“When we hear news we
should always wait for the sacrament of confirmation."
- Voltaire
I understand that sometimes newspapers, in a rush to be the first, might not do a thorough job of reporting. In times of crises and calamities when giving out news is more important, a reader or viewer could take this with a pinch of salt. Often, the sources the media consider above-board could just be feeding them half or misleading news.
Among the most talked-about aspect of the Uttarakhand floods was “Modi in Rambo act, saves 15,000.” It was so obviously exaggerated that all it deserved was sarcasm. Not debate.
But that does not happen. People moved on to this sideshow. It was opportunistic for both sides – the BJP and its opponents.
Now, after three weeks we get a clarification on Page 7 of The Times of India:
It seems obvious that someone enjoyed the piggyride while it was in the news and later decided to do damage control. However, why did the newspaper not issue a straightforward correction instead of this dramatic and obsequious one? The “largest-selling newspaper” regrets inconvenience caused to the individuals concerned, but not to the readers who were misled. Worse, it ends with, “We are mortified by the controversy surrounding the report.”
Why would such a huge organisation be mortified, unless it is threatened? Why did this fear of controversy set in only now? Will the media group’s channel Times Now, whose “most-watched” news show has the anchor demanding of his panellists, “The nation wants to know”, conduct a debate on this? This time the nation is concerned as to why and how its favourite newspaper is mortified.
We’d be happy to help in this hour of distress.
PS: I have deliberately not cropped out the 40% off from an ad above in the image...after all, it is a matter of discounted news and other rebates!
FV,
ReplyDeleteSaw that 'clarification' in the morning copy, though it was "concealed" on page 7. From your post, I get a sense that you are quite enjoying the spectacle.
TOI says that the state BJP spokesperson never used the words "rescue of 15000 people" and did not mislead the media in any way.
Don't you frankly think a paper owning up to a lapse is a good thing? Even if the story involves Narendra Modi?
FV:
ReplyDelete" I have deliberately not cropped out the 40% off from an ad above in the image...after all, it is a matter of discounted news and other rebates! "
FV, should one discount discounted news of this kind?! :)
F&F, so the point that this "clarification" that only apologizes for "controversy" and not the falsehood perpetrated does not bother you? (as FV points out)
not to mention this bit is showing up in page 7 of the newspaper, 3 weeks late.
This is like the pope's non-apology a few years ago when he said something lame and bigoted and then "apologized" with "I am sorry (the targeted group) were insulted by what I said".
Don't be surprised if this non apology in the Times only showed up because of a threat of a lawsuit by whoever was misquoted. The India media is not known to apologize for lying to and misleading their readers/customers.
-Al
AI
ReplyDeleteNo it doesn't bother me. I have long begun to instinctively disbelieve even the date printed on top of MSM newspapers, until I can independently verify it myself! And if legal threats deterred these guys, we would be reading blank pages day after day. Therefore, I am quite happy that they have accepted the goof up.
I know some would see a sinister design behind the episode, since it concerns a certain mysterious white-bearded person (I almost typed gentleman!), suspected to have fangs, horns and a pointy tail, besides cannibalistic tendencies! Stands to logic! :)
F&F:
ReplyDeleteI hope you can see the date when this is printed!
This was not about any man/gentleman/any species. It was about the media that should apologise without getting mortified. Unlike you, there are many people who do read newspapers without verifying everything. Of course, they do not necessarily believe tall yarns by certain people. *add anyone you want*
Al:
ReplyDeleteThanks for saying it as it is.
Recently, I saw two stories removed from the website of mainstream newspapers. Given that quite a few do read online, this was most unfair and unethical. If they did have to/want to remove it, they ought to have at least mentioned in that space, even if they provided a weak excuse.
In this case, I am not sure if there is a legal threat. I am a bit surprised that the 3-week gap does not register with our man with a microscope!
I think there would be other kinds of pressure for the image-building. A bit strange considering the story was for image building.
Is it possible that TOI is pandering to the Modi fans by writing these kind of false stories and then burying the retraction inside where not many would notice?
