Ever so often at Newslaundry, we try to switch things around: we hear from our subscribers instead of the other way around. After all, we are powered by our subscribers, whose support allows us to pursue honest, independent journalism, and tell the stories that must be told.

NL Chatbox is one of the tools we use to this end: a session for subscribers to ask us about our work and our views on various issues, to tell us what they like, or don’t, and give feedback on the work we do.

The latest Chatbox edition on June 27 saw the Newslaundry team fielding a wide range of questions. What goes into the making of TV Newsance and NL Tippani? What is the right way for the media to question the government about sensitive matters such as the conflict with China in Ladakh? Why do politicians provide interviews only to select journalists? Is there a radical left in India?

A subscriber asks why the use of face masks to contain the spread of the coronavirus has become politicised in the US and not in other developed countries. “It’s the same reason for which Trump was elected,” replied Aditya Varier.

Prateek Goyal talks about his recently published NL Sena series detailing how innocent Adivasis in Chhattisgarh are arrested without cause and jailed without trial for years.

Replying to a question about how the Hindu Right in India can be countered, Mehraj D Lone remarks that the terminology of left, right and centre does not work well in the Indian context.

To participate in the next NL Chatbox session, do look out for our announcements on social media. We will also send you an email with more information.