CONTENT SELECTION
What drives media reporting?
CONTENT SELECTION : What drives media reporting?

Do reader preferences influence how the media selects what to report on? A study of media coverage of land conflicts, the Covid-19 crisis and the Farm Bills provides some answers.

#Land #Agriculture #Media
TRANSPARENT JUSTICE
Open courts provide assurance of justice

The courts are public institutions, whose functioning should be transparent and accountable. The media's role in informing the public about the courts should therefore not be diluted.

#Justice System #Laws
CRIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS
Impunity prevails, but what is the solution?
CRIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS : Impunity prevails, but what is the solution?

In 50 percent of the killings of Indian journalists since 2010 there have been no arrests so far. We need to come together to protect our tribe, urge Geeta Seshu and Sevanti Ninan.

#Media
OWNERSHIP OF MEDIA
Whose news are you watching today?
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.

#Media
FIGHTING PAID NEWS
Paid news undermines democracy
FIGHTING PAID NEWS : Paid news undermines democracy

The government’s 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 EC’s powers.

#Elections #P Sainath #OP-ED #The Real Picture
NEWS OR VOYEURISM?
Kannada TV channels cross the line
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.

#Media #KARNATAKA
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.

#Ammu Joseph #Peace #Media #Voices unheard
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.

#Media #KARNATAKA
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.

#P Sainath #OP-ED #The Real Picture
PAID NEWS SYNDROME
Who pays the price for paid news?
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.

#Ammu Joseph #OP-ED #Voices unheard
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.

#Media
COVERING DEPRIVATION
Is the media watching poverty enough?
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.

#Ammu Joseph #OP-ED #Poverty #Voices unheard
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.

#Guest Opinions #Media #ANDHRA PRADESH
WHAT IS JOURNALISM?
Are bloggers parked?
WHAT IS JOURNALISM? : Are bloggers parked?

Are bloggers just like journalists? The jury is still debating, but clearly bloggers are filling some voids in mainstream journalism, and connecting to net-savvy citizens in an exciting fashion.

#Media
COMMUNITY JOURNALISM
Making it to page one
COMMUNITY JOURNALISM : Making it to page one

A homely looking woman in her late fifties running a small-scale business does not make the local news. A culture of community journalism in the English newspapers is missing.

#Guest Opinions #Media