Tuesday, March 08, 2016

Telegraph front page redefines newspapers, anti-establishment journalism in India: Who says print media is dying?

Telegraph, the Calcutta-based English newspaper, has redefined the front pages of newspapers.

Creative, catchy and often shocking headlines, apart from unique presentation has brought this Kolkata based paper in discussions everywhere.

For decades, Telegraph has been a major English paper in India, but was confined to Eastern part of the country.

However, its sharp and attacking headlines, have now brought it popularity across the country.

Take for instance the front page on the left. 'The Nashun', on how govt shunned its responsibility.

Bold, anti-establishment line

Major Delhi-based newspapers  aren't too attacking [against government] in their approach.

Though there is an exception--Indian Express. But, Telegraph has no problem in taking a clear, strong anti-establishment line.

Whether against TMC-led Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal or BJP government at the Centre.

After a big event, people now wait to see how Telegraph carries the story. Because, they are sure it would be different and unique.




Headlines to shock the readers

The paper has a circulation of over a million but it has never been serious about its online presence.

It does have a website. However, website or not, people click photograph of the Telegraph.

The images of the front page are circulated through Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter.

It is not always that the headlines are shocking, sometimes they are simple too.

Bizarre headlines test your brain

And, at times, the headlines are bizarre. An example is the screenshot of the paper when symbols were published in the headline on the front page.

An effort is made to create a unique front page everyday. Sometimes you may need to put an effort to understand and you have to read the news to understand.

Redefining the rules in print media

Yes, in an era, when it was said that everything has to be straight as reader doesn't have time, Telegraph redefines the rules.

The stories are long. They aren't finished in 300-400 words. The reports are exhaustive.

And yet, Telegraph is read, liked and its popularity is growing. Telegraph was established in 1982.

MJ Akbar was the editor, initially. Owned by Anand Bazar group, its current editor is Aveek Sarkar.

Once, The Statesman was the leading English paper in Kolkata then. Over the years, Telegraph became the most popular paper in the region. The group seems content with its reach. and hasn't started Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai editions till now.

This post shows TEN FRONT PAGES of The Telegraph.

See some of the most talked about front pages of the Telegraph, with this post.




Monday, March 07, 2016

Caste discrimination lead to religious conversion in Pakistan: Dalit Hindu converts to Sikhism to escape oppression, says BBC report



Shocking it may seem but caste discrimination exists among Hindus in Pakistan.

The extent is such that people are forced to covert to other faiths.

Tharpakar district in Pakistan has a large Hindu population.

Here, Dalits claim that they face discrimination and are forced to lead their lives like second class citizens.

They allege that measures for uplift of Hindus mostly end up helping the Upper Castes.

The lower castes don't have equal rights and face misbehaviour--not allowed to enter temples with Upper Caste Hindus and can't eat with them. Nukhbat Malik has reported it for BBC from Pakistan.

"Hasanand was a Dalit who converted to Sikhism along with his family to escape the brutal casteist apartheid. He has now taken a new name, Jagjit Singh", says BBC report.

"I don't want to leave this place and want to live like a rebel here. My children are sastisfied that they would not have to suffer insults and though I am termed son of Meghwal caste, they would be known as son of Sardar", he says.

Dalit activists also say that the situation is bad for the community as Dalits are socially backward and economically weak. An activist is quoted as saying that the threat to them is not from Muslims but from Upper Castes.

[Photo courtesy BBC.com] Read the report in Hindi on BBC website. READ

READ: Tharpakar, Hindu majority district in Pakistan

Sunday, March 06, 2016

Thousands sign petition for action against Zee News for airing biased, misleading news: Ministry urged to ban TV channel over doctored videos, wrong report

A petition urging authorities to take action against Zee News channel for airing allegedly biased and misleading news stories, has got a huge support.

Thousands of people have signed the petition that has been initiated by Neelesh Purohit, urging the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) to ban Zee News for its 'unethical and immoral' journalism.

The petition mentions that Zee News has aired doctored and unverified audio clips during the JNU row and that it is not the first time when the channel has been found involved in such enthical journalistic practices.

