How fake news is planted in newspapers: Role of Hindi media is spreading misinformation and passing off false claims as facts

This report that is being shared widely on the social media, is apparently from Dainik Jagran. 

It claims without any basis that these 'objectionable slogans' were raised during farmers' protest.

However, there is not even the 'exclamation mark' or 'Question mark'. The headline passes off a false and imaginary claim as true.

Inside the report, they clearly mention that it is 'not confirmed', also the cops deny anything about the slogan. 

But headline does it, it creates a wrong perception. That's how people are misinformed, propaganda & lies are given credence & due to the immense power--huge circulation and reach, the papers are able to create a false narrative

These papers that sells millions of copies, have been doing it for ages. Utterly shameful & disgusting. The report mentions three people--one of them, the MLA whose claim is basis of this story, didn't pick up phone. SSP is quoted that he didn't receive any such information and Additional SP too said that he was at the spot but not aware of such slogans. Yet, the newspaper spreads fake news.

For decades they have done it--if there is a demonstration in varsity campus or a Muslim-led protest, the 'journalist' sitting in his office, will imagine and write about 'seditious slogans' raised & will print it, no shame, no fear, no accountability.

Sadly, you find such weirdos and indoctrinated guys in most newsrooms across North India, their aim is to turn the entire society just like 'them' & they have been supplying this filth, such poison and been misinforming society through their reports--for as long as one remembers.

One paper publishes, other sites too pick it up and something that was non-existent, is shared through FB pages & passed off as 'news'. Every time it happens. Any other profession where there is no checks-balances, responsibility! That's Indian journalism, sadly.

Communal reporting, Islamophobia in Hindi newspapers: Nav Dunia peddles propaganda, brands Muslims as infiltrators

This is just a reflection of how Islamophobia and branding Muslims, goes on in Hindi newspapers in Northern India.

This report tells that all 'ghuspaithia' [infiltrators] are Muslim--totally one sided view and peddling the BJP-RSS propaganda.

The illustration shows a man who has to 'appear a Muslim'. So this man is shown here wearing a skullcap. He is a Muslim, so he must have a beard and also because the 'Islamic colour' had to be brought, the kurta was painted green.

The man shown is poor but still his footwear has nails--for hurting our land! Everything has been done to create perception of an 'enemy'.  It is clear cut case of Islamophobia and showing Muslims in a negative manner.

Such hate is causing attacks on Muslims. It is high time communal reporting is contained and there is check on it. It is this image of a 'Muslim' that is being persistently pushed into the minds of the people.

The paper also goes on to support NRC, though it is not an editorial. The entire page doesn't at all tells why people migrate and why Hindus from other countries are being given preferential treatment in citizenship.

For these papers, it is not an issue why people come from Nepal or from other countries. And if at all they come from Bangladesh, what's the reason. For the paper, it's just nothing but taking the RSS line without using any brains.

This is horrific level of one-sided propaganda and gutter-level journalism. Further, this is being published just when India goes to polls. Unless people object, raise voice, speak to media house owners, drag them to panels, this won't stop.

In fact, his is the biggest threat to Indian democracy. The newspaper owned by Dainik Jagran group. In most cities of MP-Chhattisgarh, it sells as 'Nai Dunia' but due to a 'title issue', in Bhopal, it is called 'Nav Dunia.

Media Manipulation: India is a non-vegetarian country but false perception about vegetarian majority created

India is a country where over 70% people are non-vegetarians.

This newspaper in its lead story mentions, 'contrary to popular perception, majority of Indians are non-vegetarians'.

How innocent! It goes on to 'inform' us that 71% Indians are non-vegetarians.

So how this perception was created? This paper should have answered it.

The micro-minuscule communities, mostly of a cetrain caste group, who run the Hindi newspapers are traditionally vegetarians.

They do it with missionary zeal. Abattoirs are termed 'Qatl-khane', not 'Bucharkhana' or 'Salughterhouse'.

They do everything to target meat eating habits and link non-vegetarianism with 'tamsik pravrittti',  'violence, evil influences' et al.

This is [Rajasthan] Patrika, a mass circulated daily, which is published from half-a-dozen states and has huge circulation in Rajasthan and MP.

