NL Hafta

Hafta 423: Asianet controversy, Tamil Nadu disinformation, regional bias

This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Jayashree Arunachalam, Raman Kirpal and Anand Vardhan are joined by Leena Gita Reghunath, the audience development editor at the Caravan

The discussion begins with the ethical questions and controversy around an alleged attack on Asianet News in Kerala. Leena details the timeline, media coverage and protests over an allegedly staged interview of a minor – which was part of a feature on drug abuse and sexual assault of minors in the state. The Pinarayi Vijayan government has defended the police action against the channel saying that it can’t be seen as a freedom of press issue.

The conversation moves to fake news and sensationalism by the Hindi media that helped propagate the claim that north Indian migrants were under attack in Tamil Nadu. Jayashree points to such coverage across media and social media.

They also talk about how Tamilians and Biharis are ridiculed in north India, recalling experiences from past decades. They also point out how migrants from Bihar state continue to face verbal abuse despite a drastic change in the state’s image.

Tune in!

Hafta letters: Lithium reserves, question paper leaks, series on historical figures

We have a new page for subscribers to send letters to our shows. If you want to write to Hafta, click here.

Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media.

We have launched new Sena projects. Do contribute and help us tell these stories.

Download the Newslaundry app.

Song: Jagte Raho

Timecodes

00:00:05 - Introduction

00:02:52- Headlines

00:09:35 - Kerala vs Asianet

00:20:48 - Tamil Nadu Migrant workers

01:09:43 - Subscriber mails

01:19:15 - Recommendations

Recommendations

Leena

Modi’s Messenger

Agent Orange

Adani: Modi के Oligarch?

Manisha

Idaho Murders: As a small Town Grapples With Sinister Rumors, Media’s True-Crime Obsession Grows. 

Anand

India Moving: A History of Migration

Raman

India’s moment under the diplomatic sun must be used

UEFA Champions League

Jayashree

Noam Chomsky: The False Promise of ChatGPT

Why are we tolerating the intolerant?

Abhinandan

Lithium: Here’s why Latin America is key to the global energy transition

Will there soon be a surplus of lithium?

Tucker Carlson Is The Biggest Hypocrite At Fox News

Tucker’s Transparent Jan 6th Propaganda

Check out our previous Hafta recommendations.

Produced and recorded by Tehreem Roshan, edited by Hassan Bilal.