Less self-censoring

IN Media Watch Briefs | 28/02/2015

The difference between the Radia tapes and the Essar emails is that this time around the disclosures are being reported with alacrity. Last time it took a day or more for the mainstream media to start acknowledging the revelations. The PIL affidavit on Essar mentions seven journalists in different contexts, including one from Dainik Bhaskar. The HT staffer's suspension had a kick in the tail: the reporter hit back with details of how both her colleagues and her paper had also asked her to use her corporate contacts.

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Amazon resisting voluntary censorship

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.

Let the games begin

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.