Zee News: Subhash Chandra's TV channel loses credibility owing to fake, biased reports

It should be a cause of worry for Subhash Chandra that his TV channel has not only lost its credibility but has become 'news' for all the wrong reasons.

Media houses are known for their slants and their tilt towards political parties.

But over the years Zee News' excessively biased reporting and the jingoist rhetoric has turned it into a joke. Rajat Sharma's India TV is also known for its leanings but Zee News has become a propaganda machine.

From its anchors' involvement in extortion to the channel's attempt to defame JNU students by telecasting doctored clips, the channel's reporting has gone from bad to worse. In fact, it is giving serious competition to Sudarshan News, these days.

READ: Under fire for airing doctored video, Subhash Chandra speaks up

Zee network was India's first private TV channel that was launched more than two decades ago.
It should bother Chandra that the channel has suffered incalculable harm. Unfortunately, a Rajya Sabha nomination was enough for Chandra to abandon all ethics of journalism.

The photograph accompanying this report shows a programme that was aired on Focus TV. It terms Zee news owner and anchors as 'Khabron ke besharm saudebaz' i.e. 'Shameless brokers of journalism'.

Will Chandra wake up? It's already too late for him and his channel. 

Unethical journalism: News X anchor Rahul Shivshankar's stand on right-wing terror suspects, 'protecting' Samjhauta Express blast accused

Rahul Shivshankar, the News X anchor, is at the centre of a major controversy.

Shivshankar is facing a very serious charge. He was hosting a programme on Samjhauta Express terrorist attack.

But after interviewing the then SIT officer who had conducted probe, the channel didn't air his interview, at all.

In the interview, the officer had said that right-wing radical Sunil Joshi was involved in the terror attack. He said that hard evidence led the SIT to the group. Joshi was later killed by members of his own group.

But, the TV channel didn't air his opinion. Shocked, the officer wrote a Facebook post, that has now gone viral. Leading journalists have said that the channel seemed to be giving a twist to the Samjhauta Express probe.

As the SIT officer's interview would have gone against the plan, it was dropped. News X channel had taken a strange and dubious stand during the Malegaon blast case too in which Hindu extremists were involved.

When Muslims who were initially framed in the case, were being released, the channel aired stories to suggest that the probe that accused Hindu radicals wasn't right.

This is further proof of how journalistic ethics and journalism are under threat in the country.

Right-wing Hindu extremists were found involved in the bomb blast in which more than 70 persons were killed.

READ MORE REPORTS ON NEWS X' dubious coverage and Rahul Shivshankar's unethical act

NEWS X: The Lies That Unscrupulous TV Weaves!
and
Former SIT head’s stunning allegation, says NewsX blocked his interview after he blamed ‘Hindu elements’ for Samjhauta blasts

Right-wing websites in India take wrong turn: Twist news, turn fiction into fact, give ideological spin to issues

Just like many news sources, papers and publications are pro-Left or Centrist, there are newspapers and magazines that are pro-Right too.

But, there has been a new phenomenon in Indian media--of hardcore right-wing websites that are not just aimed at furthering the political ideology but can go to any length in misrepresenting facts, even if it entails demonising the 'opponents'.

Just see how 'The Voice of Nation' claimed that Amitabh Bachchan was Jawaharlal Nehru's son. Such propaganda, disguised as journalism, is affecting image of Right-wing media.

These websites give sharp twist to stories, just in order to take forward the Saffron narrative. In process, facts are often ignored or manipulated and one-sided stories are carried.

They provide news differently, so different that they can cloud your vision and even confuse you about any issue. This is extremist right-wing journalism, if we really can it journalism. Media shouldn't manipulate facts and take sides to such extent.

This is doing damage to a healthy right-wing narrative because of the negativity and the zealous nature of these pro-Hindutva media projects that refuses to look at any other side of the picture. It seems that they are aimed just at running defamation campaigns against individuals and groups who are not in sync with their ideology.