ReplyDeleteFV
ReplyDeleteQUOTE: "..Unlike you, there are many people who do read newspapers without verifying everything. Of course, they do not necessarily believe tall yarns by certain people.."
Is that a good thing or bad? I must say that the above quote makes me think that you are wearing two hats here. It remains to be seen whether it is because you are in two minds or because you have two faces..! (Doffing my hat to 'Yes Prime Minister' there!)
Somewhat like the MSM.
F&F,
ReplyDeleteFor a person who is too thick (and proud about it) to see the games played by mainstream media on your modern day messiah (who shall not be named) by spreading false information followed by a non-apology three weeks late. Apparently, the fact that the ToI creates more ill will via sheer lies about your political group than FV does by just speaking for herself on her blog is lost on you. Rationality is not the strong point of religious fundamentalists, but we all knew all already. Amusing spectacle though.
-Al
PS: By the way, the Chindambaram temple was built as a truce in the war between shivites and vaishnavites, and for your information, many hindus only worship one deity and do not believe in your "hindus believe all gods are one" nonsense (so shove your sanctimonious crap about how hindus worship all gods). By the way, "hindus worship all gods" is a canard spread by the very people who you decry as enemies of hinduism, and yet you have no problem repeating their nonsense, just like you have no problem with Times of India lying to the Indian public about your favorite "hindu" political figures.
PPS: For a "stauch hindu", you seem to have no interest to even find out about it, and yet you indulge in constant whining about how hinduism doesn't get any respect. And you have temerity to pretend you can set the standards for how other hindus raise their kids "away from hinduism"? If you see two-faced behavior, it is because you are staring at the mirror.
FV: "I am a bit surprised that the 3-week gap does not register with our man with a microscope! "
ReplyDeleteFV, Ditto! This is very interesting that such blatant misreporting is not a problem, but your honest views are "two-faced" and need slicing and dicing. Interesting view of the mindset behind this attitude.
"I think there would be other kinds of pressure for the image-building. A bit strange considering the story was for image building."
Making photo-ops of disasters where a lot of people die is a tradition started by the current ruling party and mimiced by everyone else nowadays, clearly.
I think ToI and most english media happily spread rumours with overt political bias, for and against -- they arrogate themselves to creating and manufacturing consent via their selective reporting and rumourmongering, rather than just provide their readers with the facts.
The vernacular media is many times more on the ball and reports accurately about local news, at least in Tamilnadu, though there is a lot of mindless garbage in vernacular media too, I must add. Magazines like Cho'sThuglaq take a swing at all sides of the political spectrum and are much braver than the english magazines and newspapers which seem to genuflect to the ruling party of the day (which provides them with subsidised newsprint last I heard).
-Al
AI,
ReplyDeleteYour unilateral conclusions, unsurprisingly, are extremely convenient and, dare I say, independent of the evidence. As long as they make you feel happy about yourself, I have no issues.
I do not see a need to disturb your bliss. However, I will certainly post an update here whenever I visit Chidambaram temple. I hope FV allows it.
"Your unilateral conclusions, unsurprisingly, are extremely convenient and, dare I say, independent of the evidence."
ReplyDeleteF&F, For an ignorant person, you are certainly cocksure of yourself. You can even go talk to the priest in the chidambaram temple, who will explain to you what I just mentioned, so you can shove your ill-informed and ignorant views and your silly passive-aggressive BS.
Chidambaram is the only temple anywhere that houses both Shiva and Vishnu as the main deities (which is the answer you failed to provide), and the wikipedia page on the temple fails to record this significant bit of history. But then, that's wikipedia for you. Why don't you go and talk to some vaishnavite whether they go visit shiva temples before you pretend to know better. This presumption that you know better is again a mirror image of the islamists that you hate so much.
Clearly, moronic sarcasm is the best you can muster when you are asked to put up or shut up.