Similarly, Dainik Bhaskar is largest circulated daily in Rajasthan, MP and other North Indian states. These papers aggressively campaign against non-vegetarians. If there is a religious function, they publish half to full page reports, with headlines against 'non-vegetarianism'.

They run campaigns against slaughterhouses and force authorities to close them. The owners may not belong to caste that is even 1% of Indian population. But due to control over mass media, they are able to project 'set of values' and decide what is moral, what is immoral.

When right-wing groups demand shifting of meat shops, these papers side with them, openly take stand. The owners have NGOs and groups linked to them, who then hold candle-light vigils and support the movement.

The paper then publishes them prominently to create false perception that how bad non-vegetarianism is. They try their best to force the people involved in non-vegetarianism, out of their jobs. The paper tells that North Indian states have higher population of vegetarians are pro-BJP.

READ: 72% Indians are non-vegetarians, vegetarians are a minority, says RGI report

It is all a reflection of the same 'hegemony system'. You own papers that sell in millions and are read by common folk across villages. You run campaigns asking people to shun non vegetarian food, even try to stop giving eggs to tribal kids in 'angan-wadis', which not only affect their nutrition but also goes against tribals' age-old food habits.

But then, that's how it goes. The power of media. Unfortunately, people on the ground, fail to realise how easily this manipulation is done. Need of the hour is to take on these manipulators head-on and make them shed the facade of being 'unbiased' media houses. 

Campaign against Dainik Jagran for communal reporting, newspaper copies burnt across UP: Biased journalism affecting credibility of media

The photographs on the left shows a leading Hindu religious guru, Yugal Kishore Saran Shastri, burning a copy of Dainik Jagran.

Shastri who is based in Ayodhya, has been running a campaign against Dainik Jagran, which he calls a divisive and communal newspaper because of its allegedly one sided and biased reports.

Shastri, a priest, who is also a peace activist, has been running a campaign, urging people to boycott this Hindi newspaper and subscribe any other paper.

On Saturday, once again calls to boycott Jagran surfaced.

On social media, hundreds were targeting the paper in the wake of the false reporting during the Bijnore violence. Muslim girl was eve-teased and later her family members were gunned down but the paper gave a wrong and completely fabricated turn.

Upset, social media users began trending 'boycott_Jagran' and 'BanJagran' on Facebook and Twitter. But will it work? Why Dainik Jagran is always at the forefront when it comes to inflammatory reporting that divides the society on communal lines?

Throughout the decade of eighties, Jagran led the Hindi press in Uttar Pradesh, when it came to poisoning the minds of the readers. During the Rath Yatras, it was known for its clear extreme right-wing leanings.

It became notorious for exaggerating and misreporting. As it was the paper with largest circulation, [it still is, though Dainik Bhaskar is close now], it managed to influence the readers and even changed perceptions.

The communalism in cities and towns of UP during eighties and nineties was a result of this 'propaganda journalism'.

Even today, Jagran remains a newspaper where pro-Hindutva stories are given preference.

Almost everything is presented with the view to give impetus to the movement, and hide or misreport facts, if they have the potential to affect BJP or Hindutva brigade.

How to tackle the biased newspaper(s)?

Newspaper is a product. When you go to restaurant and get bad food, don't you complain! Similarly, find phone number which is generally on last page and insist on talking to editor or owner.

Tell them why you are going to stop the paper's subscription. Also, if the reports are false and can create communal situation, FIR can be registered. Even if police doesn't register case, a complaint works.

From Press Council to Minorities' Panel and Human Rights Commission, there are umpteen forums. There can be complaints. If there is a report that fans communal hatred and has potential to divide society, take delegations and submit memorandums against newspaper to Chief Minister, Ministers, DGPs, DMs, other officials.

Also, lawyers can do a lot, private complaint can be filed in the court, with owner and editor as party. The day, owners, start getting dragged to courts, no one will dare to write insensitive and false reports. Also, when hawker or salesperson come, do tell them clearly why you won't subscribe the newspaper.

There are many more ways. Peaceful, democratic, legal means. These are basic things which are required. Common people including illiterates and villagers take all these steps when it comes to injustice.

However, if educated and 'persecuted' Muslims can't even do this, continue to indulge in drawing room or social media talk, remain careless about rights and duties, and expect that things will change their own, they are living in a fool's paradise. Can keep crying for ever.