Sorry, you may try as hard as you can but you just can't brainwash people. Shouldn't there be a decent and honourable right-wing narrative? Unfortunately, these websites are pursuing Hindutva agenda with such bias that they are affecting the image of the proper right-wing media.

FACTS or FICTIONS

1. Indiafacts is a website that gives the impression that it talks about 'facts'. But it often presents wrong, distorted facts and the commentary is biased. For the gullible reader, it is 'India facts', but the truth is that it is 'India fictions', not 'facts'.

2. 'The Voice of Nation', it seems, can go to any extent in misrepresenting facts. It spreads blatant lies and publishes unconfirmed facts. It is not journalism, at all. Ethics be damned, this seems to be the motto of this website. It even claims that Amitabh Bachchan was Jawaharlal Nehru's son.

3. OpIndia.com is not as reckless as Voice of Nation but pushes right-wing agenda strongly and intelligently. It goes for 'hit-job'. For example, it targets not just opposing politicians but also intellectuals and journalists who are critical of BJP-RSS. By raising petty issues and amplifying them, it provides 'ammunition' to Hindutva cyber brigade that would then target the 'opponents' on Twitter, Facebook and other platforms, citing these links and stories.

4. Swarajya magazine would appear better when compared to the above-mentioned sites. But the online magazine is also clear in its approach. For it too, journalism is fair only when it suits the Right-wing. Facts are presented selectively to support BJP and attack others. 

Under fire for airing doctored videos, Zee News owner Subhash Chandra comes on TV, clarifies his channel's stand

Under fire for allegedly airing doctored videos during the JNU row, Zee News owner came on his TV channel to clarify his stand.

That police case may be registered against the channel owner or editor(s) for airing the videos may have forced them to go public.

See VIDEO

Chandra said that some people were branding Zee News as 'BJP's channel', which was a wrong perception.

"We are neither Congress' channel, nor BJP's channel. The truth is that we are against fundamentalism of all kind". "We are pro-India", he said.

Chandra said that Zee was being defamed and he was being sent harsh, abusive messages on Twitter.

He went on to name controversial Zee News anchor Sudhir Chaudhary, who was arrested and jailed for allegedly demanding bribe from Jindal group, as a his companion who was also getting similar such messages.

Chandra though claimed that he had grilled a BJP leader too recently and had exposed the party on various issues, he praised Anupam Kher in the same breath. Clearly, Chandra was forced to speak as his channel is accused of airing doctored videos.

Watch Subhash Chandra's video on Youtube

Business Standard terms Ashok Singhal a 'Hindu warrior', Indian Express too writes eulogy: Hate-speeches, communal agenda ignored

Business Standard has published an obituary of VHP's former president Ashok Singhal who died on Tuesday.

This obituary is a classic case of how Indian main stream journalism tries to suppress facts and ignores the 'crimes' of Hindutva hardliners. 

This obituary titled, 'Hindutva warrior Ashok Singhal passes away', written by Archis Mohan never mentions for once the hate speeches by Singhal that vitiated communal atmosphere in India.

Neither does Mohan wrote a word about VHP getting banned after December 6, 1992 and about the case against Singhal in Babri Masjid demolition. As part of the first batch of Hindutva proponents, Singhal was an extremist who instilled persecution complex among the majority community. 

The communal hatred which Singhal and his contemporaries spread, did incalculable harm to India, and affects its secular fabric. Perhaps, journalists whose hearts beats for Hindu rashtra, can write such an obituary that completely ignores Singhal's follies and his attempt to divide India on communal lines. 

But Business Standard is not alone, other papers too ignored how Singhal had divided Indian public on communal lines and consistently targeted the minorities. Other English papers were equally soft towards Singhal.

Indian Express' Shyamlal Yadav wrote an equally one-sided obituary titled, 'The importance of being Ashok Singhal', and this report too has not a single mention of Singhal's hate speeches and his involvement in demolition of the Babri Masjid.

