Ceaselessly innovative TOI!

IN Media Watch Briefs | 13/11/2016

On Nov.13 a city page of TOI’s Delhi edition has a half page plug for something called Functional Manual Therapy, which is promoted by Vardan, described as a Times of India initiative. Is this a commercial venture? Not clear. An internet search says that it is a “welfare initiative” from the Times Group, each session costs them Rs 12000, and you could opt for a ‘minimum contribution  of Rs 3000 per session ‘towards the cost.’ Or you could opt to make a voluntary donation to Vardan, and get the 80G tax exemption for your pains. But none of this figures in the half page report.  And the plugs are a regular feature. At the web link of Vardan 24 media links  are cited, all from TOI or ET.       

Subscribe To The Newsletter
The new term for self censorship is voluntary censorship, as proposed by companies like Netflix and Hotstar. ET reports that streaming video service Amazon Prime is opposing a move by its peers to adopt a voluntary censorship code in anticipation of the Indian government coming up with its own rules. Amazon is resisting because it fears that it may alienate paying subscribers.                   

Clearly, the run to the 2019 elections is on. A journalist received a call from someone saying they were from Aajtak channel and were conducting a survey, asking whom she was going to vote for in 2019. On being told that her vote was secret, the caller assumed she wasn't going to vote for 'Modiji'. The caller, a woman, also didn't identify herself. A month or two earlier the same journalist received a call, this time from a man, asking if she was going to vote for the BSP.                 

View More