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Barkha Dutt and Vir Sanghavi — lobbyists?

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Outlook and Open magazines have exposed transcripts of conversations of Barkha Dutt, Vir Sanghavi and Nira Radia, which took place in 2009. The tapes clearly show how portfolios for DMK ministers were discussed and actively lobbied for. The tapes are disturbing to listen to because reputed journalists like Barkha Dutt are discussing portfolio allocations and hectic parleys for the same happening at that time like onions and tomatoes hoarding. What does it say about the so-called fair media? How can a journalist say that she has been framed because the tapes are selectively edited? Haven’t we heard that excuse very often from politicians and their ilk when caught in a scam?
With scams tumbling out at regular intervals, nothing seems to be capable of shocking us anymore. But, imagine how media can hound a public figure, parties or institutions if they have their own allegiances. Another depressing trend is that this story about Barkha Dutt’s involvement in the 2G scam by lobbying for A Raja has been completely blanked out by all visual news channels. Only the print media in the form of magazines broke out this story. But, if newspapers and TV channels keep this out, how will be the world at large know about our popular journalists and for once their deeds?
It is clear that the band of TV channels have stuck together to protect some of their exalted names. If Barkha Dutt is not guilty, why not let everyone air the news? Let there be a discussion on her role, and let her present her defense. The whole episode is really bad and makes one wonder about how unbiased really is Indian media? We trust senior journalists to be unbiased in their reporting and to provide us with the truth. If they are lobbying with some party or another for gains of any sorts including information, how badly does it stain the entire process of news dissemination? I am disgusted! I hope so are you.

Here are the links to the tapes on Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqnAYhNafOg&feature=related

21 responses to “Barkha Dutt and Vir Sanghavi — lobbyists?”

  1. bbsearchingself Avatar
    bbsearchingself

    Media is not fair here too Rachna but atleast here there is the excuse that it is a Kingdom.Which makes me wonder, do we ever get to know the real news??

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  2. GP Avatar
    GP

    This incident makes us believe that there is a niche which has a potential to bloom in future. People’s journalism! I think twitter and facebook are a couple of mediums which promote the true stories behind such farcical reporting by main stream media.

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  3. R. Ramesh Avatar
    R. Ramesh

    if somebody tells u media is free and unbiased, bring them to me..i have been in mainstream dailies for 27 yrs..i will give them a piece of my mind..hey good post ya

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  4. Rachna Avatar
    Rachna

    @bbsearchingself My grouse is with these holy cows who go to any extent to dig muck on others, but when it comes to them they go to heights to shield themselves.@GP True, at least there is some way of exposing these kind of folks.@Ramesh Yes Ramesh, you are right. But, then why this high and mighty attitude and a great moral posture?

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  5. david Avatar
    david

    When you have a press that has lost its impartiality is very difficult to contain abuses of politicians. Especially when the politicians reached secrets alliances with the press.Here, our press is slightly similar to the American press. It has its preferences but not overtly as in USA. And today the press denounces all, without euphemism, because the current government is not the preference of the most powerful organs of the media.But at least you can know who speaks what, because their positions are known and apparently not for sale.However, having a completely impartial press I think impossible. At least, the media must announce an opinion, a side to stay with.

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  6. Rachna Avatar
    Rachna

    @Ramesh I guess, I am a little naive. I still expect journalists to be a little more honest than what they project they are. You being in this industry for so long would definitely know better.@David I wouldn’t say that the press is biased here. Actually, our media is one of main pillars of our democracy and regularly unearths scams and keeps the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats on their toes. I am also okay with understanding leanings towards particular ideologies. After all, we are all humans, and it is impossible for most of us to be completely unbiased. I was mostly angered because Barkha is one of the most respected and capable journalists we have today. Why did she try a cover up by trying to block the news. Couldn’t she have handled the “allegations” with a little more dignity. She ends up sullying her reputation. I was a regular watcher of her “We The People.” I hope, she does a show on the allegations about her. The more you try to hush up something, the more people suspect.You are completely right, and I am beginning to understand that a completely impartial press is actually an oxymoron. And, must say that you are doing a good job with your English :).

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  7. Bikramjit Avatar
    Bikramjit

    very true nothing shocks ME for sure anymore anything is allowed .. Alls fair How can we expect the journalists to be fair when money is guiding them all around .. so many private channels have opened up and for any news they can do anything and EVERYTHIng .. good post Bikram’s

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  8. david Avatar
    david

    Sorry, I was very general in what I said. Now I understand better, you are referring more specifically to a person for whom you had appreciation.Despite not knowing Barkha I think she should be someone who, for the Indians, is what Oprah Winfrey is for Americans. And I have some idea about the disaster for many Americans it would be if Oprah participate in any corruption case or something like that.Here in Brazil we don’t have a personality in journalism today. I think everyone just wants to know about reality shows!! Crazy World!!!

