When Scribes Turn Dalals

planA petition  was filed in the Supreme Court last  Tuesday  January 3,  by an eminent journalist, Hari Jaisingh, asking for the
constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for a court-monitored probe against some journalists who wrote in favour of the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal of the earlier Congress government,sc-pil

Jaisingh  alleged that  journalists were paid Rs. 50 crores to support the scandalous deal in connection with which the former Indian Air Force chief, S. P. Tyagi and some others were arrested. The scandal was unearthed by foreign newspapers.

Aircraft purchase and journalists looks like an unlikely connection. Hari Jaisingh is not one of those so-called journalists editing sensational rags. He was editor of mainstream dailies including those of The Tribune group and author of several books Continue reading When Scribes Turn Dalals

MABF – Sethji Editors

Journalism, like politics, continues to be a career where no educational qualifications are laid down.  As all that matters is the  end-product journalists are expected to be good communicators proficient in writing; or in the case of  TV and radio, effective speakers.  (Some may add that both are the last resort of scoundrels).

raddi
Morning newspaper becomes  ‘raddi’  by  evening

With many fake newspapers coming up to take advantage of sops given to journalists, or use the clout to blackmail or make money, even communication skills are not needed to become an ‘editor’; those who write can always be hired if you have the money.

In Gujarat the name of the newspaper owner usually appears as editor (‘Tantri’) in the imprint line, with an anonymous de facto editor bringing out the publication. Legendary owners like R.N. Goenka and G.D. Birla, who wielded immense power in their newspapers, never posed as editors.Their name never Continue reading MABF – Sethji Editors