Seeking an impartial media
A pathetic attempt to defend yourself. At least make an honest attempt to present your case ("Stop calling us Presstitutes: A message to my friends and other Modi supporters"). I agree that a journalist should be adversarial, but he/she should not led other motives dictate the job. Journalists who focus only on the story are not labelled "presstitutes". The problem is when the narrative is deflected to non-issues and colourful adjectives become the story.
We are proud of the Indian press and its independence, but it needs to start walking the talk instead of playing victim. Today, the public is scared to read news because they don't trust it and hence depend on the unreliable and unverifiable social media. The press needs to start getting its house in order before it is too late and it becomes irrelevant. – Satish Vennelakanti
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Rahul Pandita ended his article by saying that journalists are "creative enough to coin new terms". That tells the entire story about what most of the journalistic community has been doing.
If I had to choose, I would hate an unethical journalist more than a terrorist because the damage done by the media is far greater. Please understand that most of your friends have sold out and that they try their best to influence the audience as per the whims of their sponsors.
To prove otherwise, present us with facts on why the media is not corrupt. – Raja Ivaturi
***
An excellent piece by Rahul Pandita. I'm glad to see such a sane and balanced mind in these times of increasing irrationality. – Pranav
***
I hope that journalists keep at it or we could end up with another Emergency soon. I do not believe that everything the government does needs to be criticised, but it is the job of the fourth estate to highlight the government's failings.
Journalists are who are "yes men" and bow to popular perception are not doing their job. Democracy will be in peril if they do not do their job. If you feel that news channels are biased, then the best thing you can do is stop watching them. – Madhusudhan Sridhar
***
Who are you and why should anyone care? If you wish to be relevant, do your job and quit manufacturing stuff to parade as a truth crusader.
This is a naked grab for relevance and ratings couched in pedantics by yet another lazy so-called reporter. When they sense there is no blowback, they all suddenly turn brave and start mudslinging the biggest house in the square. When there was serious abuse by the vindictive, vicious lot of thieves in power, the same brave souls were hiding timidly in their ratholes.
Spare me the phony outrage. If you wish to sabotage the first real chance of development that India has had in a long time, don't look for friends here. If you wish to help, do your job. Dispel lies and question truthfully. No government is perfect and keeping them on their toes over real waste and corruption is true service. But lazy armchair natter, proliferating malicious lies and cooked up slander is revolting at best. – Kanika Agarwalla
***
Rahul Pandita's article makes for a fabulous read. It carries the concern which seems to be a reality in my friend circle too.
It's difficult to start conversation on politics as lines are drawn on the superior intent of the current government and degrading the rest. A much more dangerous situation lies in the polarising mindset in the context of religion, even in educated circles.
This trend started with a campaign that resonated well with the masses – that all politicians are crooks. With an entire section being branded corrupt, this issue was discussed in Parliament.
As an individual, I have noticed that guardians of free speech and true journalistic ethics seldom protest the use of the term "presstitute". There have not been any discussions in Parliament on this subject and no one from the political class has denounced the use of this term. As a result, it has easily slipped into the crevices of the public mindset. This flooding of messages without accountability or responsibility has become a fashion online. Your article mirrors this attitude. – Sandeep
***
"So stop calling us Presstitutes. Because we are much more creative than you when it comes to coining terms" - Rahul Pandita's concluding remark sums up the arrogance of this community and the reason why it has lost credibility in the eyes of the educated class and the derided. – Piyush Agarwalla
***
Such a fate is not confined to journalists alone. Even other liberals and left-wing sympathisers are facing this problem. Narendra Modi "bhakts" of the kind mentioned in this article seem to be everywhere.
His election victory last year seems to have given rise to this peculiar breed never really seen before. The writer has described so well how nice and educated people are frothing at the mouth over any serious criticism of the Prime Minister. The same people are also making praise of his style and politics the benchmark for patriotism. – Vrijendra
***
Keep writing more articles against Narendra Modi. We trust him and he will be in power until we trust him. – Sethu
***
Your article categorised people according to their posting habits on Facebook. If you observe the tweets and statuses of some members of the press, you will observe that these are the same people who are guilty of double standards
As citizens, we have a right to point out that it is wrong to create controversies, distort news and sensationalise stories. – A Citizesstitute
***
An earnest request to the journalistic community: report everything that is wrong with India, but don't ignore the good things that are happening under the current regime. Narendra Modi is the best choice for taking the country forward. If you know of a better choice, please let us know. – Avinash Das
***
A very good analysis of the mindset of these pseudo-nationalists. Their behaviour towards secular individuals and liberals shows intolerance. Their tolerance levels are very low and they cannot digest any counterview and criticism of their so-called saviour Narendra Modi.
Should their god fail, they will blame everyone but him and his party. So how can they digest any criticism of him by journalists? This is a master strategy devised by their master to shut up the messengers opposed to him.
For his followers, journalists exist to sing and shower praises. If the journalist fails in this regard, his/her ability and reputation is destroyed. – Vishal Jindal
***
The use of terms like "presstitutes" reflects a growing perception among the Indian public (and often with good reason), that politicians and the press are part of the same hypocrisy. – Vijay S Jodha
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letters@scroll.in.
