Predictable laggard

IN Media Watch Briefs | 29/09/2016

Why does the public broadcaster always cede ground to private channels even when the source of news is the government? While other channels responded to the surgical strike in the early hours of Thursday by getting a variety of spokespersons and analysts on air, by dispatching a reporter to the Line of Control (IndiaTV) and generally sounding both belligerent and on the ball, Doordarshan was plodding along. A static legend on the screen said Pak ko Bharat ka mutod jawab. (India’s befitting reply to Pakistan). Does this show that India has the confidence, asked anchor Neelam of a retired major general in a conversation which went on and on. Other channels used the terms capability and political will.

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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.