It urges the government to take action in order to ensure that media, the fourth pillar of democracy, remains neutral and doesn't act irresponsibly. Citing example of allegedly biased coverage during Gajendra Chauhan's suicide case.

Further, it says that Zee News' anchors viz. Sudhir Chaudhary, Rohit Sardana and Rubika Liyakat have been acting as 'undeclared spokespersons of the BJP'. The petition is available at the website, Change.org. It has already got more than 5,000 signatures.

Zee News has been facing flak for one-sided and biased coverage which has led to polarisation in the society. Its anchors are accused of running a campaign to defame people and groups by using fake and doctored evidence.

A Zee news producer Vishwadeep had recently submitted his resignation as he was disgusted with the manner in which the TV channel was twisting facts and was misreporting events during the recent row over the JNU issue in Delhi.

LINK TO THE PETITION: CLICK HERE

Opinion poll suggests Mamata Banerjee's TMC to win in West Bengal again, LDF comeback in Kerala, Jayalalitha victory in Tamil Nadu but setback for Congress

Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced schedule for the forthcoming assembly elections in four states.

With dates announced, already opinion polls are being commissioned to gauge the public mood in these states.

So who will win the election? That's a matter of speculation, however, C Voter is the first to come with a survey. It suggests that Congress may face setback, as it is likely to lose two states viz. Assam and Kerala, where it is in power.

The four states that are going to polls include West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Kerala. BJP is not very strong in these states.

However, it has a significant vote in Assam, and its alliance with the BJP may bring it to power in the State. It is not a power to reckon with in West Bengal even now, but party leaders are hopeful of a good show.

In WB, the main fight is between Trinamool Congress and CPI (M) in West Bengal. In Assam, the contest is between Congress and BJP-AGP alliance though Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF may corner enough seats to emerge as kingmaker after the election.

In Tamil Nadu, it is the traditional AIADMK against DMK fight. In Kerala, the Communist front--Left Democratic Front (LDF) is likely to make a comeback.


OPINION POLL [INDIA TV-C VOTER]

WEST BENGAL: Mamata seems set to form government, Communists may improve their tally but Congress to lose more seats compared to last election, unless there is a tie-up between Congress and Left.

TMC 156 
CPI-M 114
Congress 13
BJP 4
Others 7

KERALA: The Communists could return to power again. Congress-led UDF may lose. BJP is not going to do very well and the state remains polarised between Congress and Left coalitions.

LDF 89 
UDF 49
NDA 1
Others 1

ASSAM: In Assam, BJP-AGP alliance is doing better as per the opinion poll. Tarun Gogoi-led Congress may get less number of seats. However, Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF can have a tie-up with Congress, post-polls. Congress looks down but is not out of the race.

BJP alliance 57 
Congress 44
AIUDF 19
Others 6

TAMIL NADU: Tamil Nadu has always been a tough state for pollsters and predictions have gone horribly wrong here in the past. However, it seems despite anti-incumbency, J Jayalalitha's AIADMK is performing better than DMK. But a slight vote swing can change the results dramatically.

AIADMK 116 
DMK 101
Others 17



Thursday, March 03, 2016

Ishrat Jahan's killing was premeditated murder and IB had no previous input about her, says Indian Express report on fake encounter

Just when the allegedly fake encounter of Ishrat Jahan is making news, Indian Express has come up with the report, "SIT officer breaks silence".

The front page report quotes IPS officer Satish Verma, as saying that Ishrat's killing was a premeditated murder.

Ishrat Jahan was not a terrorist or fidayeen, says the report. It further quotes him that, "There was no input on Ishrat".

"These people were kept in illegal custody and then shot dead", Verma told The Indian Express.

"The bogey of nationalism and security is being raised to discredit a poor and innocent girl", he added. "..she was away from her home and family for only about 10 days after she came into conact with Javed Sheikh....It takes a long time to train ...even properly firing a 303 rifle takes 15 days..", he is further quoted in the IE report.

"Our investigation has found that Ishrat along with three others had been picked up by IB (Intelligence Bureau) days before the encounter".

"In fact, there was no intelligence input with the IB that a woman would be accompanying the alleged terrorists", Verma told The Indian Express. Of late, there have been claims and counter claims about the case.

READ the report AT THIS LINK