Ep 23: Aam Aadmi Party and the media, Aligarh Muslim University and more

On this episode of Reporters Without Orders, Cherry is joined by Rohin and Amit. Parthshri Arora from Vice India also joins the panel.Informing the panel about Delhi government’s idea of statehood, Amit says, “When covering Aam Aadmi Party, there will be very dull days and there’ll be active days, and the days when the party or its leaders are active is the best as well as the worst day for any reporter covering that beat.”Speaking of media's coverage of the issue, Amit agrees with Cherry and states that for a news piece ‘breaking’ in the city, it [Delhi statehood] should have seen more coverage.Parth says that AAP does have a history of beefing up with Big Media. To which Amit replies, “Depends...there’ll be times when AAP will be cheering for news organisations and editors and there’ll be times when they’ll be completely harsh and the attack will be very below the belt.”Rohin speaks about the Aligarh Muslim University controversy where a couple of students are facing criticism and a case of blasphemy because of a picture circulated on social media. The picture showed these AMU students drinking beer at a bar during Ramazan. He expresses resentment against the university administration and says, “If a university cannot support its students by expanding their limited freedom, if it cannot encourage students to challenge established notions; then that university going on to produce meritorious PhD scholars won't matter -- because it won’t make a better society.”Amit and Rohin speak about the bias in media coverage. Rohin points out that sections of the media refrained from covering this incident despite our knowledge of their general viewpoint on such matters. He explains, “They do not want a debate on the issue. They are simply bent upon creating a demarcation. They won’t hold a talk on ‘blasphemy’. But they’d create a divide by saying things like why so much noise over a Muslim’s faith being hurt and not...(when a Hindu icon is disrespected...). This only emboldens the courage of fringe groups of all sections.”Parth speaks about Priyanka Chopra-starrer Quantico and Rega Jha's from Buzzfeed India. He says, “In terms of influence, which 26-year-old has ever wielded this much influence online, on discourse, on feminist issues, on anything really...And she has now built this empire, the biggest, most influential youth media company in the country and now she’s just quitting. I think that’s incredibly big news! And she will be a thought leader. She will be so many things for the next thirty years. And we’ll get to see it.”According to Amit, Akhilesh Yadav vacating his official bungalow was underplayed by sections of the mainstream media.Cherry discusses the issue of Puthiya Thalaimurai TV that was booked by Tamil Nadu police for statements made by its guest during a debate. Parth says that in online media, the op-eds are run with a disclaimer at the end. So maybe, you could run a disclaimer that panelist’s views are their own. "Even then it's a grey area," he adds.Amit brings the panel's attention back to the issue of Delhi's statehood and Parth discusses Kejriwal's media strategy. To know more, listen up!

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