While Hindi papers mostly carried positive reports, this Business Standard tribute leaves is one of the most interesting cases of how biased and totally one-sided reports can be written in Indian media. Link to the Business Standard obituary.

Indian Express report terms stateless Rohingyas as 'infiltrators'

Poor, persecuted, forced to flee, seen as INFILTRATORS

It is perhaps criminal to be poor. Even Indian Express is now resorting to similar journalistic practices.

In a recent report about Rohingyas, the newspaper termed their arrival as 'infiltration'. The tone is always different when it comes to similar group of persecuted people coming to India from other countries.

Either its Pakistan or Afghanistan, there is suddenly a humanitarian angle visible in the newspaper reports.

There is focus on their plight, need for support and how to help rehabilitate them. But when the most persecuted minority in the world, Rohingays, who were forced to flee from Myanmar, arrived here, they aren't seen as 'humans' or even 'asylum-seekers'.

They are straight termed as 'infiltrators' who can pose 'security risk'. Indian Express journalist Vijaita Singh in her report titled 'Rohingya Muslims infiltration on agenda' mentioned how the Rohingyas have been caught and are now put in jail in India.

Surely, we can expect our journalists to be similar in their approach towards all human beings, who have suffered persecution--rape, killings and genocide. Nepal remained a different kingdom for ages but its citizens are allowed a free entry.

Even persecuted citizens from Pakistan can come, but standards are different for Burma i.e. Myanmar, which was once part of India. Isn't this a totally biased approach? Persecuted people should be considered as human beings, not as 'infiltrators'.

From the headline to the report, lot of things are not one expects from a national daily. If mainstream English newspapers like Indian Express do it, then it is surely a cause of concern. 

Media Blackout: Bajrang Dal activist caught for Manipal gang rape, VHP leader arrested for serial blasts in Mathura

The sensational gang rape of a girl student in Manipal in coastal Karnataka was solved as police arrested a Bajrang Dal leader and his two other associates for the crime.

Just a day later, a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader was arrested for serial bomb blasts in Kosi Kalan in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

Both were important reports but were largely ignored. Mainstream media didn't consider them worth reporting.

Even the English TV channels and newspapers that claim to be more inclusive and secular didn't deem it fit to give them the deserved space.

Is there any reason for being soft on the right-wing extremist groups who claim to be patriotic but are found involved in destructive activities. Manipal rape was a sensational crime for media earlier.

The condition of the victim who studied in the university remains critical. But after his arrest, despite his Bajrang Dal connections, TV channels refrained from naming the organisation. The gang rape accused Yogish alias Yogesh attempted to commit suicide after he realised that he would be caught.

His two other accomplices Hari Prasad and Anand were also arrested. The Bajrang Dal had made a hue and cry over the same incident in Udipi and had 'warned' administration that the culprits should be caught at the earliest. 

In their demonstration, Yogesh's brother was also present. Ironically, the Saffron group had a volte-face when their own man was caught for the crime. Most newspapers didn't even write about the rapist being involved with Bajrang Dal.

Shockingly, Times of India published news when Bajrang Dal & VHP took out demonstration but didn't write a line on Sanghi links when the arrests were made. There were exceptions though like Coastal Digest that didn't try to hide the Bajrang Dal connection of the rapists. But the national media and other news organisations clearly played it down.

Sanghi link to bomb blasts in UP don't make news!

The second news came from Uttar Pradesh (UP). In this case also, the media almost blacked out the arrest of a senior VHP functionary.

This was also no ordinary case. Jagdish Anant was arrested for serial bomb blasts in Kosi Kalan.

Except Mail Today, which belongs to India Today group, no newspaper carried the report. There were complaints about the Hindutva link to the blasts but CCTV footages and evidences clearly nailed Anant. IT was in fact a 'terror case'.