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  9. rama Avatar
    rama

    My God I didn’t know that Barkha had a hand in all these things too. Anyway I stopped liking her after what she did during the Kargil war and also during the shoot out in the Taj Mumbai.

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  10. Rachna Avatar
    Rachna

    @Bikram Yeah, I guess! But, we have to keep pulling them up. They can’t take us for a ride blatantly.@David Actually, she is a good journalist, and the Group Editor of one of the largest English TV news channels — NDTV. She is into serious journalism unlike Oprah, yet she hobnobs with the high and mighty. I lost respect for her for her dramatic coverage of the Mumbai attacks. Yet, this episode and the cover up is really too blatant, in my opinion.

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  11. Rachna Avatar
    Rachna

    @rama Yeah, me too. I found her too dramatic in her coverage and exploitative of people’s sentiments during the 26/11 attacks coverage.

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  12. Deepa Avatar
    Deepa

    Finally someone blogged about it!! Good for your Rachna. More grease to your elbow. I dislike Barkha Dutt. In fact, I’ve joined a FB page called ‘I hate Barkha Dutt’. Until 26/11 I quite liked her. Used to follow her shows regularly. But after witnessing the SHOCKING insensitivity of her behaviour on the ‘we the people’ show in the aftermath of 26/11, I was sickened to my stomach. She had put together a rag tag bunch of panelists – Kunal Kohli was one. How he was qualified to even comment on the horrific events I dont know. But the worst was when she deliberately went on pressuring this man – who had lost his entire family in CST shootings – to tell us what happened – the poor guy totally broke down – that I was totally disgusted. I made up my mind never to watch her show again. I’m not surprised at her being embroiled in this scandal.

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  13. sm Avatar
    sm

    good postreality is that media is paid nothing is free, what rich and govt want we hear and watch

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  14. Rachna Avatar
    Rachna

    @Deepa Thank you for such encouraging words. I hope more bloggers blog about this issue, as she is trying her level best to make this fade away.I have joined this page too on FB :). I remember seeing that episode you mentioned. Do you also remember how after the terrorists were cleared from the Taj, this lady was there to show the coverage. They left the camera on, and she was talking to her cameraman all calm and discussing. As they give her a green signal, she suddenly gets all hyper starts running to the window of one of the room and starts mouthing provocative statements. It was such a shock to realize what a propagandist she was. I started hating her after this entire coverage episode.@sm I guess, everything is on sale including morals!

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  15. Jon Avatar
    Jon

    JUdiciary is one among the pillars of democracy. Hence it has to be regulated like all the otherIf allowed to roam free they are very dangerousThe free media should nt come free….

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  16. BK Chowla, Avatar
    BK Chowla,

    Results of the muck and stink will be known after the investigations are over. But, journos have reduced the credibility of the media to zero.

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  17. Rachna Avatar
    Rachna

    @Jon Yes I guess. Judiciary along with the Executive must be regulated. And, yet judiciary must not be directly under any influence of the Executive. Indirectly, all of them are together in the mess. Free media is becoming a joke. I guess, the only whistleblower among all branches is the need to pull down each other.@BK Chowla You are right. I genuinely felt that Indian media was the commendable force fighting evils to some extent. Now, I am not so sure whose motive is what?

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  18. dr.antony Avatar
    dr.antony

    There is nothing unbiased. We don’t have media ethics.For that matter in what do we have ethics?The media is owned and controlled by political parties. Every political party in Kerala has a channel of its own.And then,what do we expect these channels to do other than propaganda?Everything boils down to the game of money and power.With money you can any thing or anyone.

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  19. dr.antony Avatar
    dr.antony

    There is nothing unbiased. We don’t have media ethics.For that matter in what do we have ethics?The media is owned and controlled by political parties. Every political party in Kerala has a channel of its own.And then,what do we expect these channels to do other than propaganda?Everything boils down to the game of money and power.With money you can any thing or anyone.

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  20. Rachna Avatar
    Rachna

    @dr. antony You are right. That is a dangerous trend of media channels being owned by political parties, very commonly seen down South.

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  21. R. Ramesh Avatar
    R. Ramesh

    hey thanks ya

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I’m Rachna

Welcome to Rachna says, my first abode on the internet where I share snippets of my mundane life, as I navigate empty nest with my husband. You can also get my recipes at my food blog, Rachna cooks.

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