A pathetic attempt to defend yourself. At least make an honest attempt to present your case ("Stop calling us Presstitutes: A message to my friends and other Modi supporters"). I agree that a journalist should be adversarial, but he/she should not led other motives dictate the job. Journalists who focus only on the story are not labelled "presstitutes". The problem is when the narrative is deflected to non-issues and colourful adjectives become the story.
We are proud of the Indian press and its independence, but it needs to start walking the talk instead of playing victim. Today, the public is scared to read news because they don't trust it and hence depend on the unreliable and unverifiable social media. The press needs to start getting its house in order before it is too late and it becomes irrelevant. – Satish Vennelakanti
***
Rahul Pandita ended his article by saying that journalists are "creative enough to coin new terms". That tells the entire story about what most of the journalistic community has been doing.
If I had to choose, I would hate an unethical journalist more than a terrorist because the damage done by the media is far greater. Please understand that most of your friends have sold out and that they try their best to influence the audience as per the whims of their sponsors.
To prove otherwise, present us with facts on why the media is not corrupt. – Raja Ivaturi
***
An excellent piece by Rahul Pandita. I'm glad to see such a sane and balanced mind in these times of increasing irrationality. – Pranav
***
I hope that journalists keep at it or we could end up with another Emergency soon. I do not believe that everything the government does needs to be criticised, but it is the job of the fourth estate to highlight the government's failings.
Journalists are who are "yes men" and bow to popular perception are not doing their job. Democracy will be in peril if they do not do their job. If you feel that news channels are biased, then the best thing you can do is stop watching them. – Madhusudhan Sridhar
***
Who are you and why should anyone care? If you wish to be relevant, do your job and quit manufacturing stuff to parade as a truth crusader.
This is a naked grab for relevance and ratings couched in pedantics by yet another lazy so-called reporter. When they sense there is no blowback, they all suddenly turn brave and start mudslinging the biggest house in the square. When there was serious abuse by the vindictive, vicious lot of thieves in power, the same brave souls were hiding timidly in their ratholes.
Spare me the phony outrage. If you wish to sabotage the first real chance of development that India has had in a long time, don't look for friends here. If you wish to help, do your job. Dispel lies and question truthfully. No government is perfect and keeping them on their toes over real waste and corruption is true service. But lazy armchair natter, proliferating malicious lies and cooked up slander is revolting at best. – Kanika Agarwalla
***
Rahul Pandita's article makes for a fabulous read. It carries the concern which seems to be a reality in my friend circle too.
It's difficult to start conversation on politics as lines are drawn on the superior intent of the current government and degrading the rest. A much more dangerous situation lies in the polarising mindset in the context of religion, even in educated circles.
This trend started with a campaign that resonated well with the masses – that all politicians are crooks. With an entire section being branded corrupt, this issue was discussed in Parliament.
As an individual, I have noticed that guardians of free speech and true journalistic ethics seldom protest the use of the term "presstitute". There have not been any discussions in Parliament on this subject and no one from the political class has denounced the use of this term. As a result, it has easily slipped into the crevices of the public mindset. This flooding of messages without accountability or responsibility has become a fashion online. Your article mirrors this attitude. – Sandeep
***
"So stop calling us Presstitutes. Because we are much more creative than you when it comes to coining terms" - Rahul Pandita's concluding remark sums up the arrogance of this community and the reason why it has lost credibility in the eyes of the educated class and the derided. – Piyush Agarwalla
***
Such a fate is not confined to journalists alone. Even other liberals and left-wing sympathisers are facing this problem. Narendra Modi "bhakts" of the kind mentioned in this article seem to be everywhere.
His election victory last year seems to have given rise to this peculiar breed never really seen before. The writer has described so well how nice and educated people are frothing at the mouth over any serious criticism of the Prime Minister. The same people are also making praise of his style and politics the benchmark for patriotism. – Vrijendra
***
Keep writing more articles against Narendra Modi. We trust him and he will be in power until we trust him. – Sethu
***
Your article categorised people according to their posting habits on Facebook. If you observe the tweets and statuses of some members of the press, you will observe that these are the same people who are guilty of double standards
As citizens, we have a right to point out that it is wrong to create controversies, distort news and sensationalise stories. – A Citizesstitute
***
An earnest request to the journalistic community: report everything that is wrong with India, but don't ignore the good things that are happening under the current regime. Narendra Modi is the best choice for taking the country forward. If you know of a better choice, please let us know. – Avinash Das
***
A very good analysis of the mindset of these pseudo-nationalists. Their behaviour towards secular individuals and liberals shows intolerance. Their tolerance levels are very low and they cannot digest any counterview and criticism of their so-called saviour Narendra Modi.
Should their god fail, they will blame everyone but him and his party. So how can they digest any criticism of him by journalists? This is a master strategy devised by their master to shut up the messengers opposed to him.
For his followers, journalists exist to sing and shower praises. If the journalist fails in this regard, his/her ability and reputation is destroyed. – Vishal Jindal
***
The use of terms like "presstitutes" reflects a growing perception among the Indian public (and often with good reason), that politicians and the press are part of the same hypocrisy. – Vijay S Jodha
