Reporters Without Orders Ep 83: #HowdyModi, #GretaThunberg and more

In this episode of Reporters Without Orders, Gaurav Sarkar, Ayush Tiwari and Basant Kumar join host Snigdha Sharma to reflect on the extravaganza that was Narendra Modi’s ‘Howdy, Modi’ in Houston, United States, and its wall-to-wall coverage by the Indian media. Why did the media think the event warranted such fawning coverage? And why were the same channels that had labelled Donald Trump a serial liar singing his praises for sharing stage with Modi? 

By the way, a major protest, dubbed “Adios, Modi” was held right outside the stadium where Modi was holding audience, but you could be forgiven for having missed it on primetime TV news — they barely covered it. No points for guessing why.

Among the people who dominated the news this week was the young Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. She delivered an impassioned speech at the United Nations Climate Summit, urging world leaders to act to save the planet before it is too late. Sadly, for her advocacy, the teenager became the object of a barrage of hate on social media. So, what does our panel make of her advocacy?

Tune in.

References:

Ukraine WhatsApp presentation

Greta Thunberg Speech

Dinesh D’Souza Tweet

Howdy, Modi: Nehru makes his presence felt in Houston

Recommendations:

Basant:
Guftagoo with Harivansh

Ayush:
Hours After a Late-Night Knock, an Entire Neighbourhood Reduced to Pellet Injuries

European Experts support India’s move on Kashmir

Gaurav:
Dark Masters of a Dream World

Snigdha:
New Yorker Podcast- Salman Rushdie Interview