Revolt Press: News website twisting facts, a disgrace to journalism

What's the job of media? It is informing public or distorting facts in order to spread false information?

Ironically, getting hits seems to have become the sole criterion for success in online media.

As there are thousands of websites, the hits will come only when you give bizarre headlines.

RevoltPress, a website, that delivers news in both Hindi and English, has taken this 'bizarre' to an extreme.

Take for example, the news that has been show here along with the post. It wrongly says that Pakistani men marry their own sisters. The headline clearly suggests as if it is incest that is prevalent in Pakistan.

The intro begins with the practice in Islamic world. The fact that an absolutely misleading news is not just published but it's being posted widely in Facebook groups and aggressively pushed, shows that they have no qualms about their brand of 'Yellow journalism'.

Such stories get them HITS, which bring some money in the form of advertisements and also a bit of name for the 'media group'. It today has nearly 1.9 lakh likes (followers) and hence reach of such articles keeps increasing as they keep posting such articles, again and again, with an interval of few days.

As far as the particular misleading post is concerned, the truth is that there are marriages between cousins in Pakistan. But it is common in India too. In many parts of the country, there are marriages among cousins in Hindus. In Andhra, it has been common for the girl to marry her real maternal uncle (mama).

But calling a cousin as 'sister', giving an impression of 'incest' and its prevalence in entire society, is disgusting to say the least. Sadly, journalism is the biggest casualty with the proliferation of such news websites. This is perpetuating false myths, spreading hate and agenda-driven activity that needs to be condemned in the harshest possible words. 

Jagran Juggernaut: Dainik Jagran's plan to buy Nai Dunia creates stir in Hindi news media, hits Bhaskar

Dainik Jagran group's plan to buy daily Nai Dunia is giving jitters to Dainik Bhaskar, a clear leader in Central India.

It is Jagran's masterstroke for more than one reasons. Firstly, Jagran had hardly any presence in Central India. Its editions at Bhopal and Rewa didn't have much credibility. Jagran's Bhopal edition though old is now fifth or sixth in terms of circulation after Bhaskar, Patrika, Raj Express and Peoples' Samachar among others.

Jagran in MP is mostly read by the lower-middle class or at tea stalls where its weekly crime tabloid Satyakatha that appears on Tuesday is eagerly awaited. It is rarely subscribed at homes because of the nature of Satyakatha that has sex, sleaze and photos of semi-clad women.

Nai Dunia has credibility, reach in MP-Chhattisgarh

Secondly. Though Nai Dunia is also a sinking ship, in its new avatar it gained circulation in Bhopal. Its new editions in Chhattisgarh are doing well. Nai Dunia and its Bhopal-version Nav Duniya have credibility and also loyal readers in Malwa region around Indore.

With Nai Dunia, Jagran will need a established newspaper in entire Central India ie. MP and Chhattisgarh. Jagran is already strong in North India. In UP, Bhaskar is yet to make a move and the family with which Agarwals are in a titular suit are publishing just Jhansi edition from that state.

Fearing worst Bhaskar opened new editions and also under different brand name 'Divya Bhaskar', as in case of losing the case, the name can be changed to more known title that would not sound too different to the reader. It started DB star daily tabloid to push it brand.

So Dainik Bhaskar can be identified as DB Group. Despite all its efforts, Bhaskar is yet to become India's leading newspaper. Though lead was thin, Jagran was the leader. Now with Jagran group gaining established paper in MP-CG that has editions in Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Raipur, Bilaspur and other cities, it can give a run to Bhaskar as far as national reach is concerned.

Bouquet of English, Hindi and Urdu papers

Thirdly. For advertisers, Jagran will be a good option now. Jagran has also acquired English newspaper Mid Day, a strong Urdu newspaper Inquilab that now has nearly 12 editions in the country including Lucknow, Mumbai, Delhi, Moradabad, Aligarh and Kanpur.

Jagran is thus making the right moves. Guptas seem to have finally realised that Bhaskar was growing too fast and had to be tamed. With Nai Dunia, Inquilab, Mid Day, the group is now going from strength to strength.

Will Bhaskar remain silent? They have made forays in Gujarat and Maharashtra. But Gujrati and Marathi papers are still considered regional. Unlike English, Hindi or Urdu papers that have national character. Let's wait for Bhaskar's strategy as to

Biased media coverage: Rajasthan Patrika newspaper vis-a-vis other newspapers

For students of journalism, it can be a good example to see diametrically opposite views in Hindi press about the arrest of Pragya Thakur and her group for the Malegaon blasts.

Alok Mehta wrote a special editorial in Nai Dunia, the latest Hindi daily to have started publication from Delhi. He said that media had been soft on Hindutva groups and the firebrand Sadhus-Sadhvis. See the excerpt on the left.


Jagran played up the news with sensational headlines. Dainik Bhaskar tried its best to keep the news hidden in a corner and published the photo of Sadhvi with BJP leaders, after other papers had printed it, and it became a necessity.

But some papers even went to the extent of defending her. One column in Rajasthan-based newspaper, Patrika, owned by the Kotharis, which is now published from Karnataka and West Bengal also, almost justified the actions of Sadhvi and made fun of the entire situation.

The columnist, Ajay Setia, wrote in his column 'Jantar Mantar' that suggested why it was important to find out why Hindus were turning towards terrorism. On one hand, he seemed excited at the growing ferocity of Hindutva forces and on the other hand mocked at the police claims by saying that he has also bought many second hand vehicles and can be framed easily for a crime.

It was not befitting a respected newspaper that is considered editorially driven and has a history of fair journalism to publish the irresponsibly written piece . The article was in a bad taste and the writer appeared not just prejudiced but also sympathetic to the perpetrators of blasts.

Now compare excerpts of this article to Alok Mehta's article. Isn't it striking to read both the newspapers. The first article is objective and in keeping with the ideals of journalism. The second is written by a journalist who has a narrow-minded perspective. For students of journalism, the lesson is that even if they have allegiance to a particular ideology or party, when they start writing it should be free of that ideological hangover.

Mehta's article is balanced and insightful. You read it and you think over it. You don't gather any ideological leaning in the paper. Setia's article in communal and provocative. You wonder if Rajasthan Patrika has become RSS Patrika. This is the difference.