Eleven digital news outlets launch new body to create ‘healthy news ecosystem’
New Delhi: 11 digital news organisations have come together to launch DIGIPUB News India Foundation on Tuesday with a motto of creating a healthy news ecosystem for the digital age.
An official press release announcing the launch of the organization added that the organization was created to represent, amplify, and best practices “to build a robust digital news ecology that is truly world-class, independent, and upholds the highest standards of journalism” it stated.
The founding member organizations of DIGIPUB are Alt News, Article 14, Boomlive, Cobrapost, HW News, Newsclick, Newslaundry, Scroll, News Minute, Quint, and Wire.
A key aim of the foundation, the release added, was to “underline the fact that pursuits and interests of legacy media may not always be the same as that of digital media – especially in regards to regulation, business models, technology and structures”.
“The Foundation does not believe that only organizations should represent or voice the needs of the digital news ecosystem. It is imperative to recognize the contribution of independent journalists in forming the bulwark of this ecosystem.”
Dhanya Rajendran of the News Minute is the association’s first chairperson; Prabir Purkayastha of Newsclick is the vice-chairperson; and Ritu Kapur of the Quint and Abhinandan Sekhri of Newslaundry are general secretaries.
“As digital news media organizations gain greater prominence in our lives for providing credible information and safeguarding democracy, this concerted effort by digital-first news outlets will enable us to keep the ecosystem healthy,” Rajendran said. “This will help us come together to solve the massive challenges faced by the industry today.”
Asked what the need for this foundation was, Kapur said, “Independent digital-only publishers have been at the forefront of strong, fearless journalism, and have often been under threat. It was important to have a body that represented their voice that would protect the interests and needs of independent newsrooms and journalists. The Quint is delighted to be a founding member of the DIGIPUB News India Foundation.”
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CPI(M) rebel Kunhikrishnan hopes for 5,000-vote win in Payyanur
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): CPI(M) rebel candidate V Kunhikrishnan, who contested as a UDF-backed Independent from Payyanur here, on Saturday said he was hoping to win the Assembly election by a margin of 5,000 votes.
Kunhikrishnan was expelled from the CPI(M) earlier this year after raising allegations of corruption in the party’s martyrs’ fund against sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan.
Speaking to a TV channel, Kunhikrishnan said he had announced his candidature as a mark of protest and not with expectations of victory.
However, he said the situation had changed drastically, with a strong undercurrent within CPI(M) votes favouring him.
"The undercurrent in CPI(M) votes cannot be measured. Now people are giving a response indicating victory with a margin of at least 5,000 votes," he said.
Payyanur is considered a CPI(M) stronghold, and a defeat for Madhusoodanan there would be a major setback for the party.
On political violence in Payyanur, Kunhikrishnan said he had been facing it since filing his nomination.
"The people leading this violence should think about how long they can continue it. It is the police which has to take the initiative to stop this violence as part of maintaining law and order. But the police are not intervening at the required level," he said.
Regarding his political future, Kunhikrishnan said efforts were underway to strengthen Left groups, and discussions were being held across Kerala in that regard.
"After discussing with others, a decision will be taken," he said.
Kunhikrishnan is among six former CPI(M) leaders who either exited the party or were suspended before contesting for the UDF in the April 9 Assembly elections.
Elections to the 140-seat Kerala Assembly were held on April 9, and the counting of votes will be held on May 4.
