Chetan Kunte, blogging hero
Pramit Singh on the case of blogger Chetan Kunte: apparently forced to take down a blog post by a news organisation for criticising their coverage of the Mumbai attacks.
No one creates heroes better and faster than old media. Sometimes, they do it inadvertently. Take the case of blogger Chetan Kunte (Chyetanya Kunte), who ‘dared’ to question the work of a mainstream media journalist Barkha Dutt of NDTV news channel.
Chetan Kunte was not alone in criticizing the media coverage during the Mumbai Terror Attacks NDTV – the Navy Chief, the NSG, the local panwallah, even those good-for-nothings who live and die by the reporting ethos of India TV, there were few among us who liked the coverage.
But, in the end, it was Chetan who got the Golden Notice, the letter that makes careers, the letter from the lawyers.
This incident once again illustrates Indian Media types have thin hides and a sense of self importance almost as big as that of the assorted religious gurus.
NDTV is a fine news channel but not in the league of the New York Times, which is covered in unflattering terms on blogs such as Gawker.com on weekly if not daily basis.
I haven’t heard about the New York Times suing any blogger so far.
Commenting about the coverage, Miss Dutt said in the Indian Express, “If they hated us so much, why are they watching us?”
Because we have no choice, boss. If we don’t watch NDTV, we have to do with a hyperventilating, loud Rajdeep Sardesai on CNN-IBN or a hyper-opinionated, ‘are you talking to me?‘ Arnab Goswami on Times Now. The only news channel worth watching is NDTV India, in Hindi, especially when Ravish Kumar or Vinod Dua are at the helm. Let the news take over, dear.
Chetan was forced to take down his ‘offending post’ but you can access the Google Cache version here.
Incidentally, it is more than 3 years, after the IIPM scandal, since a major lonely blogger vs. big business story has broken out in the Indian Blogosphere scene.
Note to Miss Dutt: the Online publishing world is bigger than anything you have ever seen so far. Enjoy your days of media hegemony while it lasts.
Why so serious?
Coverage of the issue continues on these fine blogs:
- Kunte’s withdrawal post.
- Patrix’s Post.
- Sandeep’s Post.
- Gaurav Sabnis (the man who wrote about the IIPM scandal) Post
4 Comments, Comment or Ping
K.Sharma
The old media never learns, does it?
Feb 4th, 2009
Krishna Baalu
I do appreciate Mr Chetan for his boldness. I wrote several blogs on Sulekha very critical of Mr Rajdeep Sardesai and Bharka Dutt, and indeed this dame’s coverage of Mumbai terror attack was malicious, biased, and sensational to gain international publicity. Tragedy is see the mumbaikars again voted the anti India and anti Hindu congress to power for suicide.
Tragedy is not it
Krishna Baalu
Jun 12th, 2009
iamfordemocracy
your link to google cache version does not work.
Aug 15th, 2009
paulbradshaw
Yes, I assume it has disappeared since I linked to it in February. Sorry – let me know if you find it anywhere else.
Aug 17th, 2009
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