision, we are extremely grateful you took time to give repy. Wish all editors were as responsive

@i_panchajanya: @keshda agree @abhijitmajumder thanks we await ur feedback. Can I put our conversation on blog. It will be a good guidance for others

@abhijitmajumder: @i_panchajanya Sure, you can @keshda

Media Watch thanks Mr. Abhijit Majumder; Editor of MidDay for being responsve to our requests. We wish all editors of our media houses is like him.