New information commissioners

IN Media Watch Briefs | 19/02/2016

The BJP government's commitment to the right to freedom of information shines through in every appointment of information commissioners that it makes. The two latest names to be announced are of former I & B Secretary Bimal Julka, and former special director in the Intelligence Bureau D P Sinha. Julka had his share of tussles with Prasar Bharati in trying to make the ministry's writ run over it. And IB officials are surely not the ideal solution for ensuring less secrecy in government?

Subscribe To The Newsletter

Media Watch Briefs

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.