Media Watch is not surprised at general lack of Media coverage of 4,000-year-old ritual of 'athirathram' is being performed in Kerala. Improper depiction of actual event is even worse! Please take a look at the picture accompanying ‘athirathram’ news published by ToI! Below is the actual picture of the Athirathram
More Photo of Athirathram can be viewed Here
From the looks of it ToI has used morphed picture of Vidya Balan?
Now its seems this is not the first time ToI has done this. Another blogger DIG TV has reported Times of India caught red handed publishing morphed photo of Kareena Kapoor
DGTV Reports as under
On 9th May 2009, TOI had published Kareena Kapoor's Morphed Photo. Look at her face.
Now, have a look at the original photo of Jeniffer Lopez
Today, I tried to search this photo again with the search title "Draped Desires" but could not find it, which means TOI has removed the photo from its archives.
Question to TOI : What was its purpose to stoop down so low ?
Yogesh Sheetal has published letter Mr Pradhan has received from Ruby Dhingra
Media Watch’s take on the letter
1. It is still not clear if this is an official letter from NDTV or a personal letter from Ruby as its not issued on NDTV letter head(Assuming this is actual scanned copy)
2. We are also surprised Ms. Ruby decided to directly communicate instead of communicating thru lawyers which is usual practice in such cases
3. We are are also surprised to realise that Ruby inspite of being assaulted (allegedly) has not yet filed a police complaint yet. Neither there is any indication of her visiting a doctor.
4. Media Watch is glad that NDTV has recognized Yogeshs right to protest.
5. Media Watch is confused what Ms Ruby would like to achieve from this letter. She has not requested any action from IIMC. Neither has she demanded an apology from Yogesh.
6. Lastly, it is important to understand that NDTV has not yet reported this incident as a news.
Media Watch believes that this is a personal letter from Ms Ruby to Mr Pradhan (Professor of Yogesh). The objective of this letter is merely to inform.
Based on above understanding we have now changed our headline
Further to our earlier posting on Barkha Dutt, Group Editor, English News reaction to protest at India Gate
Following is the narration of the events by IIMC student Yogesh Shital who was one of the protestors.
This news item from ToI is another case in which Headlines of news has no resemblance to what is reported in the Body. In fact, this may be one of those extreme cases in which the entire news is just a figment of Imagination of the Reporter.
The Headline of the news item says Civil society's victory fails to enthuse BJP. But NOT once (Repeat once) did body of news mentions how the reporter came up with this conclusion?
This is continuation to our earlier blog Anger against Indian Media boils over at India Gate. When twitterati asked Barkha about her reaction, following is what she tweeted
Barkha is within her rights to believe that the people who were involved in protest were “Lumpens and rowdies”
Media Watch would like to understand from Barkha Dutt following -
1. In her opinion were all the protestors at India Gate Lumpens and Rowdies or only the people who protested against NDTV were lumpen and rowdies?
2. NDTV in its reports prominently mentioned the protestors also booed and protested against Uma Bharati. And to the best of knowledge of author NDTV did not classify those protestors as lumpen and rowdies. How is this different from the protest against NDTV?
3. If the people involved in this incident were Lumpens and Rowdies. Has NDTV registered a FIR against them
4. According to your tweet “they punched the show producer” which is a very serious allegation. Has NDTV registered a FIR against the people who were involved in this assault?
5. It is well accepted practice that Media reports to nation any incident involving physical attack on its employees. Also, we would like to understand why has NDTV not yet carried this news item? wont it help expose these so called “Lumpens and Rowdies”.
6. We are a bit confused by conflicting claims in two different tweets.
You tweeted to @amishra77 mentions
@amishra77 yes they punched the show producer. Abhorrent behaviour. We shifted camera and resumed show.
This was again reconfirmed in a subsequent tweet
@StealthPwr @primary_red really? The female producer was hit in the face. The men were assaulted. Lumpenism.
However, your tweet to @sonaliranade says
@sonaliranade at india gate a group of vandals tried to hit one of our show producers. The so called civility of discourse ! Abhorrent
In your first tweet you have confirmed a physical attack while the second indicates an attempt. Could you please clarify which one is the truth?
This Video shows protestors shouting slogans Barkha Dutt Chor Hai, Barkha Dutt Go Back etc..
This video is a continuation of above video in which protestors are shown shouting slogan Barkha Go Back
This Video shows protestors Booing CNN IBN
Its high time Indian take a deep breath and ponder on where they stand in grand scheme of things