Such cases media loves to play up. But this was not considered 'terrorism' and even not considered to be news worthy! Anant was even found involved in assembling these bombs. This is really a worrying situation where media groups and journalists stop reporting crimes committed by the Hindutva groups.

Is it sympathy for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS' sister organisations or their fear? What else could be the reason.

Blackout in Bihar: Media ignores police firing in Forbesganj

Indian Media has committed an unpardonable sin. Most of the mainstream newspapers and channels either ignored the police firing on villagers in Bihar's Forbesganj or just gave the news a single column space.

Some 'national' dailies who get advertisements from Bihar government did not report the incident for 3-4 days. Only when it became impossible to suppress the news, that the report about the killing of four persons in Forbesganj (Araria) was printed.

This is a shameful chapter in Indian journalism. If there are police excesses, it is the duty of media to report. Even authorities don't expect the journalists to stoop this low and stop publishing the reports that go against the government.

Major Hindi newspapers--Dainik Jagran and Hindustan did not publish a single line about this massacre for almost a week. Once the same media hounded Lalu Prasad Yadav. Today it doesn't dare write a line when there are brutal killings in Bihar.

But a section of media that comprises sycophant journalists have taken up the task to ensure that no word against the Nitish Kumar government goes in the press. Are they journalists or 'dalaals' taking up the job to 'manage' and take care of the government's PR.

National Hindi dailies and English newspapers published from Patna are mostly guilty of this cover up. But they forget that in this age, it is impossible to stop a news. Forbesganj killings has become a major issue and it would trouble Bihar government in coming days.

As far as media is concerned, it has once again failed in its primary task. Channels like NDTV, CNN IBN and Times Now have also followed suit. They either ignored the news or deliberately tried to stop this story from reaching the viewers.

This is undoubtedly Indian media's shame. The top guns in Indian journalism and the media houses must answer. If the so-called pillar of Indian democracy is crumbling, can we sit silent and merely watch?

Dainik Bhaskar's biased reporting in Madhya Pradesh!

Following is the communication of some youths from Bhopal who feel that mass circulated Hindi newspaper Dainik Bhaskar has been mis-reporting and distorting facts, which falls in category of unfair journalism.

Sir,

We are young students who take newspapers seriously and feel that they should guide the young generation but we have realised that the reporting of Dainik Bhaskar in the recent case of arrests of suspected terrorists was wrong and misleading.

From October 15 to October 30, the paper carried reports about the involvement of right-wing Hindutva-inspired radicals in blasts in Ajmer Dargan, Mecca Masjid, Samjhauta Express and Malegaon-Modasa. In this period Muslim hardliners of SIMI were also caught.

Newspapers are not courts (or judges). Either they should write all of them as 'suspected terrorists' and 'terror accused' or mere activists. But the paper's journalistic policy is strange.

When the Sanatan Sanstha members who had bombs died in blast, it cleverly gave the headline that the organisation has been blamed but didn't mention the word terrorist or even extremist. When Indore's links emerged in all cases of blasts, it once again chose mild expressions. When SIMI members were caught, it straight labelled them as terrorists.

We feel that either they are all activists charged with disruptive activities and terrorism or they are all terrorists. Similar is the case of Naxalites who brutally kill innocents but are not called Terrorists. Either newspapers should leave the job of judging until a court convicts them.

Until then the arrested persons could be called 'suspects in terror attack' which is the standard practice. If the paper wants 'sensational' news then the words used should be same for all groups irrespective of their affiliation and closeness to the workers of a party, in power at the state.

Is this correct? Your paper's email address doesn't seem to work at all. Letters to editors are generally not published if they are critical of you and phone calls are never directed to editors. We hope that you will think about guiding youths correctly with fair and ethical reporting rather than sensational, biased and one-sided journalism.

Thanks

Ashvini, Prayag, Dilip, Ramiz Qureshi, Azra, Vinay and Sutapa