-Al
F&F, I really could care less about your visit to chidambaram, since you are clearly too dishonest to acknowledge the reality of hinduism. Various tribal gods etc. have been coopted as avatars of the main gods over time, but it was always not that way as you seem to pretend. Your visit to chidambaram is irrelevant now, since I have provided you with the answer. There is nothing you can add to this discussion save for your passive-aggressive whining as usual.
ReplyDelete-Al
AI
ReplyDeleteI must say it again. Since you already have such well-rounded (meaning looping upon themselves!) opinions about the world, it would be a pity to pull you out of your state of Moksha. I admire the way you achieved it with just one visit to just one temple. Almost no other human being would be as blessed and fortunate.
Feel free to re-initiate the chat at a moment of your convenience, if at all you so wish! The loss was entirely mine. :)
F&F:"I must say it again. Since you already have such well-rounded (meaning looping upon themselves!) opinions about the world, "
ReplyDeleteLike I said, other than worthless sarcasm, and pretensions to being a pure hindu, you have little to offer. And losers like you are supposed to be the guardians of hindus and hinduism? That's a laugh. Please go ahead and whine some more about islam and islamists and make an ass of yourself. I am hardly standing in your way, am I?
-Al
"I admire the way you achieved it with just one visit to just one temple."
ReplyDeleteF&F, Being the presumptuous one as usual -- you really think I visited that temple only once? Anything to make yourself feel better surely. That is my native territory, as should be obvious to you if you had the attention span to match your sarcasm.
-Al
F&F, throwing in smileys does not detract from the fact that after making tall claims about hinduism and setting standards for hinduism, you have been exposed as a vacuous ignoramus too stupid and dishonest to defend your exorbitant claims about hinduism. You are the mirror image of the islamist that you hate so much -- I will say that again.
ReplyDelete-Al
AI
ReplyDeleteThanks for refreshing my vocabulary, though I do not intend using those words in my comments. I must state it again. You have already formed your views (After due deliberations, I am sure!) and have discovered enough insightful adjectives to describe other participants in the discussion. An exchange of views must preclude premature presumptions (Alliteration unintended). However, you perhaps do not share this POV. Loss was mine, of course! :)
F&F, Yes, repeating your cretinous sarcasm over and over again makes you less of an ignorant bigot. Don't mind me -- go ahead and set new standards for all hindus before it is too late. :) :) :)
ReplyDelete-Al
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAl, F&F:
ReplyDeleteHow did the Chidambaram temple come into this? Are both of you subtly transforming this unholy shrine of mine into some temple tourism site?!
That apart, if any new ideas come up, do share. This to and fro does not seem to be getting anywhere. And Al, as you sign in through the Anon route, you won't even be able to delete it, unless you ask me! F&F is self-sufficient.
Which brings me to the point about how you, F&F, talk so delicately about civil language. Read what you said to me. I let it pass this time. Won't permit it again. Just keep that in mind.
Sai:
ReplyDeleteAnything is possible, and the Modi groupies have a strong presence in the media. Or TOI is probably anyway on his side. It is a known fact that newspapers do take sides. Most famous example in Ramnath Goenka of Indian Express who took up the fight against Indira Gandhi.
Blitz was supposedly Left; Pioneer Rightwing. Some just go with what or who is most popular.
FV, please go ahead and delete my posts here re: chidambaram. Apologies for distracting the thread. Was unable to find the other post where I had posed a question to F&F and he obviously does not care enough to know the answer. I should have not cared about his not caring...but..oh well. You are correct that it is pointless conversing with some people, as their intent is to impose their views rather than understand.. Won't happen again.
ReplyDeletecheers,
-Al
FV
ReplyDeleteI believe I exercise utmost caution in my choice of words. I am personally allergic to careless use of language and detest making personal attacks even more. However, I am quite immune to online aggression, by the grace of Lord Chidambaram! :)
That was the commercial.
My previous comment was in context of a specific stament made by you. In no way did I mean to denigrate you personally or to sound derisive. I had quoted from a book. Next time, I will choose the books and quotes more carefully.