Archive for the ‘censorship’ tag
Media mentions of the NDTV episode
Perhaps I spoke too soon. Or perhaps the MSM were a little late on this. But be that as it may. Here is a list of mainstream media outlets who have picked up the issue of NDTV bullying the (by now incredibly famous) blogger C Kunte.
Call it a war between a Goliath and many Davids! Blogs are up in arms against NDTV’s Barkha Dutt after the TV channel sued a blogger who attacked her coverage of Mumbai terror attacks.
The blogger, Chyetanya Kunte, in his post named Shoddy Jounralism, had come down heavily on Barkha Dutt for “breaking every rule of ethical journalism in reporting the Mumbai mayhem.”
He had also accused Dutt of “giving away locations in her broadcasts, thus causing Indian casualties” during the Kargil war.
NDTV soon issued a legal notice to the blogger, forcing him tender an ‘unconditional apology’ and remove the post. (Source: Mid-Day)
The matter also found mention in the Pune Mirror over here:
First of all, I would like to congratulate Chyetanya Kunte and Barkha Dutt, that very powerful beacon of free speech on NDTV, for proving that bloggers actually exercise more power than we think.
I had not heard of CK’s ‘blogsploits’ (that can be a new word — exploits on a blog) till I got a forwarded mail about the TV giant asking Kunte to apologise for saying things without proof.
I read the apology too. It sounded cool in its legalese, where Kunte says that Barkha Dutt’s reporting did not result in the death of Kargil soldiers and that she didn’t give away crucial information during 26/11 about hostages.
After reading the apology, I felt CK did not even write it because his writing style on his blog is different. Of course, I have no information to back up my claim, just as CK didn’t have proof to back up his. (Source: Pune Mirror)
If there are links I am missing here, do fill me in in the comments. I have a feeling there will be more mentions of this before all is said and done.
A small victory against our MSM
Post the NDTV ruckus that rocked the Indian blogosphere a few days ago, many of us attempted to get a reaction out of our esteemed mainstream media.
I emailed Barkha Dutt, requesting her comments on the matter. I am still to receive a response. I also mailed some other mainstream media outlets, asking if they considered the story worth some attention. Here too, I was met with silence.
NDTV and Barkha Dutt, by and large, have ignored the angry voices and are either waiting for things to cool down, or simply don’t care about what we, their audience, think of them.
But the following news just came in. I consider it something of a victory.
What’s a blogger to do?
I wrote the last post in anger. Then I started wondering what possible recourse a blogger might have against legal threats from a media biggie like NDTV.
In popped a comment from Mr Naavi. I recognised him as a cyberlaw person (of naavi.org) who was involved in a blogging related case in Chennai a few years ago. I mailed him, asking him what he thought the blogger in this case might have done. He replied saying that Mr Kunte “could have remained silent until the next action.” Here’s an excerpt from his email.
He could have in the meantime shared a copy of the notice in the blog and sought views.
On the other hand he could have also replied back refusing any attempt to defame without apologizing.
Probably no further action would have been taken up by Burkha.
In the worst instance, a case would have been filed and Mr Kunte might have had to find a lawyer and reply to the notice as well as follow up. It is unlikely that the Court would have given any credence to Ms Burkha’s notice.
All this, of course, assuming Mr Kunte received a notice from NDTV lawyers. He may simply have had a change of mind since he made the blog post. Or he might have faced pressure from quarters other than the NDTV camp.
Mr Naavi shares more of his views on the matter here and suggests that the Press Council of India step in.
Open letter to NDTV
Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one. — A J Liebling
Dear NDTV and Barkha Dutt. Hope you are well, now that you have arm-twisted CKunte into submission.
Don’t get me wrong. You have as much right to sue people as I do. Especially when your reputations are at stake. But here are a few reasons why your approach may not be best suited to the present circumstances.
Following the terrorist attacks that happened in Mumbai on 26 November, 2008, many people took offence to the way Barkha Dutt reported the event. Her reporting was called “shoddy” and “irresponsible” (among other things).
What about those who like sex?
I don’t get the point about having to ban everything that reminds us that we are sexual creatures, but let us not get stuck at that.
The guardian of public morality sees something that turns him on and feels ashamed. He then proceeds to effect a nation-wide ban on the aforementioned ’something’ on the grounds that it is detrimental to Indian culture and harmful to the young generation. I get it. It makes perfect sense.
But what about me? What about us? What about those who like sex? Those who can’t get enough of turn-ons. Those who are not the up and coming young generation.
Do we have rights? Is it within my rights to enter the guardian’s house, smash his furniture and then pick up a piece of it and smash his skull with it?
We are both citizens of the same nation, right? If he can block my access to my pleasures, I want to be able to make him pay for it.
